This isn’t a post about whether a I like a redesign or not, it’s about a site taking the plunge and owning it. Sites big or small are always looking to change their looks and function to keep up with the newest trends of the internet. These trends are moving rapidly and sites are having to move at a quick pace to keep up with the demand of the users. As a devoted reader of many online publications and user of many web apps, I’m always surprised by redesigns. Sometimes my reaction is instant and overly critical and sometimes I take the site as a new. To be honest, I love to read the criticism from all the users to rate the design and really understand what people think about a new way of viewing their beloved content. I rarely, if ever, partake in the angry mob scene with my comments since I understand that the site isn’t mine to change; but in a way, it is. Let me explain.

Web apps and publications are at the mercy of the viewers and users. A company is not a democracy, but it is. The executive power remains with the company to make the decisions to add/remove features and content but the viewers/users have the utmost say in whether those changes should occur. For example, if Google decided to add huge advertisement banners to their homepage that has been extremely accepted by the masses as one of the best designs for a search engine, I think there would be a major uproar. People would instantly post, comment, email and send in the dogs to change back the design. Google, on the other hand, has the executive decision to consider the input and remove those ads. Those ads could boost the revenue for the publicly owned company significantly. The consideration of boosting revenue and losing a percentage of users/viewers is the great dance that all companies make while designing a site. The saying, “it takes two to tango” goes beyond the dance floor and into a revenue model.

Now, the site must either concede defeat and revert back to the old design and function and, literally, head back to the drawing board; or own the design without making excuses and let the user adapt to the redesign since it will be better for the site and user in the long run. When I say “excuses” I’m not referring to notifications or company blog posts explaining the redesign and new functions, I’m referring to the posts or letters of employees or representatives of that company not instantly accepting the redesign. An example of an “excuse” would be the large cop out articles like Paul Carr of TechCrunch recently wrote about the new redesign of TechCrunch here explaining that he’s not sure how he feels about it and mocking his viewers for actually caring about the design and layout of their beloved online publication. Mockery of your readers is overboard, egotistical, and a bit asinine. I’m not hating on the site since I’m an avid reader but I’m hating on the pedestal that some of the writers put themselves on, and that is something to add to the template that Paul so kindly gave the readers.

If a company put a lot of work and thought into a design, you, as a users/viewer, should consider the change for a time and understand why the changes were made before unleashing the kracken. The redesign should be there to help the company in many aspects and not just to look cool, so take it with a grain of salt.

Note to companies: It may seem cute when an employee or rep of the company decides to post something semi-humorous about the redesign but it goes from cute to insulting when the post if meant to mock the user/viewer of the site. And that can’t be good for business.

Here are a few tips to people who want/need a website, web design, or type of web presence:

1) In your first meeting with a web design company please be prepared to express what you need in great detail for your small company, a personal site, or a new company. The web designers will need know your company in detail, your goals, your target market (and “EVERYONE!” is not a target market), budget, your current situation, and what you are expecting.

2) Trust the web design company  because they need to know the information. They will not (and shouldn’t) judge you in your lack of knowledge in the web and you are there to get a good understanding of what is possible and what isn’t possible.

3) Bring material to the meeting. This material should be information you might want to display on the site or what you want to express on the site. Also, logos and print material with design and color will give the web designer a better understanding on what you want in a site design.

4) The web design company should ask a lot of questions about your company and what you need; and if they don’t, this should be a red flag about the company. It is in your best interest to get a great website developed to work best with your vision and your market. If they don’t know what you need or want, then they are just giving you a site based on assumptions and that is bad.

5) Finally, don’t be afraid to call or email any and all questions. After the quote and proposal is presented ask more questions to make sure you are getting what you are buying because you might give the designers information that they did not know.

HINT: When it comes to web design, you are getting what you pay for, so cheaper is not better.

The plan for your web design should include a SEO and Social Media plan. This will give you a great start in building your brand because websites are a huge in the current economy.

If you have any questions please send them via email or comments.