Web Design Isn't What it Used to Be!

In 1990 a revolution took place. It wasn't just about the space shuttle Discovery carrying the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit or even the release of Nelson Mandela. There was also a technological revolution happening that clearly changed the way we communicate today.

Welcome to the Internet

According to Answers.com, the first website built was found at http://info.cern.ch/ and was first put online on August 6, 1991. The website provided an explanation of the World Wide Web, how to setup a web server and how you could own a browser.  From that point forward we've seen lots of websites but no one could have predicted the new and exciting elements of websites that we're seeing today. Interestingly enough most of these technological advances didn't exist until recently.

Fast forward to 2011. You'll see the emerging mobile platforms, social media marketing giants like Facebook and Twitter, email marketing, video and multiple browsers and search engines just to name a few. No longer is web design the basic look and feel that it was in the 90's.

Today's Web Designer

Gone are the days when only thing a web designer had to worry about was creating great looking web pages. Today's web designer has to be multilingual in our ever-changing internet environment. Those who are simply "designing websites" today, are falling behind quickly.

Today's Website Should

• Distinguish you from your Competitors. With the number of websites increasing daily, its more important than ever to make a great first impression.  Google's instant preview search returns snapshots of  websites in the search result giving the person searching the opportunity to judge that website prior to even clicking on the link.
• Engage and Interact with your Audience.  Successful websites have an element of fun and encourage interaction. Even though we live in a virtual world people like to feel like there is a real person on the other end of the computer. Connect with your audience across multiple channels they visit on a regular basis. Get social!
• Be your Best Salesperson. Lets face it, your website is the face of your company! It should present a professional image that reflects the mission and vision of your company. It should also be held accountable for results. It is a sales tool afterall.

As I've mentioned, websites aren't what they used to be and they've come a long way since 1990. While today's websites are more challenging and more comprehensive then those of the past, today, above all else; they're more important than ever.