As part of our free website design campaign for Milledgeville non-profit organizations, we designed and developed a custom website for Ocmulgee CASA. The site makes it easy for people in the community to learn more about CASA and volunteer their services. We are so proud to be supporting such an important local cause.  Check out the site here: http://ocmulgeecasa.org.

The site allows users to get information, make a donation and even sign up to become a CASA volunteer.  The site is managed through a CMS which allows CASA to easily make updates to site content themselves. 

We are very excited to announce the launch of ShopLocalMilledgeville.com, a new community site that encourages citizens of Milledgeville to shop locally. 

The site allows business owners to edit their own profiles and add information like business hours, logo, business description and more.  Businesses can also add events and sales to the community calendar, create coupons and add articles.  There are more great features currently being developed for this site as well.

Check the site out at: http://www.shoplocalmilledgeville.com

We are pleased to announce the recent launch of the redesigned website for Diamond Directors. Because their previous website was out of date and difficult to update, they needed a custom solution with a CMS, or content management system. This system allows them to easily make updates and create news items that link to external websites.

Diamond Directors is responsible for training pro athletes like Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves. Their methods are innovative and their website reflects that. With video tips, a blog, and online video instruction and analysis, the new website is truly an extention of their business.

We are proud to have added Light Force Family Chiropractic to our portfolio! Our family has been getting adjusted here for years, and it is a truly amazing place with an even more amazing staff.

This website features a dynamic flash piece, an “Ask Dr. Sherry” corner where the public can get their questions answered, and a wealth of wellness articles in a custom designed WordPress blog that flows seamlessly with the rest of the website. Check it out today at www.lightforcechiro.com.

About Light Force Family Chiropractic
Light Force Family Chiropractic is a bridge to wellness for the countless families we attract. While initially people might be drawn to us for a pain-based problem in the neck or back or perhaps even headaches, what they find when they begin care is much more than pain relief. What they find is that oasis called wellness which is so elusive in today’s healthcare environment. We assist on the journey from sickness which is often manifested in physical pain or general malaise to true health and wellness which are displayed by a renewed sense of hope and increased energy. How long has it been since you felt really well? Is your idea of wellness merely the absence of symptoms or do you have a true sense of what your physical goals are? Do you plan to spend your golden years managing a list of prescriptions a mile long or do you want to spend them managing your life’s purpose? At Light Force Chiropractic we explore with you the answers to these questions and more.

Helping to brand your company is usually (and should be) a goal for every business’s website.  A website is an important part of any branding strategy.  Let’s talk a little bit about how to use your website to help brand your company. 

- Make your logo prominent in your site design.
It is so important when you are tying to brand your company to include your logo on all the marketing materials you create.  Your website is no exception.  Make sure your logo is prominent in the design of your website.

- Use your company colors.
Company colors are also an important part of building your brand.  Your website design should be in your colors so customers can easily recognize that they are at the right site as soon as they land on your homepage. 

- Include your company name in your domain name.
It is always a good idea to include your company name in your domain name.  This will help brand your company and help people find you. It is also important to go to a domain registrar like godaddy.com sooner rather than later to reserve your domain name.  Reserving it will ensure that it is under your control and that competitors and domain squatters cannot buy it or themselves.

- Maintain the look and feel of your business.
Your website is an extension of your business and should reflect the personality of your business– whether that is classy and sophisticated, hip and trendy, or fun and energetic. You know if you have achieved this if going to your website kind of feels like walking into the door of your business. And if you don’t have a physical location that customers visit, you have even more flexibility to create the look and feel of your business through your website.
Your customer needs to know within seconds of landing on your site that they have come to the right place. A lot of business names are similar so it is important that your website maintain a look and feel that is uniquely you.

Choosing a web designer that suits the needs of your business is a crucial part of creating a successful website.

One of the most important things to look for is a designer that takes the time to get to know your business. A big part of our website design process is learning. You need to provide your designer with all of your marketing materials– brochures, flyers, logos, etc.

You also want a web designer that is receptive to criticism and willing to take your input into consideration. Your site needs to be uniquely YOU; it is an important extension of your business. We always tell our clients that we are building THEIR website. So if they don’t like something about the designs we come up with, they should say so. We aren’t here to get our egos fed; we are here to design a website that is going to help your business succeed.

As far as experience levels, you want a designer that has experience with…
- Web design. You want to go with an experienced firm because they know the whole process, and they understand important things like website usability standards and cross-browser compatibility.
-Programming. If you want any kind of interactive quality to your site like forms or administrative back-ends, you you’ll need a web designer with experience in a web programming language such as PHP or ASP.
-Graphic design. Typically, you have web designers that are good at programming and web designers that are good at graphic design. It is rare to find one person that is superior at both so make sure you go with a company that has a programmer and graphic designer. Because building your website is an important part of building your brand, you also need someone who understands formats that are not just web-based so that they can convert the look for your current materials to your website or vice versa.
-Search engine optimization. A lot of web designers don’t design with the search engines in mind. But it will save you lot of aggravation when you are trying to market your site if you have a designer that understands SEO best practices. Sites that are too graphically intense or all flash tend to not rank well in search engines. So unless you are a high profile business that has already built their brand like Chanel, you will need someone who understands how to get you to rank for keywords in your target area. You may have a really cool-looking design but what good is your website if no one can find it?

If you are interested in hiring a web designer to build your company’s website or just to improve it, mention this blog entry and get a free web consultation when you contact us!