De-sign of the times?

Credit Crunch - How is it effecting you?

With attention currently being focused on the state of the world-wide financial climate and the imposing credit crunch, everyone is looking for ways in which to secure their investments and cut back on unnecessary spending; but where does it leave businesses wishing to update or re-launch their web presence or branding?

Although immediately it would seem wiser to cut back on these apparently unessential items first, looking deeper into the matter reveals a strong need for businesses, especially small businesses or start-ups, to remain competitive; with the general public more reluctant to part with their cash now more than ever, the most well-presented company is often the most likely to gain the upper hand in gaining new business and consumer confidence.

Presentation of a businesses’ website is key. With more and more people turning to the Internet, especially Search Engines and Search Engine Advertising when choosing to research a business or potential product purchase, having that one website which stands out in the crowd in a positive way can sometimes make the difference between a making sale or not.

Other important factors to consider as well as the general design are the usability and ease of use when navigating the site, and speed with which it loads on the average computer; I’m sure we’ve all noticed that the most successful companies’ websites (Google, Amazon e.t.c.) are also the simplest to use - and fastest to load. With people having an increasingly smaller amount of spare time, speed and ease of use are often some of a visitor’s top priorities.

Most importantly, design companies and those providing these services to businesses must also tighten their belts for hard times and provide that added value for their clients and their future needs - concessions and discounts to small businesses and start-ups are always welcomed enthusiastically, as an example.

We’re all going to suffer to some degree in the near future, so its always a wise idea for us all to pitch in and support eachother as much as possible; especially in a business-to-business environment.

Tags: Business, Current Events, Design Commentary, Web Design