“I have a nephew who makes websites” and other branding mistakes
Have you got a nephew who makes websites? So have I, but I wouldn’t dream of putting him in charge of our most important marketing tool! There are programmers who have remarkable design and communication skills, but (as far as I know) they both work here.
Your website is usually your client or service user’s first point of contact, and needs an interface which is clear and easy to navigate, while maintaining the integrity of your organisation’s corporate image and brand values. There’s a lot that can be done online, but that doesn’t mean squeezing every flashy feature into your site, just because it’s possible.
Home-made sites usually end up looking home-made, and can damage your brand badly. Even if your friend/uncle/sister-in-law does a reasonable job of making it look OK, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll have helped you to identify your brand values, key messages and target market. Or employed cutting-edge SEO techniques. Or applied their marketing skills to make sure visitors convert into customers.
I know it looks attractive to get a site ‘knocked up by a mate’ when you’ve had quotes of thousands of pounds from professional companies, but trust me – it’s a false economy. I’ve seen too many companies try to get by with a cheap amateur site, then still have to pay again to get it done properly.
A good professional agency will make sure that your site does exactly what it should – communicate your brand effectively to your target audience, using great design and appropriate technology. We can design, manage and host your entire online presence, or work with your IT department to ensure brand integrity and sound design while you retain full control of content. Can your nephew do that?
Tagged accidental branding, agency advantages, agency benefits, branding mistakes, SEO, website design, website mistakes
