Why a web designer?

In today’s age of Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress, it’s easy to look at web design as something anyone can do from the comfort of their own home.  Described as “drag-and-drop” website design, it can seem like the easiest, cheapest option.  But when 91% of customers admit to visiting a business because of an online experience, is a DIY website something you can really risk? Ultimately, professional web designers do a lot more than build and design your website alone, so here are a few reasons to hire an expert web designer to give you the most bang for your buck.

A website is your digital business card

You know the old adage that your business card is an extension of you?  Well, nowadays that’s your website.  It’s often one of the first things a potential client will search for about you, and therefore their first impression of your brand.  An expert web designer knows how to leverage the design of your website to help define and create your unique brand.  Are you elegant and formal?  Sleek and modern?  Bold and fun?  INLANDLIGHT’S own Len Morales Jr. designed some of the first websites on the web in 1995—including some big-name brands like Starbucks, Motorola, and Disney—and we’ve learned over the years that each industry relies on slightly different visual cues to tell their business’s story. You really want someone fluent in this visual language to tell your story!

They make sure you’re truly mobile

Building a website yourself these days really means building at least three different versions of your site: a desktop version, a mobile version for smartphones, and a tablet version.  According to Google, the majority of searches come from mobile devices even when a desktop was available. And at least 20% of small businesses had websites that weren’t mobile-friendly, though 80% claimed to be.

Our designers have been working for over 20 years through the rise of many new technologies. With our professional web designers, you are guaranteed to have a site that works across all platforms, all devices, and all internet browsers.  After all, you don’t want to be the site that “only works on Firefox.”

SEO compliant

If you’ve never heard of SEO before, or only just barely, then you definitely want a professional web designer! Search Engine Optimization is one of the most important techniques in a web developer’s toolkit.  It’s how, through specific architecture and content, you can make sure search engines and therefore prospective clients can find your site.  For instance, Jim Munoz told us “I did a search in Google for ‘Jim Munoz Art,’ and I come up in the first place position out of two million search results.” We strive to do this for every client.

Saves you time and money

But wait, aren’t WordPress and others free?  For a website with the same layout as everyone else, and limited features, sure.  But even then, they quickly try to up sell you on various “packages” for customization options, data storage, and other essentials for a professional website.  Not to mention the time spent learning the platform.  With our team, you have seasoned professionals who can build the website of your dreams in a rapid turn around time.  And you know going in what you’re getting in terms of quality, custom design, and additional services such as e-commerce, cloud data management, and marketing services.

We are “Webmasters”

We’re not just joking, webmaster services include a wide range of services to help maintain your website and keep its content and style current. We offer writing services so you can have new content generated regularly without having to take the time away from your business yourself. We have IT consulting services to help you set-up and then manage various projects to help your business grow faster.  With an experienced team, you aren’t left to fend for yourself, even after your site is up and running.

We work around YOU

Have an existing in-house team?  We can seamlessly integrate with them.  Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps to start a new venture?  We have fast and cost-effective options to help you get started with minimal overhead.  When you build a DIY website with a platform service, you are limited to designing around their materials and functionality.  When you work with the expert webmasters at INLANDLIGHT, you work with someone who will take the time to get to know you and your business and find a way to build you the perfect website without disrupting your existing business processes.