One day you may look at your brochure-ware website created with the purpose of providing a limited amount of information on a tight budget and feel that it needs a facelift. Upgrading from a simple brochure-ware site will often include an increase in content with greater functionality, a higher level of user interactivity and an overall look that is more representative of the company’s expertise, values and specific target audience.

These days, in order to keep users engaged, comfortable and entertained while visiting a website, it is essential to design a site with intuitive interactivity, attractive visuals and informative content that is comprehensive and well organized. By combining a solid user experience with your unique brand image we can create an emotional attachment that will enable the audience to differentiate your company from the competition.

Updating your website with new content, a new look and feel, and new functionality will often require the restructuring of the site map. The structuring of elements should be explored to optimize user navigation and comprehension of information. In a larger scale site with more complex navigation, it is important for the user to feel comfortable and willing to explore, therefore it is essential to create hierarchy on the page through the use of grouping, sizing, shape and colour. The addition of content may require changes to the functionality, re-organization of page elements and a different naming scheme that will fulfill new communication needs.

The site’s visual design and user interactivity can range from simple to very complex. By examining your target audience and the message you would like to convey we can develop a virtual world based on the needs of your users. When deciding on what elements to keep from the old site, such as the logo, naming and colour schemes, we recommend that you choose elements that reinforce the brand identity and help to create the desired user experience. Various uses of colour, photography, illustration, Flash animation, video and audio can and should be taken into consideration when creating an interactive online experience. However, it is important to find a balance of design and technology that consistently reinforces the message, supports the functionality and engages the audience without overcomplicating the experience and overwhelming the user.

Upgrading from a simple brochure-ware website to a more complex and larger scale site sometimes feels like a big step for a small business. Henderson Robb can show you how your marketing and business objectives may be better met with a dynamic and well branded website. Visit www.hendersonrobb.com to learn more about how we can help!