Three Ways Websites Are Like Suits

As they say on a prominent fashion TV show, one minute you’re in and the next you’re out. The same holds true for websites. There was a day when putting up a ready-made site on Geocities was the pinnacle of the web. Today we have much more sophisticated tools and techniques at our disposal.

As you plan your web design project with your design shop, it’s important to keep in mind that what works today won’t work forever. Equally important is that your website has a global reach, one that should portray the right image of you and your business.

With that in mind, here are three ways websites are like suits:

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

When going on a job interview, it’s unthinkable to wear shorts and a t-shirt, even if that’s what your current situation dictates. Champagne dreams on a beer budget are one thing, but there’s no reason why your website should look cheap. There are literally thousands of templates and themes, both paid and free, that can serve as starting points for your site.

If you can’t afford to pay a designer through the entire process, try working from a pre-designed theme and customizing it to suit your needs and your branding to save time and money off your budget. You will end up with a site that looks like the business you want to be, rather than where you might be today.

The best fit comes from tailoring, not off the rack.

Starting with a template is a great way to get your web design project rolling. Using a pre-made theme with no changes is not. You wouldn’t buy a Saab, rip the logo off the front, and resell it as a Kia. Make sure when your designer starts with a template that they customize it not only for your business’ colors and style, but also for the functionality you need.

Styles change.

That tangerine-colored double-breasted jacket looked great on Miami Vice, but now it sits in the back of your closet serving as moth food. The web evolves at a frenetic pace, and visual styles move right alongside. Your website should be refreshed at least once every two years, ideally more often. You must use your site to display your flexibility and relevance to your customers. So don’t shy away from updating even though it costs money.