Where do you start?

Well the first question you must ask is "What do I want to achieve?" and then consider a time scale.

Most business sites like to give a clear indication of their business in a no-nonsense fashion. There is a need to put across the company's image, style, reliability, efficiency and many other attributes in a few seconds. Similarly, the site must download on to the user's computer quickly, or they will look elsewhere.

On this page, and those which follow, we suggest a few simple design points you may like to consider. Certainly any designer will need your answers to these points if you are to work together.

• Colours - most important. Look at other sites in your business sector. Most businesses go for a pale background with dark lettering. Think about the colours of your company logo, and the style of the headed paper - you should carry themes across all published documents, including the web.
• Lettering - you may already have a font used on company stationery but please consider that type with serifs (such as Times New Roman) look good on paper, but it is easier to read a font without serifs on a computer screen. This page uses Verdana.
• Photographs - do you wish to use photos or drawings? Most sites do in some way. But please remember that YOU must own the copyright to any images you provide! Alternatively, we can supply photographs from stock.
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