Lisa Constance: The internet has created tremendous opportunities for small businesses, but it also presents great challenges. Web design trends are constantly changing as the technology evolves. One entrepreneur has successfully navigated the internet to create one of the countries fasting growing companies, and a recognized leader on the web.
Andrew Field founded the first and leading online commercial printer in the US in 1996. The company’s 2007 revenues will be around $30 million and PrintingForLess.com has been recognized with numerous national and local business awards including the respected TV award for Best Customer Service Organization. Andrew thanks for joining us here on SBTV.com.
Andrew Field: Thank you.
Lisa Constance: Your website has made news on some of the countries top business publications, what sets it apart?
Andrew Field: I like to think that one of things that sets it apart is we try to have it oriented around the customer. We make it easy to use. There’s not a lot of fancy flash animation and things like that, that tend to slow down our website. Since some people still have fairly slow internet connections, so we try to make it easy to use. We tried it be very clean in instructions, and since ours is not a content or entertainment site but an e-commerce site we try to give all the information that someone might need in order to have a successful print job.
Lisa Constance: So what are some essential web designs that you think everyone should follow?
Andrew Field: One of the classics believed it or not is all of your links should be blue and underlined so that people know that there’s a link, and they should be clearly labeled. And I think it’s important that someone know what to expect when they click on any link, what that page is most likely to take them to.
Lisa Constance: So how should an entrepreneur tests their site?
Andrew Field: Testing is really fun and it’s super important. One of the things you should do first is test it yourself. Anytime we have something new or build in addition to our site or a private storefront for a larger company. I always test it myself personally I look for the bugs try to find what’s broken. Another thing you want to do is test it in front of someone who hasn’t seen it. It’s very easy for us in the design process to fall in love with our own design and not try it out with normal people. And in fact, maybe some people who are super computer savvy sit them down in front of it and say, “Try to do this, try to do that, try to order a post card.” And watch what they do, see where they get confused to see where they get lost, and then make your changes and try it again on somebody else.
Lisa Constance: They use your customs, understand it, and know how to use it, right?
Andrew Field: Absolutely.
Lisa Constance: Look for other practical tips from Andrew Field, President and CEO of PrintingForLess.com here on SBTV.com. You can learn more about Andrew and his company by going to PrintingForLess.com. This is SBTV.com; small business is our only business.
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