You’re probably really good at the work that you do, which is why your business is able to afford a great site. So be ready and willing to allow others who are good at what they do help you communicate your vision to the public.

So. You’re not a designer. What should you do? The first thing you want to do is make sure your vision for your company is clearly articulated before ever starting the design process.

One of the most common downfalls of any site with great potential is to flatten its communication. Communicating never comprises just words.

A three-part series on the essence of good web design.

Great home pages should have images that add function and value. They will communicate clearly and provide a comfy welcome mat to the visitor. Any other images will likely be distracting and unnecessary.

Many home pages don’t offer any choices. Instead, they just leave the visitor staring at a chaotic screen with no clear direction on where the owner intends for them to click next.

Your message should be blatantly ingrained into a visitor’s train of thought. If a visitor glances away from your website, or closes their eyes after first seeing the home page – they should immediately remember the main idea.

Video can make or break your website, so proceed with caution. Video is just a tool, not a necessity. In other words, use video only when it contributes strategically to your website.