The Book

The Secret to Building Successful Websites

Anyone can design and build a Web site. There are free tools available to help even the most novice person interested, and almost everyone has a friend, neighbor, or knows a college student who would be willing to take on the job. But what separates good sites, or even great sites, from exceptional ones? Is it the talent of the individuals doing the work? Is it based on how much you’re willing to invest? Well, part of that is true, but the real secret stems from the design process itself.

Although not revolutionary, they’ve yet to see the process documented all in one publication to make it easy to comprehend all the moving parts and how they fit together. Whether you’re managing a Web site yourself or overseeing a team, or if you’re looking to engage a vendor to design or manage your Web site for you, having a clear understanding of the approach that drives success is critical.

“Don’t Fear the Forward” is about removing the obstacles and fears from a traditional approach to design to one that involves elements that may be a bit foreign at first. People see “steps” and a “process” and immediately equate that with an increased timeline to get the job done, more money spent, and more required resources. Sometimes people “fear” the unknown so they stick with the comfortable approach. However, if you’re looking to truly have a Web experience that stands out, that maximizes conversions and exceeds expectations, then it’s not just about the “big idea” or “out of the box” thinking. It’s about adapting a new way of thinking about the overall approach to your site.