However, creating a good looking web site is not all that you may need. In our experience, we realize that many of our clients may not know how to get the results they're looking for out of the Internet. Thus, as our expertise with this new medium has grown, we've formulated a design process which will yield the results you're looking for.

	Initial Consultation
	We begin the design process by seeking a thorough understanding of your business. We'll meet with you and discuss how you're business or organization is setup, how you function, and who your clients are. We'll then work with you to determine the overall objectives for the project and establish the criteria for success.

Defining The Marketing Messages

The messages you want to send can be subtly implied or overtly stated, but they must be spelled out clearly during the planning process. They are generally broken down into primary and secondary messages. The primary message might be your tag line, or it might be a bold statement of why you are better than or different from your competition. Secondary messages typically state the key advantages of your company and its product or service, answering the desires and motivations of the user. These messages will directly shape the content of the site.

Understanding The User

As surprising as it might seem, this aspect is often neglected in the planning of many web sites. Often the site is developed in a way that makes perfect sense to people in the organization but leaves the user bewildered. It is very important to spend time researching the different types of site users, their experience level, their needs and their motivations. Upon arrival at the site, the user should immediately think "Ah, they understand who I am, and I see there is something for me here."

Designing The User Experience

Armed with an understanding of your business objectives and your users' needs, we begin to plan the paths which meet the visitors' needs while leading them towards your business objectives. Successful user experiences answer "Yes" to two critical questions: The first, "Would I use it?" and the second, "Can I use it?" go to the heart of user centered design. The first question is the test of usefulness. The second is the test of usability. Without both, users will leave disappointed and your objectives will never be met.

	User Testing
	We've learned a great deal from experience about designing user-friendly web sites, but nothing beats watching real users working with your site. We believe formal user testing is an essential ingredient for building sites that give your clients the best possible online experience, resulting in better customer service, education, loyalty and improved results.