professional websites

[j.moores]

i'm quite new to web development but ive been asked to create a business website! i have basic ideas what should be on this sort of website, but what do you think looks professional?

[iLLin]

Ajax is pro.

[Ultimater]

The traffic alone can support a website and pay the bills simply through ads if it gets enough hits -- showing that keeping your users coming backing is very essential. Of coarse it can make money on its own in some business form or another. Just a few of the things in a website that keeps its users coming back -- one of the main goals of the pro:

A layout that uses graphics showing a balance between creativity and spunk while in harmony with the rest of the graphics for a yummy flavor of graphics that make your skin taste like the expression you are shooting for. A well organized navigation list to help keep the site together. Cannot forget to value user's opinions; should have a place for users to comment on your pages aka feedback. If possible, a PHP-driven user account system with various functionality to allow for maximum user configuration. Then of coarse managing your site should be as easy as possible, usually want to build an Admin Control Panel for managing pages or posting to the database etc.

Of coarse, the info you place onto the site should be useful enough to keep users coming back. Such info is very essential and significant so loads of time should be placed into adding new material to the site and keeping it useful, helpful, accurate, and down-to-earth.

[Ultimater]

Once your site is functional there is a whole strategy to promoting your site. My brother got some hits on his bran new business site by simply paying to be added to google's "Sponsored Links" list on the right hand side after a user types in a keyword. Of coarse once the users get there, a single customer has the potential to gain him enough income to pay the site's bills for the year along with advertising on google in one transaction. It is very affordable. Picking keywords and adding them to the page via <meta> tags is also helpful since search engines will pick it up. Referrals of coarse are the best way to get customers. If people like your site, they will post links to it on other sites then your site grows and grows 'til you become as big as youtube and then sell the site to google just on time to save yourself from getting sued for posting copyrighted material. :D

[Stephen Philbin]

I'd leave whether or not the site has user account areas etc. down to the client. In my opinion it's not what's on the site, but how and why it's put there that marks the difference between a professional quality work and a turnip.

I'd say a professional simply listens to the requirements of the client, advises them on the requirements, then fulfills them in the best possible way without throwing in loads of crap they think should be there.

[polorboy]

I agree with Stephen, a professional quality site will have exactly what the clients wants, nothing more, nothing less, and presents it in a way that is easy to navigate and easy to read.