Manufacturer websites: Custom design vs Templates

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Custom Web Design for manufacturer websites

Advantages

Perhaps the greatest advantage of using a custom web design for a manufacturer website is that it will set a website apart from the rest of the crowd and give it a competitive edge over the competition. This is crucial in the saturated web environment nowadays. Since custom websites are more search engine friendly than website templates, they have the tendency to rank high on search engines like Google.
Aside from adapting to the needs of businesses better, a custom website allows companies to incorporate their branding into it. Custom websites have a factor of scalability and so they expand as businesses expand. In addition, the other benefit given by a content management system (CMS) is it enables businesses to keep their website updated wherever they are.

Disadvantages

Firstly, using a custom web design can hurt the pocket more than a manufacturer website template because getting a custom web design costs a lot more. The second disadvantage is creating a custom design takes longer than a website template. Since the custom web design is complex as well as time consuming, chances are there will be delays in the website project.
Read on to know more about website templates and their pros and cons.

Website Templates for manufacturer sites

Advantages

It takes a shorter time to develop a website template than a custom designed website. The next advantage of using manufacturer website templates that it is less costly than a custom designed website. This is favorable to those who only have a low budget. Website templates allow people to create their own website even if they are not an expert in web design. Any individual can create a website template even if they are not familiar with HTML and CSS.

Disadvantages

Since people get website templates from the internet, chances are, competitors and other businesses may be using the same website template they are using. For this reason, their website will get lost in the virtual world.

Search engines were not considered when website templates were designed. That is why; they usually stay at the bottom of search rankings. Also, other major problems associated with website templates are that they do not get any support and they are not compatible with all browsers.

People who buy manufacturer website themes will not be able to customize them based on their needs. It can also be challenging with templates to include web elements like text, images and videos, to name a few.

Who Should Use a Custom Web Design?

Businesses have their own different needs. Those that want their manufacturer website to be unique, search-engine friendly and scalable can choose a custom web design. A CMS has another benefit of letting people save money on updating their website and maintaining it well. It might take longer to create and even cost them more but it gives the advantages of getting a website based on their business needs and giving an exceptional user experience to viewers.

Who Should Buy A Website Template?

Those who do not have enough time to go through the long and complicated web design processes as well as do not have enough budget can go for a manufacturer website theme. If they do not know which is best for their business needs, it is better to get a website template. This will also suit people who like to create a website but do not have enough knowledge in web programming.

Manufacturer web design – 5 Elements that need your attention

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Clean Design

When developing a manufacturer website, one of the most crucial factors to take into consideration is creating a quality design that is clean and appealing. Such a design is not only stunning but also readable with its intuitive navigation. Most important of all, a clean design lets viewers focus on a brand’s value and content rather than on confusing graphics and large numbers of text. Customers often associate web designs with the reputation of a company or quality of its products/services. So, a clean design provides customers with a great user experience, encouraging them to go back.

Effective Color Scheme

Customers may not realize the importance of color schemes. Each color has its ability to arouse emotions such as calmness, frustration or happiness. When using colors in a manufacturer web design, it is crucial for companies to consider their niche, branding, target audience and color theory elements. They should choose colors that will let their target audience respond. They should also think whether using the same color scheme for their logo and branding will look pleasant or overwhelming. They should imagine if a bright color like orange or a more professional color like blue would best convey their brand’s voice. Whatever their choice may be, they should take some time to search for the best color choices that will provide visitors with a good, first impression.

Branding

Branding is essential to both large and small businesses. A logo’s design and placement can influence viewers’ overall opinion. Professional looking logos are effective in striking the attention of customers and they offer a clear image of the brand’s unique voice. A logo should be located on the part of the manufacturer site that can be easily seen by visitors like the upper left hand corner, where the eyes of visitors start to browse a website. To make their brand’s identity even stronger, they can use only one logo on packaging, print ads and branded apparel. Businesses with consistent branding give customers an incorporated, memorable brand experience.

Functionality

There are a number of factors to take into consideration when it comes to the functionality of the web design for manufacturers. First, it should be literally functional. Next, they should check if there are loading problems or broken links. Another factor is whether the site’s security features answer their business needs. Aside from operational issues, they should see their site’s features from the viewpoint of the users. Also, the contact forms, customer feedback portion and surveys of the site should be properly working. Any of these functionality issues can make customers leave their site.

Usability

When websites are easy to navigate and use, customers are more likely to become interested and engage in business. To increase usability, product and service info should be displayed in a clear manner. The manufacturer should see to it that their website contains all the features needed by customers to gain access to it. When users read their blog and like to subscribe to an email newsletter, they should have the opt-in form. Contact information should be clearly displayed. The website layout should encourage sharing and more interaction with their brand. They should review these key elements in optimizing their site’s usability.

Creating an Excellent Manufacturing Website – 4 Steps You Shouldn’t Miss

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Manufacturing companies need a website that displays their technological knowledge so prospects can be encouraged to contact them. Even if they are updating their existing sites or creating a new website, the following tips will make their website become a powerful marketing tool.

1. Strengthen Brand Reputation

Businesses come in contact with their customers through their website therefore, it should communicate their technological proficiency, experience and skill. A business looks more professional with a web design that is simple, streamlined and aesthetically pleasing. On the other hand, a cluttered web design that is difficult to navigate looks unprofessional. An updated website can strengthen their brand impression and instantly convey the quality of their company. The factors that communicate sophistication include:

  • clean, professional logo;
  • modern layout that is user-friendly and on-brand;
  • huge, eye-catching images;
  • value-based messaging about services;
  • logos for certificates, awards, associations or partners;

2. Use Easy Search and Navigation

When it comes to manufacturer web design, it should be easy for visitors to search for products and browse their capabilities. Service-based and capability manufacturers should opt for services pages that are easy to find, well-written and arranged logically in terms of industry, application or material. When it comes to their capability pages, they should list details like:

  • Dimensions;
  • Drawing formats accepted;
  • Industries served;
  • Tolerances;
  • Volume;

Companies that sell products should see to it that they have thoughtful product categories and make is easy for prospects to scroll down to specific options. If they offer a wide range of products, users should be able to search it easily by keyword and part number/SKUs, among other key factors. Another tip related to web design for manufacturers: having a page for each product would be great for SEO.

3. Communicate with the Target Audience

Adding well-written, relevant content that communicates with the their target audience for potential customers who are evaluating several companies will make the company stand out from the rest of the competition. Capability and product pages are meant to be read by the target audience:

  • If their prime audience are engineers, they should include details to help them know that what they are looking for is right here in this website.
  • If purchasing managers land on their website, they should use the right keywords to ensure the sale.
  • When they have identified their audience, they should generate content that addresses their needs, include information like product quality, turnaround times, processing accuracy, lead times, customer rejection rates and shipping, to name a few.

4. Make the Next Step a No-Brainer

When potential customers go over their website, they go a step further to contact the manufacturer’s sales team. To make this process simple, there should be a strategic CTA on every page. It is best to use action phrases like “Order Replacement Part”, “Submit a Request” or “Request a Quote” to convey what the user will do nest.

It is good to remember that people often prefer to talk to a real human. So, contact details like a contact number, especially a cell phone number should be displayed on the header and footer.

Ideas for creating a great manufacturer website

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The Internet is not like any other medium. It is unlike a book, magazine or newspaper. It is not a television, live event or brick-and-mortar store. When a manufacturer website is well-made and specific to the Internet, you get the opportunity to perform things that cannot be carried out by other forms of media.

When it comes to website design for manufacturers, a great part of the success relies on its responsive design. This lets visitors view a site on any type of mobile device and easily locate content. This has got to do with making the most of the benefits that the Internet gives users, to the disadvantage of traditional media. Successful manufacturer website publishers use content to produce unique user benefits.

Relationship Building

A website’s success depends on the incentives offered to persuade visitors to register their email. With email registration, manufacturer websites can use newsletters and alerts to follow-up with visitors in the future. A website should exert effort to obtain the email address of the visitor. Otherwise, it would be less likely for visitors to come back.

Community Building

Some of the most successful websites allows their users to generate more than 99% if their content. Even if this is not applicable for every business, a website should be able to encourage loyalty, belonging and enthusiasm. It should persuade you to become involved in the business through comments and questions.

Persistent Navigation

Users should find it easy and simple to navigate through your manufacturer website design. They should know where they are, where to go next and how to return to where they have been. They should be able to navigate from any part of your website to all major areas without effort. Your constant navigation should be able to reflect the scope and depth of your content. It should also provide a quick access to customer service. It should be consistent and intuitive throughout your whole site.

User Task Depth

The website should motivate you to go to the next step, which is, either to ask for more information or to buy. It is not surprising to find out that the most important task for content sites is to get more details on news headlines. Furthermore, it is more likely for users to make a purchase on eCommerce sites. With regards to retail websites that involve the shipment of products, users take care of tasks like canceling or returning an order or reporting a problem in delivery.

Affordance

Proper affordance allows something linked to look exactly how it is. It should not be color-coded or underlined with something not linked. With proper affordance , there is no need for users to drag their mouse over a page to search for links. A manufacturer website publisher should understand the way individuals of every age groups assume a site to work.