Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 25
F
or many engineering firms in the digital age, the chance to make a first impression may come from the company's website.
A website is the anchor for a firm's imaging, marketing and business development
efforts. Therefore, the site should make an
immediate and effective impression on the
intended audience. The key is understanding whether or not the site maximizes its
effectiveness regarding an engineering firm's
operations and brand.
Given the increasing visual technology and
other development tools available today, there is no excuse for a
website that looks like it was produced in the 1990s.
What do firms need to do to create an effective and modern
website? Below are 10 ways you can improve your firm's online
front door to make it more interesting, helpful and useful, based
on the input from technology and engineering industry experts.
1. DEVOTE SUFFICIENT TIME
TO WEBSITE FUNCTIONALITY
How well your website functions is vital. What is the point of having a beautiful site if visitors get frustrated with its performance
and functionality and leave after a few minutes?
"If your website does not function flawlessly, it negatively effects
your credibility as an engineering firm. I would equate a broken
feature on a website to a math error on engineering drawings,"
says Brian Byer, vice president, general manager of Blue Fountain
Media, a Pactera Co.
"No matter how much thought and effort you put into website strategy, the user experience or overall design, if your site
does not function efficiently, prospects and existing customers
will go elsewhere," says Byer. "Additionally, a suboptimal website
demands more effort and time from your own team to monitor
and troubleshoot. Ultimately, it will be more difficult to update,
change or navigate."
How do you know if your site is functioning correctly? "Conduct a website audit, using volunteers from within and outside the
engineering industry," says Byer. "Have them note pain points,
dead links or other obstructions on your website. Even if the
website is technically functioning, ask where they feel the resource
lacks appeal or leaves them underwhelmed."
2. KEEP FLEXIBILITY IN MIND
WHEN DESIGNING THE WEBSITE
The internet-and technology in general-is not static. Change is
constant, and engineering firms must be ready to continuously
update their websites.
"My first rule is to always design with flexibility in mind and
avoid any design choice that applies some kind of restriction or
limitation," says Bill Kloster, CIO at Short Elliott Hendrickson
(SHE). "You never know when you are going to need to add
another button, paragraph, column or row."
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019
ENGINEERING INC.
25
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019
Contents
From Acec to You
Market Watch
Legislative Action
The Private Side
Powering Forward
Website Brilliance
Creating Compelling Proposals
Latest It Innovations
Restorative Spirits
The Infinity Loop
Mergers and Acquisitions
Members in the News
Business Insights
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Intro
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Cover2
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Contents
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 2
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 3
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - From Acec to You
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 5
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Market Watch
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 7
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Legislative Action
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 9
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - The Private Side
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 11
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 12
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 13
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 14
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 15
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 16
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 17
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Powering Forward
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 19
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 20
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 21
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 22
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 23
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Website Brilliance
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 25
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 26
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 27
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Creating Compelling Proposals
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 29
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 30
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 31
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Latest It Innovations
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 33
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 34
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 35
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 36
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 37
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Restorative Spirits
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 39
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 40
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 41
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - The Infinity Loop
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 43
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 44
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 45
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Mergers and Acquisitions
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 47
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Members in the News
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 49
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 50
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - 51
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Business Insights
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Cover3
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2019 - Cover4
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