Anyone who creates a website, regardless of the reason, obviously has a message to convey; for a business, getting that message across is critical. There are many SEO methods that can be employed to get the best visibility, along with paid advertising - both of which help in getting a message to its intended audience. One area that is often overlooked, somewhat because it is not understood, is website content and presentation and the difference both can make in the success of a website. Differences It is many times incorrectly assumed that website content and presentation are one in the same, which could not be any further from the truth. Presentation is how a web page looks to viewers, a look and feel that holds a visitor's interest. Content, on the other hand, is exactly what is on the page with regards to copy, images and the method used to relay the message. While both can work together for optimal results, each refers to different details of an efficient web page. It is the separation between aesthetics and semantics in web building. Presentation A page template, such as the layout, typeface, background, color palette, etc., is all presentation. It is how the information is laid out for readers. In order to have good presentation, basic design rules such as web safe fonts, text large enough to be readable and having an easy-to-use menu and sitemap should all be implemented. A well-displayed site should be neat and clutter-free, easy for users to navigate. Presentation is controlled and assigned mostly through web coding. Content Page content has nothing at all to do with aesthetic appeal, other than the fact that information should be displayed in the best way possible. All text, headlines, images, etc., that are put on the site are content. A page could have no content yet still have a good presentation; content is controlled by what is put into it. A Blend of Both Naturally, the best websites strive to have both good presentation and content. The less improvement a website needs, the better it will hold viewer attention and allow for the professional picture a company wants to portray to be seen. This is what adds to SEO and advertising efforts to create a high-quality site with repeat visitors. Although many sites with minimal presentation and content seem to do well, it certainly could be better. Interestingly, good to excellent appearance will perform well even if the content is bad, because initial impression is that important. A good visual presentation can allow for other things to be overlooked. Just the opposite will happen with excellent content and bad presentation, as visitors will never get to the information before clicking off. Again, visuals account for a great deal and pages that seem messy, disorganized and unprofessional do not give a very good first impression. If readers cannot get past the poor visuals, then it does not matter whether the included information is good or bad – it just will not be read. The best results from any website will more than likely always be the result of combined efforts. Not only is good SEO and internet marketing going to aid the entire process, presentation and content will as well. Efficient internet pages that work well for a business require a lot of attention and effort. Any website effort should be well spent by first ensuring there is appropriate site presentation and then adding the best content possible! Chris Hunter is an expert in Web Design and Search Engine Marketing. To find out more about Texas Web Design, go to the main website at: http://www.webunlimited.com.
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