Custom Website Design Will Help Set Your Company Apart From the Competition

Isn't a unique website design automatically a custom website design, and vice-versa? It seems obvious that they would be, but in my experience, just because a website is custom-built doesn't mean it is unique, and the reverse rule also applies. Naturally, we all want our website to be both unique and custom (and affordable doesn't hurt as well), so the key is to analyze what your web designer offers to make sure that you are getting the perfect website for you, a unique custom website that does exactly what your business needs it to do.

A unique website, on its own, is simply a website that isn't just like another site. It needs something that sets it apart from all the other sites on the web. It doesn't need to break new ground in the world of website design, and really, there isn't much new ground that remains to be broken, unless you want to shatter the very ground your website stands on. Fact is that there are certain basics of website design that have been proven to work, and ignoring them just for the sake of standing out is folly for a business website. You don't want your entire site to take up a 250 by 250 pixel square amidst a sea of white. Sure, it's unique, but not in a useful way. A website is a tool, and the best tools are those that can most efficiently accomplish the tasks assigned to them, not the ones that look the strangest. That in mind, if your tool can do things just as well as all the others, or even better, why not also make it stand out from the crowd if doing so won't inhibit its function any? That's the goal of the unique website design; standing out from the crowd without hampering functionality.

A custom website, on the other hand, is designed specifically for you and your business. This doesn't make it unique. A simple black text on white background informational site with buttons across the top and a logo in the upper-left corner isn't by any stretch of the imagination unique, but it might be just fine for your business. The great thing about a custom website design is not only that it does the jobs you need it to do, but that it can actually be more affordable than a less customized but still unique website.

So in the end - what, you need more elaboration on that point? How can custom actually be more affordable than non-custom? Well, look at it this way. A custom website design is best when it springs from a custom web design package. That is, a package designed and priced specifically for the website that is being custom built. On the other hand, a non-custom package is likely to include a lot of features that you don't actually need. It's always better, in my opinion and experience, to work with your website designer to get the package and the price that is perfect for you, rather than having to buy a pre-designed package that requires you pay for three features you don't need to get the one you want.

So in the end, if you're looking to get a website created, I'd advise to begin your efforts searching for a unique, custom website design that also happens to be affordable. Getting what you need for the best possible price, and looking good while you're doing it, is always better than spending extra cash to mimic what's already been done.

Dustin Schwerman is the head web designer for Truly Unique Website Design. Truly Unique offers services ranging from Internet Website Design to Inexpensive SEO.

10 Tips to Boost Your Personal Brand Identity

This article isn't about design per say, although it is a wonderful resource for any business person, no matter how big or small your business is.

Everything you do in life – from the way you dress to the car you buy, from the friends you see to the club you belong, from the notes you write to the way you speak -- either builds or diminishes your personal brand. Below are ten suggestions for building a stronger personal brand.

One: Become an expert source. Deliver a speech, write a bylined article, and become an expert source for reporters. Make sure you have a current photo, bio, resume, and speaker introduction.

Two: Become a great communicator. Research shows communications skill is the top determinant for upward social and professional mobility. Join Toastmasters or hire a communications coach to ensure that your written and verbal skills are at their best.

Three: Draft a marketing plan for yourself annually, and review it quarterly. Include specific goals, strategies, action steps, and a timetable.

Four: Develop an ‘elevator speech.” Within the time that it takes an elevator to travel one floor – about 60-seconds – be able to deliver a succinct description of what you do, how you do it differently, and the benefit it provides.

Five: Build your Rolodex. Make new business contacts and stay in touch with them. Most people with powerful brands have powerful friends.

Six: Realize that your boss can be your most powerful ally -- or enemy -- in building your brand. Be loyal and never speak ill of him or her – to anyone. We should make our bosses look good, and help them build their own brands.

Seven: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Balance your individual style with clothing that will appeal to those you are trying to impress.

Eight: Become a class act. Learn good business and social etiquette. Buy elegant personal stationery and send hand-written notes. Know how to order a good bottle of wine in a fine restaurant and drink it sparingly during dinner. (Remember, alcohol and branding seldom mix.)

Nine: Select “significant” significant others. Who you date or who you marry affects your brand. John Hancock CEO David F. D’Alessandro in his book Career Warfare: 10 Rules for Building a Successful Personal Brand and Fighting to Keep It, suggests that single people not take their dates to company events. If they do, they will be judged by the outcome of every romance.

Ten: Give something back. Giving your time, talent, and money to charitable causes is a brand-builder especially when it complements your brand strategy. Find a cause you are passionate about. When I was in public relations, I wanted to be known for my creativity. By limiting my community involvement to arts organizations I was able to reinforce my personal brand. Not only did my involvement in the arts benefit my career, I enjoyed the work. I still do.

Your personal brand is one of your greatest business assets. Nurture your brand and you will nurture your career.

“The Career Engineer,” Randy Siegel, helps clients electrify their careers and transform their lives by becoming high voltage communicators™. Power up and subscribe to “Stand in Your Power!” his complimentary monthly eNewsletter at http://www.powerhousecommunications.com.