Freedom Flynn

What is a web presence? How does it differ from a web site? Why you should want to know the difference.

Today the internet is filled with millions of web sites. Web sites that provide products and services, web sites that offer information or news, web based communities, and personal web sites with people sharing themselves to the virtual world. Most of these examples don’t seem to differ much these days in the way of web design and overall presentation. Whether visiting someone’s personal web site, or a multi-million dollar company’s web site, it is sometimes hard to see a difference. Aside from the content and logos, most web design seems to be repeated throughout several sites. Most web sites are built from templates or styles that are used over and over again. Originality it seems is becoming hard to find these days when browsing the web.

In the case of businesses this is especially disappointing and discouraging given the amount of web design technology available and different ways to build web sites. Often time’s web design has taken the approach of copying existing sites that a client likes, changing the color scheme, adding new graphics and logos, then calling the job done.

Shouldn’t a company care more about their online presence to have a one of a kind custom site? An original web site that stands out from their competitors, designed to transfer their real world successes over to the virtual world. Online businesses that show you why should buy from them from the first glance. A web presence that visually, as well as with content and branding, shows the viewer. We are different, and we take the time to show you why. Statistics show that in less than a second, a customer decides if they will make a purchase from your web site. With all the money being spent these days on internet marking this should be a major concern. This is just a few examples of why a web presence is important over just having a web site.

A web presence is not just another web site. A web presence not only differentiates your web site from simply looking different from the others, with original content and graphics. Instead a web presence transfers the real world successes specific to your business, into the virtual world. A web presence incorporates branding, not just logos on the site or content. A web presence lets people know why you are you, and why they should be interested. Branding has become the difference between being just another business that people buy a product or service from, to being “the business” to buy from. This mentality works in all other forms of media, yet has been a slow transition to the internet for most companies. Most internet marketing services, and even internal web development teams fail to address this properly. In the near future a web presence will be a requirement for marketing, versus just the idea of a web site just for people to visit online. This is because internet users are becoming more savvy and particular about the sites they choose to interact with, when sifting through millions of results on search engines.

A web presence goes beyond just a nice looking site that users will be initially impressed with. Majority of the time, internet users are no longer impressed with just a flashy looking site. They are looking for web design that has it all dynamic looks or functions, valuable content, and products or services that are in demand.

Let’s look at an example of a long standing web presence. Microsoft® has several of these to choose from, in this particular case let’s look at office.microsoft.com. Not only is this site built with the latest technology, and an original design with the Microsoft brand throughout. The web design also showcases each product with its own branding style and interaction. You can find relevant information, and products you are interested in, with easy navigation and search tools. Of course there are things that can be improved with web design and other presentations that may appeal to different users, but overall this is a great example of a web presence.

In contrast, let’s look at Google™ where keeping it simple, equates to a huge success. However, underneath it all, Google’s web presence is not much different from Microsoft’s Office site? There is the same universal branding. The same ease of navigation, and the same unique presentation for each product or service they offer. So the only difference is in the web design. Other then the product differences, Microsoft’s web design has more visual appeal, fancier graphics, interactive product displays and that’s about it.

The reason behind this is the target market. Majority of people that use Google for what they offer, aren’t there to look at the ascetics of the web design. People use the search engine side of Google for its acclaimed popularity for search results. Most users of Google’s large variety of tools and services are technical people, which know exactly what they want. Therefore, there is no need for the “sugar coating” with a lot of graphics and interactivity to showcase the products and services they offer. After all how many Google commercials have you seen? Not to mention that majority of Google’s products and services are free of charge.

On the other hand, most people that use Microsoft’s Office web site are looking for ideas for new products to use, information, training, etc. They don’t always have an idea of what they want or need before arriving to the site. Since most of Google’s products and services are free, can take the try it now, what have you got to loose in their approach to marketing. Where Microsoft needs to “sell” their products to you, so converting customers is a much larger issue. That’s why Microsoft’s Office web design is set-up with tons of interaction and specific information with the goal of selling those products to you. At the same time showcasing the product in this manner accommodates those of us that just “happen to find” something we may not have realized existed before visiting and sells us that product.

As you can see with these two examples the importance and impact a web presence versus a web site. With targeted market research and proper consulting of who your customers are, a web presence can bring your business or start-up to the highest levels of success.