DIGITAL DESIGN

1. In two paragraphs explain why a customer centric Web site design is so important, yet so difficult to accomplish.

Customer-centric means creating a Web site that is centered around customer wants and needs. Savvy businesses are realizing that focusing their site on customer benefits and ensuring its visitors a unique experience are key drivers of sales, loyalty, and much-desired word-of-mouth advertising. By proactively considering the needs, wants, and beneficial preferences of your customers, you can make more effective decisions about the content, offerings, design, and processes available on your site (Pivarnik C, 2000). 

Customer centric web design actually makes it easier to achieve goals. Customers who can find what they are looking for are much more likely to make a purchase or return later for more information and services. Most importantly they are likely to recommend to their family and friends, which is one of the most powerful ways to increase sales.

The difficulty in accomplishing a customer centric website is recognizing the wants and needs of customer. Consumer's behavior will vary between different sectors of society. Website needs to have the content, design, offers and processes that attract the customer. It takes a lot of time and money to make  proper website.

Pivarnik C.(2000) Is Your Web Site Customer-Centric? Retrieved April 11, 2013 from

http://www.4hb.com/0520cpcustomercentric.html 

2.  Define the term ‘presence’. Write an additional paragraph that describes why firms that do business on the Web should be more concerned about presence than firms that operate in the physical world.

The term Web presence refers to an individual or business having an established existence on the World Wide Web, through a Web site, e-mail, Internet advertising, blog, or a collection of Web files. Web presence is also called Internet presence. (Webopedia)

Firms conducting their business on the Web need to be more concerned about presence than those operating in the physical world because this is the sole opportunity they have to interact with their customers. The Web site is the only way of business to connect with customers. Customer will make decision in first five to seven seconds whether to use this company or not by looking on website. Firms need to realise that an online business presence does not have the same feel, sense of security and safety for customers as compare to physical presence. Website need to be professional and have to ensure safety for customers.

Presence. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from  http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/presence.html

3. *Usable Doesn’t Have To Mean Ugly ‘for a web design to be truly beautiful, it has to be functional, have purpose and contribute in some way to the website’s intuitiveness, usefulness and branding. All of these things contribute to the overall effect of a design’. This is a quote from one of the articles on web design linked on Web pages that suck. Find a web page that ‘does not suck’ and discuss the features that make it work.

ebay.com.au is an online auction site allows people to buy and sell products. It doesn't suck as it provides good service. This website is very easy to find out products.  It is very easy to use, attractive and catches your eye and it also has good online presence. It also gives customers chance to provide feedback and secure transaction as well. It advertises on different sites and also offers discounts and free shipping all over the world giving itself a great reputation. ebay.com.au is a fantastic example of a well made online business that works.