Over the years when talking about website creation, design and everything that goes along with it, I’ve heard it said. I’ve said it myself. And I’ve mostly believed it: Good is good enough.
First, what does “good enough” mean? To me, it means: Perfection isn’t possible, so why try? I can’t control everything and I don’t have the time or money to even try to pursue it. So good is good enough.
In the web world, I hear this a lot. It could be the website design, the copy, the functionality, anything…
Is the website good? Yes! Is it good enough? Well…10 years ago (or maybe even 5 years ago), having a website was enough.
Is a ‘Good’ Website Still Enough?
Is it enough today? In my business, the number of amazing designers/developers is staggering. The quality of the sites produced now make sites that are only a few years old look outdated and hard-to-use.
With the ability to outsource to overseas firms that charge less than half the going rate, your product/service can no longer be just “good enough”; it must be outstanding.
The ease of getting a website combined with the power of search engines has made your competitors just a search and click away. Whether you’re selling artwork, consulting services, web applications, or really anything…your site must stand above your competitors.
The bottom line: Good IS NOT enough when it comes to websites.
Where Do I Start?
The first step is appearance. We can all say we are not that superficial, but we’re lying to ourselves. Say you’re looking for a consultant to help you with your storage and backup needs. You find a few in your area through a web search and are now looking at their sites. Assuming you don’t have prior knowledge about any of the consultants, I would bet a lot of money that your initial choice will be the site that is easy to navigate, answers your most common questions quickly, and most importantly has a well-organized and professional design.
Does the quality of the website mean the consultant will be the best? Not at all. But quality does suggest a few things:
- They care about their image.
- They spent the money to have a site that is professional and easy-to-use.
- They took the time to research their target audience.
- They care about the people they serve.
They decided good was not good enough. Now I know most of us (myself included) don’t always have the time or money to go beyond “good enough.” So the question is whether it’s better to put something out there that is just good, or if it’s better to wait until you have the time and money to do it right.
Think Quality Over Quantity
It basically boils down to answering a few key questions:
- What are your competitors doing?
- What is your price point?
- What do your customers need and expect?
It’s better to have a website with one great page then 10 terrible ones. It’s better to send one quality email a month than six boring ones. It’s better to sell one great product than a bunch of cheap ones.
Perfection is impossible, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive for it. Good is not always good enough.