Web design is more than just putting a website on the Internet. Effective web design uses color, fonts, images and layout to capture an emotion and tempt your customers to buy. It's knowing when to add more and when to keep things simple.

Companies often believe that the more stuff there is on a web site (noises, animated imagery, chirps, graphics and music) the more eye-catching their site is. In fact, these things can be distracting and cause a customer to get frustrated and leave.

Navigation is also extremely important to a site. Most people who search on-line do not look past the first couple of pages in a website before they decide whether or not that site is useful to them. Your homepage should let visitors know what your site has to offer. Links to further information should be clearly labeled, organized, and prominent on the page. Your customers should be able to easily find the information they are looking for and be gently guided toward purchasing your products.

A sloppy web design risks more than just failing to attract customers -- in some cases, it can actually repel them. Before even reading about your products, your customers may immediately see your company as being unprofessional and disorganized.

Most people design a website to their own tastes, but it takes a knowledgeable designer to design a site for the customer. Creativity, ease of use, professionalism and clarity all influence a customer's purchasing decision. An effective design will draw your customers in and inspire them to purchase your product.