For an engineering design firm to make a mark
online, it’s first and foremost tool to use to reach the millions out there who
have not heard of it is through an attractive and interesting website. Not to
mention a completely appealing and engaging one.
The way it appears now, the website still needs a
lot of work. As in A LOT! First of all, not a single photo is up to show in a
split second what the text is talking about. Secondly, minimalism can be
restful and pleasing; but in trying to gain readers to stay online, one must
not only use photos, animation, color variety but even the counter-intuitive
use of negative space. Too much white space with only a small splattering of
black-and-white text can be deadening. It may bring out a certain effect; but not
when the font is too small against the wilderness of snow.
Another point is that, engineers in general, are
well-known as soft-spoken, tacit, uncluttered and even self-deprecating. Those
who have been through years of engineering schooling rarely see flamboyance in
appearance and character among the lot. Hence, the appearance of Cruse’s
website plays tribute to this reputation among engineers. But there is nothing
wrong with trying to be different from what you have portrayed yourself to be
in life as well as in business.
Cyberspace networking dynamics, however, requires
basic visibility standards which require the use of such things already
mentioned here. One cannot be a singer without the essential desire to perform
in front of people. So, for a company to stand at par with others, whether they
are financial consultancy firms, online journalists or sellers of books or
shoes, it must present itself beyond the formal black suit and uncolorful tie
ensemble. Alright, those will do at times; but at least, use some gold cuff
links, two-tone shoes, pastel-colored dress shirt and, perhaps, subtly dyed
hair.
Ultimately, appearance counts a lot in Internet
visibility. SEOs can do a lot to help a firm gain that in a matter of time. But
the time could be greatly shortened through the use of certain website design
features already mentioned, and many more out there. It reminds us of the
traditional conflict between engineers and architects: the former being more
concerned with strength and stability while the latter with aesthetics or
appearances.
Being an engineering firm, Cruse may not
have the obligation to appear like an architectural firm. But great strides can
be gained if they could show that aside from inner integrity, it also has outer
appeal and beauty.
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