Forum Moderators: buckworks
I originally started off with a black website, as many entertainment sites are black (E! online for one). However, it did not really fare too well (meaning I didn't get much business from it). But it wasn't only the color, but the design of it as well.
I then revamped it, created a version with a white background and a version with a black background, sent it to friends, and everyone chose the black background. It just looked more aesthetically appealing then the version with the white background. However, a lot of that had to do with the top navigation bar being quite thick and unprofessional looking (because of its thickness) with the white background. But it flowed with the black background because the nav bar was black as well.
There is also a big difference between people liking the look of a site, and actually buying something from it when they are not familiar with the business and its owner.
Anyway, the new site has not fared well either. So, I am in the process of revamping it yet again. I actually might subcontract out the job so that I can get a high quality site.
My question is, do any of you have a website business whose site does not have a white background that makes substantial money? It seems as though all of the major sites that make bank (Yahoo!, Amazon, Dell, etc.) all have white backgrounds. That is just what people are used to. They are not used to buying things on the net from sites that do not have a white background.
However, my site is entertainment oriented, so it should have that entertainment appeal. And I am not sure if white gives that appeal (even though there would be many other colors on it, of course). It is also a site that sells web design, so I would think it should show what it is capable of via its own site. But then again, there is always the portfolio section.
Any thoughts?
Buyers for web design services in the entertainment industry are going to be most impressed by your portfolio, samples, and client list. Additional factors include copy-related issues, i.e., how well you convince them that you have expertise in their industry.
Other considerations are site traffic and how the buying decision is made. A great site that gets few views won't generate much business. More fundamentally, do web design service buyers in the enternment industry surf the web to find potential suppliers? Or do they respond better to direct sales calls, networking, or other marketing approaches. Certainly, just about every potential client may end up checking your site, but that may be the thing that confirms your expertise rather than generating the lead.
I'd worry less about color and more about site content, visual appeal, and your overall marketing plan.
