Ever wonder why some companies go to great lengths to make sure their phone numbers spell out something catchy?

It’s to make sure that people remember the number if they hear it and don’t have a way to write it down.

Think about it. You’re a small business owner wanting to get a web site up and running. You’re driving down the road listening to the radio. A commercial comes on that advertises professional web design and marketing services. The person in the ad hits all the right buttons - fast turnaround time, reasonable rates and easily updated content.

You’re sold. Then comes the number. 1-800-555-2390.

What are the chances you’re going to be able to pull over and write it down or even remember it when you’re ready to order?

Now imagine that the number is 1-800-WEB-SITES.

Easy right?

The same is true when we’re talking about domain names. When you’re marketing your web site and don’t have a physical object to give people with the address on it, you’re depending on their memories.

The problem is that many domain names aren’t easy to remember AND you most likely already have a web site and simply can’t change the URL.

So what can you do?

Get a second domain name. Domain names are inexpensive now and can easily be gotten for as little as $10. You then use this web site to give visitors a good idea of what your business is all about. How it operates, what it offers and of course, a re-direct to your current site.

The trick with the second domain is to make the URL something that’s relevant to your business and easy to remember.

Taking our small business example you might want to try a domain like www.websitedesignforwomen.com, which directly targets a specific market. This way, whenever you market yourself, whether it’s on the radio or speaking directly to someone, you can give them a name that’s going to stick in their brains without them having to write it down.

And even if they forget the rest of your marketing message, they’re going to remember your URL, which will remind them of everything you told them before AND point them to where they can buy your products or service.

I read a story not long ago that said that the Pepsi company could lose every bottling plant, every truck, every office - everything they owned - and get a loan to replace it all simply by using their logo as collateral.

When it comes to branding, there’s almost nothing that’s more powerful than a good logo. McDonald’s, Pepsi, Nike and other large companies are recognized the world over simply by their logos.

Think how tough it would be to find a Pepsi in a Japanese grocery store if all you could see was Japanese text. It’s the logo that identifies the brand.

And while your business logo might not gain that kind of recognition, it can help to solidify your brand with your customers.

Imagine sending a mouse pad or cup holder with your logo on it to your customers instead of elaborate marketing brochures or other materials. A good logo will help keep your business in the mind of your customers more than anything else.

So how do you create a good logo?
Unless you’re a skilled designer, you may want to work with a professional to come up with something that suits your business, but here are a few things to keep in mind.

Simple is better - Think of the logos mentioned earlier. McDonald’s golden arches, the Nike swoosh and the Pepsi circle. All of these logos are powerfully simple, but still effective.

Another reason to keep it simple is when it comes to printing your logo. While nearly all designs will work fine on the web, there can be problems when it comes to using them in different areas.

A simple design can usually be printed in a variety of mediums without losing clarity. For example: elaborate logos might not be able to be silk-screened onto shirts without losing fine details or might become difficult to see if printed in a small size like on a letterhead.

Graphic representation - Using illustrations, graphics and photos that tell people what your business is about is also effective in logo creation. Incorporating a graphic of a camera into your logo can let people know that you’re a photographer without having to say it.

All text - If you don’t use a design or shape for your logo; you can try a text-based logo. These logos use words and type either by themselves or combined with other kinds of artwork, but they don’t have to be boring. Think about logos like Federal Express, Coca Cola and Disney.

Color & BW - Your logo should be designed so that it looks good in both color and black and white printing. Again, while a full color logo on the web will look good, it might prove to be too costly to print if you’re putting it on physical marketing materials.

Define your brand - A good logo helps a business define what it’s all about. And good logos aren’t put together during lunch. Consider the UPS logo. Did you know that the particular shade of brown used for UPS was chosen because it represented professionalism and elegance? The shield reflects security.

And although the logo has been tweaked over the years, the brown color and shield remain because they define UPS and what they stand for.

Keep in mind that these companies paid big money for their logos and spent a lot of time to get it just right. You don’t have to shell out a fortune for a solid logo, but you should take the time to explore as many different possibilities as you can before you settle on a final design.

Having a good logo probably won’t be THE deciding factor as to whether or not your business succeeds or fails, but it can help customers remember you and feel better about doing business with you.

Top 7 Design Trends for Web Sites continued…

4. Buttons

Back when the web was new, the way to navigate a site was either by moving your mouse over text rollovers or by clicking square buttons. Today, though, many designers are using buttons that have rounded corners or are full circles. Why? Some people speculate that humans prefer organic shapes. Others suspect that we have deep-rooted fears of sharp corners. Whatever the reason, round is the way to go.

5. Big type

A lot of people don’t like reading off of web pages. Too often small type together with the eye-strain that goes with staring at a monitor turn people away from text heavy pages.

But now, many designers are making it easier on the reader by employing bigger, easier to read type. And not only is the type larger, but designers are flowing text onto multiple pages rather than trying to make everything fit onto one. This might make the size of your site a bit larger, but your readers will thank you for the lack of headaches.

6. White space

Many people, especially advertisers, fear white space. They feel that if the whole page isn’t filled then they’re not getting their money’s worth. But the opposite is true. Pages that contain a lot of white space, or empty space between elements, is easy on the eyes and helps people focus on what’s really important - your content.

A good rule of thumb is: if it doesn’t enhance your message, leave it out.

7. Centered Layout

More and more sites are aligning their content in the center of the page with plenty of white space on the sides. Why? Well for starters, this helps to ensure that visitors don’t have to scroll side to side in order to read all of your copy.

Another reason why this is popular is that it helps people to focus on your content, which is why they’re at your site in the first place.

These are just a few of the current trends in web design. If you’re thinking about creating a new site, or giving yours an overhaul, give some of these a shot and see if you don’t get better results.