Published: April 21, 2008 11:50 am      

Expert: For Web sites, accessibility is the key

Mike Danchanko remembers the days when Ford Motor Company's Web page was literally just one page.

Those days are gone forever.

Now, Internet surfers can view Ford models in different shades and angles and peruse information in English or Spanish.

Local businesses are finding they can't afford to ignore Web site development either, said Danchanko, president of digital.iway Inc.

Customers have learned to expect a Web page that is easy to navigate and informative.

An Internet site now answers the questions that customers would have phoned the business about in the past.

"The Web is almost a necessity," Danchanko said.

"That goes for all types of business, whether it's service oriented or product oriented.

"The need is almost identical."

Most important for Web-savvy businesses is ensuring that Web content is accessible to as many people as possible, he said.

Compatibility has become what a Web page was 10 years ago. Businesses are just starting to realize its importance, Danchanko said.

"When we started, people started to see the need for a Web page," he said.

He and his mother, Rosalie, started the company in 1999.

"What they wanted was an added value," Danchanko said. "Each year, businesses called more and more and said, 'We need this to be competitive or even in the running.' "

Now, the focus is shifting from not simply having an Internet presence, but having one that anyone can visit.

"The big change is how to make Web sites accessible to as many people as possible - one to work on everybody's computers, cell phones and tablet PCs," said Danchanko, who also is a member of the Cambria County Chamber of Commerce's technology committee.

Consulting a professional in Web development makes all the difference, he said.

His company gets many calls from businesses who had asked a friend to put together a Web page and are not happy with the results. Or, business administrators want to update a site but don't have the in-house expertise.

"If you start with someone reputable in the beginning, you'll get a professional Web site," Danchanko said.

Precision Business Solutions President Brian Shrift said customer satisfaction means having an Internet presence that is easy to use and navigate.

"People check you out (online) before they call or visit," he said.

His company has been helping businesses fix computers or build Web sites for nearly five years.

Depending on the type of business, most establishments can have a simple and clear Web site that gives customers the answers they want such as directions, available products or services, company history and contact information.

More complicated sites involve ordering or purchasing.

A first step toward deciding what you want is seeing what other businesses have, he said.

"We always tell our clients to look at other Web sites first," he said. "Sometimes it's hard to describe what you want."

While it may cost less to go with a friend or relative who can build a Web page, the results reflect the investment, Shrift added.

"Generally, it looks better if you hire a professional," he said.

"And, if you need a change or an update, it can sometimes be harder to get a hold of someone who does design on the side."