women on the web

Recent research undertaken by the University of Glamorgan has shown that men prefer sites designed by men and women like those created by women.

It transpires that men like boxy, square web layouts and women prefer a more rounded 'feminine' look.

Despite being female, boxy is a style that I prefer and tend to use, mainly because I find this kind of layout more user-friendly, and this is a pretty important factor in web design. This look also seems to be very much appreciated and desired by my female clients.

I set up Catfish Web Design 7 years ago and it was certainly not my plan to cater only for women. I have many male clients and enjoy working with them but interestingly around 70 percent of the sites I design are for female-run businesses.

When I initially began pitching for business I suddenly realised that for many people getting a website built can be a daunting prospect. They often don't understand the technology, are not sure if they are getting a 'good deal' since prices can vary enormously from agency to agency, but most of all they want to feel confident that their designer understands what they want from their website.

With this in mind I decided to adopt a 'jargon free' approach. This meant taking the emphasis off how the site was built but why we were building it in a particular way. The 'why' always involves the end user and their experience of using the site which should be the most important thing on the client's mind.

This philosophy has definitely attracted many female clients, particularly those just starting out in business who feel they may need a bit of 'hand holding' and guiding through the maze of the World Wide Web.

One client came to me several years ago with a potential business idea and plans for a website that would have cost her quite a few thousand pounds to set up with a fairly substantial input from her running the site. The competition in that field was stiff and her experience in it limited. She would also have been relying very much on the input of other people who she would need to recruit. During our discussions we discovered she had a far more interesting service to offer. Taking this route instead meant she would not be managing and monitoring a website but actually doing what she loved and tapping in to her experience and well-established contacts. She now runs a thriving business!

Since relocating to Cambridge from London two years ago my female client base has increased. The variety of projects has been interesting and challenging including a personal introduction agency, company secretarial services, career coach, Alexander Technique teacher, precision engineering, music events directory, vintage-inspired boutique and local literary festival.

For me the interest is not just in the technical side of designing and developing websites, but in helping people find the best online solution for their needs.

If you'd like a chat about your plans for a website or an existing site that's not working as well as it should get in touch with me on 01223 873349 or email info@catfishwebdesign.com

Author: Jane Horwood, Owner of Catfish Web Design. Jane has been running Catfish for 7 years. She specialises in websites for charities and small businesses.