A Web Site's design depends on the type of product offered as well as the type of site the customer wants. A site should catch the public's attention but not be so flashy that customers leave because they are impatient waiting for all of the graphics and effects to load.
You should have a site which is easy to maintain. The less maintenance required the less costs for updates as well as less chance for errors and down time.
This site can be updated on the internet in a matter of minutes. You're site should be able to be updated while on the phone with your webmaster and if everything is in order you should see the change via the internet shortly thereafter. (Complex changes and graphics additions will obviously take longer)
"DON'T BITE OF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW"---In other words don't go out and spend thousands of dollars on a site if you are aiming for local business. Start out with a smaller site and add as you go along. If you pay a designer for a large site and later find out you didn't want or need all of the work, they won't give you a refund on it if they have already performed the work for you. Our one page/one year hosting plan is a great way to start.
Keep in mind, you pay for the space you take up on the site providers computer, don't be talked into huge graphics files if you don't need them. Not only do the files take up a lot of space but they take time to load. People will leave and you still pay for the space.
Do some of the work yourself. Why pay a web designer to transcribe your company's information. If you have the time, type up some of the text yourself and give it to them on disk or via e-mail. The less time typing on the computer the less costly your site will be.
Be picky but be open to suggestion. Many web designers know what works on the internet. Always ask for input as to whether or not your ideas will look good on the site.