Systems, Not Sites
A Web System is an approach to creating large-scale websites that is grounded in the best principles of product design.
Most organizations treat their websites like passive holders of information. Glorified, clickable brochures that rarely, if ever change.
The Web System approach, on the other hand, is anything but passive. It assumes that your site will evolve and it makes it incredibly easy for anyone in your organization to do so.
To your visitors and customers, a web system looks like a website and acts like a website.
But to you and your team, it is a source of empowerment, enabling you to better serve your customers, respond to competitor actions, and capitalize on new opportunities.
All without the help of an engineer.
You know a site has been built as a Web System if it:
Is updated frequently and easily.
Drives daily business value in the form of meaningful sales and new leads.
Improves on a continuous basis.
Accurately presents your company’s current priorities and latest offerings.
Entices the best talent to join your company.
Sets you apart from your competitors and establishes you as a category leader.
Has clear metrics that are easily understood. You will know, off the top of your head, how the site has performed over the last week and how that compares to previous weeks and years.
Is a source of pride internally.
And it looks a little something like this:
Or this
If your website already does all of these things, you can probably skip this handbook and take a well-deserved nap.
For everyone else - which by the way - is just about every company big and small with only a handful of exceptions, I’m here to tell you that you are asking far too little of your website.
Let’s help you change that.