SOME websites seem to work on the theory that the more flashing, colour, advertising and pop-ups there are, the more the viewer is going to be entertained and the longer they will stay. This is particularly true of the less salubrious sites, I’m told. I’ve never looked at them. Ever.

So it seems that business websites often take the polar opposite approach from the (sometimes literally) whizz-bang websites in order to appear serious and corporate.

Fleet funding firm Alphabet’s website is a prime example of this cool, calculated and stern approach. The homepage is icy blue and grey, with click-throughs across the top to About us, Products and services, Our approach, News and Contact us. There’s no search function.

Underneath is an arty picture of Tower Bridge with a European flag, a link to worldwide Alphabet websites and three very sober paragraphs about the firm.

The history of the firm is also documented, although it’s merely a list of six start-up dates in various countries.

Many of the other links are similarly succinct, and it would appear that the aim of alphabet.com is merely to set out its position in brief rather than give the hard sell.

It’s only when you click through onto the Alphabet GB section that some of the white space on the rest of the site gets filled with more text.

The prose is more welcoming and informal and there’s more detail, including easy-to-understand information about funding methods. It’s still relatively concise, though.

There is also the option to sign up to a further site called Alphabet online. I couldn’t find any explanation as to why I should do this and what lies beyond this mysterious online door so I didn’t and I imagine plenty of other first-time visitors won’t either.

This site is typical of many corporate websites that are well designed but raise more questions for the viewer – and especially the potential customer – than they answer.

The lowdown

The site: www.alphabet.co.uk

We like:

The GB section has clear information for a first-time fleet manager

We don't like

Wear a coat while you view. It’s icy in there