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Casual Articles - 12 Tips To Great Websites
So you want to buy a business? Then you should consider a number of very important factors before investing your hard-earned money and buying a business. First, you should determine in which business arena you are going to invest. With the numerous choices available, such as franchises, start-ups, multi-level marketing and home-based businesses, figuring out where to begin can be overwhelming. You should then review all these possibilities and decide on which business will give you the greatest chance for success.One of the many business opportunities you can pursue is the home-based or multi-level marketing business. MLM is also known as network marketing or referral marketing. It is also referred to as a home-based business because you don?t need to regularly report for a 9-to-5 office job. Your home can be the center of all yo
Make sure the site is consistent through out your site. New pages should look consistent with old pages. If you want to change the design of a new page, consider a total site redesign. Nothing is more disturbing to a customer than feeling as if they have just gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout the site.
11. Content is King
Does your website get the message across to your visitors? Is it compelling? Is the site user-friendly? Does it lead your visitor through the sales process? Have a few friends or colleagues review, critique and edit your copy to insure it is delivering the intended message. But first, make sure they are good spellers! Always double check your spelling and grammar.
12. Be Search Engine Friendly
About 85% of all web users find what they are looking for via the top search engines. Your web pages must be easy for the search engine spiders to find and navigate. Focus on your keywords and keyword density within your page, but don't try to write just for the search engines. Utilize the meta tags keywords, description and title. Use your keywords when naming your pages and within the body of the page.
Implementing the twelve steps above probably will not change your site
Facebook, MySpace, Xanga, Friendster, Flickr and other social networks are creating a generation of self-branding experts who will see, hear and filter messages differently than ever before.Millions of young people are creating, maintaining and manipulating their personal brands everyday online. They decide which images to show, which friends to feature, which notes to post, which people to exclude and shape the ways others perceive them. In a perpetual digital high school environment where clicks rule and people are conscious of how, when and why they are sorted into segments (jocks, nerds, freaks, sorority girls), managing and protecting your brand becomes a daily task like brushing your teeth or checking your e-mail.People with profiles on social networks also understand that they are routinely being scrutinized and eva
1. Location, Location, Location
The old real estate saying applies to websites as well, but Internet location is really the website name. You must have a name that is easily remembered and that reinforces your business.
If you can use your actual business name, that's great. But if not, then choose one that will bring surfers to your site - your product. BestWidgets.com says it all, but JonesBrothers.biz doesn't help at all for a small business.
2. Focus
What are you selling? Concentrate on that one thing (or group of things). Unrelated products can confuse and irritate your viewer. If you offer many products, dedicate a page for each one. Up-selling great, but don't dedicate so much to it that the customer feels caught in a bait and switch.
Make mention of other products but do so subtly. Remember, too, that domain names are cheap to get and to host, so consider having a different website for each product or service grouping.
3. Load Fast
You only have between 10 and 30 seconds to capture your potential customer's attention. Make your site load fast, minimizing graphics to those really needed, keeping the actual page size rather small. Stay away from glitzy animations and sounds. That fancy flash movie may be really cool, but not so after you have seen it a dozen times!
You can make your secondary pages a bit longer once you have the prospect on your site. Don't forget to test your pages at different connection speeds. Your cable modem may blaze, but what happens on a 56k modem on dialup? You may be surprised. Also make sure that all your cool stuff works on all current browsers. FrontPage and DreamWeaver both let you test this, and if you are serious about your business site, you need one of them, or a good web designer.
4. Target Your Audience
Who are you selling to? It is critical that your site reflect the desires of your potential customers. Are you trying to sell to teenagers between 14 and 17? If so, the site must be designed for what they expect to see. Is your product aimed mostly at home-based businesses? Then you can afford to emphasize different products or services on different pages. The key here is to know your market and build the site to their preferences. Don't try to be all things to all people.
5. Credibility Is Crucial
Your contact info should include an email address, mailing address, phone number and a fax number, if applicable. Remember, too, that a PO Box is an acceptable address if you are working from home. If you are unwilling to provide this information to your customers, how can they trust (or buy from) you?
6. Privacy
A clear privacy statement is "must have". Every commercial web site should have a privacy statement posted on line. Do not think that because you are small, you don't need to do this, and all the other items. It matters. Provide an easy-to-see link to your privacy statement from every page on the site as well as from any location that you are asking your visitors for personal information.
7. Guarantee Everything
Offer an ironclad, no exceptions, money back guarantee. This also establishes credibility but it is important enough to stand alone. If the customer sees that your are willing to assume all of the risk, they will immediately be more inclined to trust you. If you are providing a downloadable product and someone asks for a refund, don't get hung up on their still having the product. Just ask them to delete it and then you forget about it. The last thing you want to do is to get into an argument with a customer.
8. Payment
If you don't currently take credit cards, start doing so immediately. You can either set up a merchant account or use a service like PayPal or ClickBank. Take checks on line through PayPal. Provide an address for those who prefer to pay by check or money order, but make it clear that you do not accept cash. Say that you do, and someone is sure to claim they sent you money and got no product.
Make sure the payment method is easy to access and use. Do not ask for any more information than is necessary to complete the transaction. If you don't need the info, don't ask for it. Remember, too, that if you are keeping customer credit card info online, you had better have a very good firewall and anti-spam software. There is a major liability potential here. That is why outside services like PayPal are so popular. The keep the card info and you never see even it.
9. Easy Site Navigation
Make site navigation easy and intuitive. While it may be artistic to make your index page all black and hide the link to continue, will that generate business? If your customer can not navigate your site to find what they want, they will go elsewhere. Limit the choices and direct your customers through a sales process.
10. Design Consistency
Make sure the site is consistent through out your site. New pages should look consistent with old pages. If you want to change the design of a new page, consider a total site redesign. Nothing is more disturbing to a customer than feeling as if they have just gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout the site.
11. Content is King
Does your website get the message across to your visitors? Is it compelling? Is the site user-friendly? Does it lead your visitor through the sales process? Have a few friends or colleagues review, critique and edit your copy to insure it is delivering the intended message. But first, make sure they are good spellers! Always double check your spelling and grammar.
12. Be Search Engine Friendly
About 85% of all web users find what they are looking for via the top search engines. Your web pages must be easy for the search engine spiders to find and navigate. Focus on your keywords and keyword density within your page, but don't try to write just for the search engines. Utilize the meta tags keywords, description and title. Use your keywords when naming your pages and within the body of the page.
Implementing the twelve steps above probably will not change your site i
1. Establish Key Performance IndicatorsThese Key Performance Indicators should measure a variety of financial areas in your business e.g. value of an average transaction, cost per sale, profit margins, cost per inquiry, the lifetime value of a client etc. In this way you will have some very clear yardsticks or benchmarks on which you can base any future profit enhancement initiatives.Write down 4 initiatives against each Key Performance Indicator that you and/or your people can do to improve on these figures. Then write down some action steps and delegate these tasks. It is important that these KPI’s are monitored on a regular ongoing basis so that you can assess the performance.2. Revisit your Client Nurturing program. Make sure that it addresses the following points:• You will need to have a telephone or
You can make your secondary pages a bit longer once you have the prospect on your site. Don't forget to test your pages at different connection speeds. Your cable modem may blaze, but what happens on a 56k modem on dialup? You may be surprised. Also make sure that all your cool stuff works on all current browsers. FrontPage and DreamWeaver both let you test this, and if you are serious about your business site, you need one of them, or a good web designer.
4. Target Your Audience
Who are you selling to? It is critical that your site reflect the desires of your potential customers. Are you trying to sell to teenagers between 14 and 17? If so, the site must be designed for what they expect to see. Is your product aimed mostly at home-based businesses? Then you can afford to emphasize different products or services on different pages. The key here is to know your market and build the site to their preferences. Don't try to be all things to all people.
5. Credibility Is Crucial
Your contact info should include an email address, mailing address, phone number and a fax number, if applicable. Remember, too, that a PO Box is an acceptable address if you are working from home. If you are unwilling to provide this information to your customers, how can they trust (or buy from) you?
6. Privacy
A clear privacy statement is "must have". Every commercial web site should have a privacy statement posted on line. Do not think that because you are small, you don't need to do this, and all the other items. It matters. Provide an easy-to-see link to your privacy statement from every page on the site as well as from any location that you are asking your visitors for personal information.
7. Guarantee Everything
Offer an ironclad, no exceptions, money back guarantee. This also establishes credibility but it is important enough to stand alone. If the customer sees that your are willing to assume all of the risk, they will immediately be more inclined to trust you. If you are providing a downloadable product and someone asks for a refund, don't get hung up on their still having the product. Just ask them to delete it and then you forget about it. The last thing you want to do is to get into an argument with a customer.
8. Payment
If you don't currently take credit cards, start doing so immediately. You can either set up a merchant account or use a service like PayPal or ClickBank. Take checks on line through PayPal. Provide an address for those who prefer to pay by check or money order, but make it clear that you do not accept cash. Say that you do, and someone is sure to claim they sent you money and got no product.
Make sure the payment method is easy to access and use. Do not ask for any more information than is necessary to complete the transaction. If you don't need the info, don't ask for it. Remember, too, that if you are keeping customer credit card info online, you had better have a very good firewall and anti-spam software. There is a major liability potential here. That is why outside services like PayPal are so popular. The keep the card info and you never see even it.
9. Easy Site Navigation
Make site navigation easy and intuitive. While it may be artistic to make your index page all black and hide the link to continue, will that generate business? If your customer can not navigate your site to find what they want, they will go elsewhere. Limit the choices and direct your customers through a sales process.
10. Design Consistency
Make sure the site is consistent through out your site. New pages should look consistent with old pages. If you want to change the design of a new page, consider a total site redesign. Nothing is more disturbing to a customer than feeling as if they have just gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout the site.
11. Content is King
Does your website get the message across to your visitors? Is it compelling? Is the site user-friendly? Does it lead your visitor through the sales process? Have a few friends or colleagues review, critique and edit your copy to insure it is delivering the intended message. But first, make sure they are good spellers! Always double check your spelling and grammar.
12. Be Search Engine Friendly
About 85% of all web users find what they are looking for via the top search engines. Your web pages must be easy for the search engine spiders to find and navigate. Focus on your keywords and keyword density within your page, but don't try to write just for the search engines. Utilize the meta tags keywords, description and title. Use your keywords when naming your pages and within the body of the page.
Implementing the twelve steps above probably will not change your site
Personal Internet use at work has gotten an increasing number of staff in trouble with their employer.Some people have even gotten fired in extreme cases for their personal Internet use at work.If your company has a policy on Internet use at work, you should pay close attention to it especially if you work for a company that has specified limits on your usage. If you don’t know if your company has an Internet policy, ask your manager.If there is one thing you need to be aware of when it comes to Internet usage it’s that your company can tell what websites you have visited if they want to and you really can’t do much to hide your tracks.Clearing your Internet History on your browser and clearing files you have downloaded don’t help to erase the tracks you have left on the Internet.Similarly don’t think
Your contact info should include an email address, mailing address, phone number and a fax number, if applicable. Remember, too, that a PO Box is an acceptable address if you are working from home. If you are unwilling to provide this information to your customers, how can they trust (or buy from) you?
6. Privacy
A clear privacy statement is "must have". Every commercial web site should have a privacy statement posted on line. Do not think that because you are small, you don't need to do this, and all the other items. It matters. Provide an easy-to-see link to your privacy statement from every page on the site as well as from any location that you are asking your visitors for personal information.
7. Guarantee Everything
Offer an ironclad, no exceptions, money back guarantee. This also establishes credibility but it is important enough to stand alone. If the customer sees that your are willing to assume all of the risk, they will immediately be more inclined to trust you. If you are providing a downloadable product and someone asks for a refund, don't get hung up on their still having the product. Just ask them to delete it and then you forget about it. The last thing you want to do is to get into an argument with a customer.
8. Payment
If you don't currently take credit cards, start doing so immediately. You can either set up a merchant account or use a service like PayPal or ClickBank. Take checks on line through PayPal. Provide an address for those who prefer to pay by check or money order, but make it clear that you do not accept cash. Say that you do, and someone is sure to claim they sent you money and got no product.
Make sure the payment method is easy to access and use. Do not ask for any more information than is necessary to complete the transaction. If you don't need the info, don't ask for it. Remember, too, that if you are keeping customer credit card info online, you had better have a very good firewall and anti-spam software. There is a major liability potential here. That is why outside services like PayPal are so popular. The keep the card info and you never see even it.
9. Easy Site Navigation
Make site navigation easy and intuitive. While it may be artistic to make your index page all black and hide the link to continue, will that generate business? If your customer can not navigate your site to find what they want, they will go elsewhere. Limit the choices and direct your customers through a sales process.
10. Design Consistency
Make sure the site is consistent through out your site. New pages should look consistent with old pages. If you want to change the design of a new page, consider a total site redesign. Nothing is more disturbing to a customer than feeling as if they have just gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout the site.
11. Content is King
Does your website get the message across to your visitors? Is it compelling? Is the site user-friendly? Does it lead your visitor through the sales process? Have a few friends or colleagues review, critique and edit your copy to insure it is delivering the intended message. But first, make sure they are good spellers! Always double check your spelling and grammar.
12. Be Search Engine Friendly
About 85% of all web users find what they are looking for via the top search engines. Your web pages must be easy for the search engine spiders to find and navigate. Focus on your keywords and keyword density within your page, but don't try to write just for the search engines. Utilize the meta tags keywords, description and title. Use your keywords when naming your pages and within the body of the page.
Implementing the twelve steps above probably will not change your site
When I first decided to leave the corporate world behind and kick off my own business advisory firm, I spread the word through current networking channels: old colleagues, former customers, friends, family, those on my favourite list, and even those on the less travelled list. Phone calls, breakfast chats, coffees (even though I don’t drink the stuff)lunches, e-mails …… you name it, I blitzed it.I developed a marketing and sales communication strategy, branding not only my business, but also the approach I had always utilized in my former life in business planning and growth (aka Business Architecture).What I quickly realized is that my former role at Sunbeam had left me with very little time to maintain a serviceable and usable network of business folks that I could now turn to. It also reminded me of what it was like
8. Payment
If you don't currently take credit cards, start doing so immediately. You can either set up a merchant account or use a service like PayPal or ClickBank. Take checks on line through PayPal. Provide an address for those who prefer to pay by check or money order, but make it clear that you do not accept cash. Say that you do, and someone is sure to claim they sent you money and got no product.
Make sure the payment method is easy to access and use. Do not ask for any more information than is necessary to complete the transaction. If you don't need the info, don't ask for it. Remember, too, that if you are keeping customer credit card info online, you had better have a very good firewall and anti-spam software. There is a major liability potential here. That is why outside services like PayPal are so popular. The keep the card info and you never see even it.
9. Easy Site Navigation
Make site navigation easy and intuitive. While it may be artistic to make your index page all black and hide the link to continue, will that generate business? If your customer can not navigate your site to find what they want, they will go elsewhere. Limit the choices and direct your customers through a sales process.
10. Design Consistency
Make sure the site is consistent through out your site. New pages should look consistent with old pages. If you want to change the design of a new page, consider a total site redesign. Nothing is more disturbing to a customer than feeling as if they have just gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout the site.
11. Content is King
Does your website get the message across to your visitors? Is it compelling? Is the site user-friendly? Does it lead your visitor through the sales process? Have a few friends or colleagues review, critique and edit your copy to insure it is delivering the intended message. But first, make sure they are good spellers! Always double check your spelling and grammar.
12. Be Search Engine Friendly
About 85% of all web users find what they are looking for via the top search engines. Your web pages must be easy for the search engine spiders to find and navigate. Focus on your keywords and keyword density within your page, but don't try to write just for the search engines. Utilize the meta tags keywords, description and title. Use your keywords when naming your pages and within the body of the page.
Implementing the twelve steps above probably will not change your site
Looking for ways to display current mortgage interest rates on your website? An easy way to display today's mortgage rates on your site? This article gives you an overview of some options available on different websites.Free Daily Content for Your Site from HSHAll interest rates are shown as a graphic. You will need to sign up with a valid email address in order to use this content.You can display HSH's daily national mortgage statistics - recognized worldwide as the most accurate and most objective available - on your Web site or weblog, at no cost. It's fast & easy! Select the image or calculator you want, submit the form, and they will send you an e-mail to confirm your selection.You can customize any of these graphics - or customize our calculators - with your business name, logo, etc. Tu
Make sure the site is consistent through out your site. New pages should look consistent with old pages. If you want to change the design of a new page, consider a total site redesign. Nothing is more disturbing to a customer than feeling as if they have just gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout the site.
11. Content is King
Does your website get the message across to your visitors? Is it compelling? Is the site user-friendly? Does it lead your visitor through the sales process? Have a few friends or colleagues review, critique and edit your copy to insure it is delivering the intended message. But first, make sure they are good spellers! Always double check your spelling and grammar.
12. Be Search Engine Friendly
About 85% of all web users find what they are looking for via the top search engines. Your web pages must be easy for the search engine spiders to find and navigate. Focus on your keywords and keyword density within your page, but don't try to write just for the search engines. Utilize the meta tags keywords, description and title. Use your keywords when naming your pages and within the body of the page.
Implementing the twelve steps above probably will not change your site into a LandsEnd.com overnight. You should see a marked improvement in the site's traffic and sales when you implement these suggestions. It may take a few weeks to a few months, but you will see success. And success breeds success.
© 2005 Richard F. Hill - All Rights reserved
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