Create

Most websites are created without any sort of marketing strategy. In order to be effective and to provide a reasonable return on your investment, your website should be a major part of your overall marketing plan. It is very important to distinguish between your needs and wants and to focus on the functionality needed to reach your business goals with your website.

To us, your website should be viewed as an extension of your company.

The 10 Rules for Creating a Great Website

1 ) Make a Great First Impression

• Making a great first impression is important. Your website may be the first exposure a potential client/customer experiences. It is very important to find a balance between graphics and content.

2 ) Make Your Website Useful

• Avoid the over use of graphic design rather than making your website useful. Give your visitors a reason to visit your site.

3 ) Create Simple Navigation

• Ensure your website is designed with a simple navigation so your visitors can go from one page to any other page. Avoid schemes that have the visitor searching for a secondary navigation menu or having to use their “back” button to navigate your site.

4 ) Distribute Your Information

• By distributing your graphics and content over several pages, ensures your pages and website will load faster. By doing this, your visitors will not have to scroll often down long pages.

5 ) Use Analytics to see Who is Visiting

• Google Analytics or another analytics tool, will give you the ability to know who is visiting your website on a monthly or quarterly basis. These tools give you invaluable information for updating or refocusing your site to better serve your target market.

6 ) Update Frequently

• By keeping your website updated, you create a reason for your visitors to keep coming back. Having repeat visits, gives you the opportunity to repeat your market message.

7 ) Capture Information

• Capture visitor information with your website by using forms, offers, surveys and promotions. The information you capture from your website visitors will let you know who they are and what they are interested in. This will not only help you to design a more useful website, but it will also give you the ability to notify your customers and potential customers of new products or services.

8 ) Avoid Unnecessary Bells and Whistles

• With the internet, today’s fad could be gone tomorrow. It is important to invest in good graphic design and compelling content to keep your visitors interested in your website.

9 ) Review Your Goals

• It is important to review your goals quarterly. Things change all the time on the internet; it is constantly evolving with new technologies. It is good to review the purpose of your website and if any of the new technologies are useful in aiding you to reach your goals.

10 ) Avoid “Do it Yourself” Website Design

• There are programs that will let you build your own website, but you have to make all of the decisions about the design; and sometimes you need that outside perspective to aid you in the design.