With internet becoming the most sought after medium of doing business, a
website is an indispensable part of any business. At the outset your website
serves as your image maker, profoundly impacting the first impression of your
business. So do you have more reasons to put in your best efforts to make a
great website? Here are some tips.
“If you aren't doing at least some part of your business over the Web,
you're missing out on a huge opportunity. Today, the Web forms either an
integral part of the business or a fabulous means to extend it,” says an executive.
Here are 10 ways of making your website a success:
1. Plan your site
This step is to set your mission and accordingly define your customers. It is
only after you decide who you want to target can you know what content to put
or how you want to design the site. A site meant for only business people
should be clean, uncluttered and conventionally in blue. Something intended for
young people can be informal and more relaxed. Women like pink, so a website
targeting them can have a similar theme.
2. Build a fast website
They say you have just 30 seconds to capture your visitors’ attention. A
website which takes minutes to load might irritate them and make them click
away. To minimize your website's load time, keep graphics to a minimum. The use
of flashy technologies such as JavaScript, Streaming Audio/Video and
Flash animation should be done sparingly. Visitors don’t visit your
site to appreciate the beauty of it, they come to do business. Welcome them
with professionalism.
3. Use a simple website navigation method
Make your site easy to navigate. Jazzy styles like black index page and
hidden navigation tools might look good but if they drive people away from your
website, what is the use of having them? If your customers can't navigate your
site in order to find what they want to buy, they'll simply click away. Limit
the available choices and direct your customer's attention to the sales process.
4. Design your website for easy search engine indexing
Search engines are the way lead your stake holders to your website. So try
your level best to be search engine friendly. Scatter target keywords and
search phrases throughout your body copy to give your pages better ranking
potential on engines and directories for related searches. If need be take
professional help for search engine optimization.
5. Make it easy to order and pay
If you are enabling customers to buy your products/services online you must
offer a variety of easy payment methods. If the mode of payment is difficult
and if the visitor has to make a lot of effort (which may be clicking more than
5 times) he might not stay with you for long. This may result in loss of
business.
6. Include Obvious Contact Details
Giving contact detail shows your willingness to make it easy for your
stakeholder to know you. You might have to tolerate a couple of useless calls
but that is worth the business that the eagerness to give a personal touch will
generate.
7. Content is the key
This is the reason why your customer will remain hooked to your site or will
lend you his eyeball space. To the point matter in easy, simple to understand
language is what the consumer is looking for. Don’t give them difficult words,
give them information. “Websites are the best mode of marketing for SMEs. The
keywords used in the content of the website, if search engine friendly give the
business more visibility by spending less money in all types of media,” says
Suneeta Ghosh, resident manager of Top Rankers, an internet marketing company.
8. Create a Site Map
You should include a detailed, text-based site map, with a link to every
page and preferably, a short description of what each page offers. It is easy
for a visitor who is looking for specific information on your website. They are
also a way for search engines to easily find and index every page on your site.
9. Take care of aesthetics
The design and layout of each page should be the same. The theme throughout
the site should remain consistent. This might not add to your business but your
visitor will definitely find the site more appealing and you organized because
of proper presentation.
10. Check for Errors Regularly
Check for broken links frequently. They will only hamper your business and
not benefit you. So rather than being careless and ignoring them better tend to
them.
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