Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`ve been reviewing some of the pages here in the critique forum, and reviewing pages I get emailed about, and there is one common element that crops up the most.  A failure to define what your website goals are.
When designing a website, make sure you know what you want it to do.  Like all advertising, there should be an objective (preferably measurable).  But with websites it seems that most people just want to load it up with information.  These bloated websites are not user friendly!
In a radio ad you`ve got 30 seconds to sell.  On a website you might have less!  Your design has a lot to do with it, but your words more-so.  We`ll all still have to admit, that on the internet, content still reigns supreme.  But most small businesses overload their websites with too many pages of repeated information.  But setting that aside, the first major improvement (that will also provide the greatest return) is on the landing pages (or mainly, your home page).
Your home page should be brief.  It`s unlikely that your brand is top-of-mind already, however, most of your visitors are probably already aware of similar products: so briefly introduce yours.  But keep it all about them.  Write out the benefits for the visitor.  Instead of "our patented weight-loss program is one of the country`s most effective", write "You`ll be guaranteed to lose weight fast with our patented products".
So, be brief.  Be consumer aware. And drive the visitor.  Where do you want the visitor to go?  Do you want them to buy?  Then ask them to.  Do you want them to sign-up for a newsletter? Then profile it with a call to action.  Time-and-time again, calls to actions are proven effective!  So take your website to the next level and make it brief, make it good, and make it effective.



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redfish,
you are very correct. my webmaster and I just covered that topic Friday. We are removing some things from my site and retooling. It also annoys me to go to a site and have to wait and wait or wade through Stuff to get to the content, I usually just leave the site. I like quick and to the point.
Catherine



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Catherine Miller
Catherine Miller Designs
7 Cloverleaf Llane
Buckhannon, WV 26201-8889
304-472-3331
wwww.catherinemillerdesigns.com
catherinemillerdesigns@gmail.com

I wonder if it`s because so many people go through school learning that nothing has a "real" definition. Everything is relative, and anything can be whatever anyone feels like it should be. Sure enough, though...the lack of definition, branding, concept, and direction in so many web pages is the number one problem.