Got a Web Checklist Like This?
You have your new Website up and running, and are ready to start bringing in sales.
Perhaps, you spent hours writing the copy yourself?
Or maybe you hired a big, Web company to design a site with all the bells and whistles?
Either way, you are not finished…. unless, you did this one, key step…
Did you have outsiders give you their opinions of the site?
After all, you are probably too close to it… and you’ve spent so much time and effort (and maybe money)
preparing it, that you may miss some important errors.
With this in mind, have some outsiders and potential customers answer these questions (and your Mom or spouse doesn’t count)!:
1. What is the first thing you look at when you open the site?
2. What does this business offer?
3. Does the site provide a solution to your problem?
4. What are you supposed to do when you visit the site? What is the call-to-action?
5. If you want to purchase something, do you know what you are supposed to do?
6. Is it easy to find what you need on the site?
7. Does the site have too much going on, or is it easy to get the information you need?
8. What did you like most about the site?
9. What did you like least about the site?
10. What suggestions do you have to add value this site?
Once you have a good collection of responses, review them carefully.
Are you surprised at the answers?
You may discover blatant mistakes and key data that you overlooked. And while you may be disappointed, it’s great that you have this information.
Now, you can use this “insider” insight to help you create a site for your customers that works. Once you make the changes and update your site, run this test again.
Did your updates work?
If you receive the responses you are looking for, move forward with a big launch for your site. But if information is still missing and potential customers are not getting the value and data they are looking for, your site still needs changes.
Take the time and effort to review what your customers want on a regular basis. Then, provide the appropriate information they are looking for. After all, you may think you have a great site, but if it doesn’t meet the needs of your target market, you don’t!
Yes, this may be time consuming. But think what will happen if you don’t take action. Your site will not be the best it can be, and sales and site visitors will go to the competition.
Do you need help with a site review and search engine optimization to boost awareness, visitors and sales?Please let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.
January 25th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
[...] Business Blogs » Blog Archive » Got a Web Checklist Like This? startupnation.com/business-blogs/index.php/2011/01/25/web-checklist/ – view page – cached You have your new Website up and running, and are ready to start bringing in sales. Perhaps, you spent hours writing the copy yourself? Or maybe you hired a big, Web company to design a site with all the bells and whistles? Either way, you are not finished…. [...]
January 26th, 2011 at 10:28 am
Great points on getting feedback, we’re normally so concerned about constantly updating that we forget the content might not be the only reason people aren’t interested in the site.
The website can be the most important tool for a business, http://www.whaleofablog.com/?p=135 , but many neglect it.
I read somewhere that 12 people (outsiders) can find almost every mistake on your website. Even having six check it out can greatly improve the site.
Great post!
January 26th, 2011 at 10:44 am
Hi Heiphanie,
Thanks for your nice comments. Today, people count on a Website to provide them with the information they need to buy products and services. If your Website doesn’t do that, ba bye new business!
It’s so important to monitor and update your site on a regular basis for the best results. And if you don’t have time, it’s well worth it to hire a professional SEO copywriter to do it for you.
Melanie Rembrandt, rembrandtwrites.com
January 27th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Great checklist. Thanks for posting.
January 28th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Great Checklist. Here at Dyacomp, we constantly have to look over and find ways to improve our website. Though this can sometimes be time consuming, the benefits are well worth the time and effort. We recommend that our small business clients do the same because their site can be a very useful competitive advantage for them in the e-commerce world. Thanks for sharing this article and I will definitely recommend the check list to our clients!
January 28th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Thanks Molly. I appreciate it!
And if you want a competitive advantage for your clients, try doing an online survey specific to your target market and then share the results with them. It will be your unique survey and results that you can promote to your audience… and the media.
All the best!
P.S. There is a free report on improving your Website on my site at rembrandtwrites.com too!
Melanie Rembrandt, rembrandtwrites.com
January 29th, 2011 at 5:49 am
I like this post Melanie Rembrandt! Particular 1 to 10 steps- “What is the first thing you look at when you open the site?2.What does this business offer? 3.Does the site provide a solution to your problem?………” All are best to make a discussion…..
January 29th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Thanks Online business directory. Glad to help!
Melanie, rembrandtwrites.com
February 1st, 2011 at 11:21 am
So true that we get too close to the problem to be objective.
I highly recommend http://www.usertesting.com/ for getting that feedback. (I have no affiliation with the site - just a very satisfied customer.)
February 1st, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Good tips. You are right - the website owner is too close to the website and outside opinions really help to make your site more effective. Thanks for the tips.
February 1st, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Thanks for your comments Bill and Corinne. Hopefully, this will help some entrepreneurs provide more valuable content on their Websites to their target markets.
Melanie, rembrandtwrites.com
February 1st, 2011 at 2:44 pm
“You Can Laugh At Website Design Worries—If You Follow This Simple Plan”
Melanie, this is a good frame work…here’s my contribution
1. What is the first thing you look at when you open the site?
I hope it’s an eyeball grabbing, heart stopping, curiosity driving HEADLINE that pulls your ideal customer right into the belly of your story and connects them with the solution you’re about to offer.
2. What does this business offer?
3. Does the site provide a solution to your problem?
I’d put these two right together because that’s the whole purpose of a business; to provide solutions to problems.
4. What are you supposed to do when you visit the site? What is the call-to-action?
Excellent Point Here, “What’s the next step” Too many people just plop up “brochure sites” with no call to action. Internet Marketing (websites) is often misused. One of the best uses of the web is for lead generation. Must have a call to action.
5. If you want to purchase something, do you know what you are supposed to do?
And, make it easy. In fact, offer multiple ways to respond, god forbid, Call on the Phone.
6. Is it easy to find what you need on the site?
Simple is the key!
7. Does the site have too much going on, or is it easy to get the information you need?
Yea, ditto number 6
8. What did you like most about the site?
Track your analytics, conversions and follow up conversions. Are your numbers working?
9. What did you like least about the site?
Split test different versions…you’ll know which works better.
10. What suggestions do you have to add value this site?
I’ll leave you with this…the only person that really matters is your ideal customer. If you have people who are not your ideal customer, emotionally involved in searching for the problem you solve, they cannot give you an effective opinion on what your site should or shouldn’t have in it.
Track your conversions and try to beat the control.
You gotta have direct response copy and continually test your results.
Thanks for the Great Article.
Stu
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:25 am
Hi Melanie,
Thanks for this checklist. I think it will be useful for those who are clueless on how to keep everything simple. I think that web design, even the color palette has everything to do with how people feel or trust your site.
Shaleen
February 2nd, 2011 at 5:06 am
I would like to add that you are more likely to listen and adapt if making changes on your site is easy. My site is hosted by Wordpress. My sister does all the fancy graphics, but I’m able to make minor changes and updates. In doing so, I can quickly respond to feedback about my site.
(Conversely, if I were paying a great deal for changes, I might not want to listen, no matter how insightful the critique is.)
February 2nd, 2011 at 8:00 am
Great comments Stu, Shaleen and Shelley!
When it comes down to it, entrepreneurs need to pay attention to what is on their site.
With the fast pace of doing business, it’s easy to forget the importance of a Website - and its role in bringing in new sales (and it doesn’t need to be expensive to make changes).
Thanks!
Melanie, rembrandtwrites.com
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Excellent list! We will be using this once we get our business website up and running. I’ve found that getting an external option on “small” things like your business logo is also beneficial. Like you said, we are often too close to this to see what others see.
We have three logo prototypes and the three of us see one thing, but when I show it to others outside of the business, they see something totally different. It has been invaluable to use others to see what we can’t.
Thanks for posting this list!
March 5th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Great post! I’m glad that I read this.
I’m running a fitness business and my website is up and running for 3 months, but I only have one sale. I did all kind of blogging and sending my site to the directories, no results… now I know why!
2)What does this business offer? NO CLUE!!
Looks like I need to redesign my website. Thanks Melanie!
March 6th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Glad it was helpful Lena. Good luck with your redesign.
For more help, you may want to check out the free info. on my site at rembrandtwrites.com.
Thanks,
Melanie