| Sep. 29 2006 at 5:26 PM |
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This is a very useful article, especially as you peruse through the forums and see how many SuN'ers are asking for feedback on their sites.
Just for a bit of fun I'd like to point out that the Microsoft Office Live site violates a couple of your own points.
- The contact information is buried at the bottom of the site and then you have to go through a number of menus to send an email and I really doubt you'll find a phone number, fax number, or address
- In my opinion the Live site is close to violating point two. It relies quite heavily on graphics, but is saved because the graphics help to call the user to action.
On the other hand, for the other points the Live site is a good example (a really good example).
So I would say, as always, there are some general guidelines (i.e. useit.com) but a good balance between what helps to bring your passion forward and being obsessed with your customer (point three) will help you win in the end. Heath Weaver
In depth swimming analysis
www.wbmny.com/swimming
The idea is only the first step.
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| Oct. 03 2006 at 11:14 PM |
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I am so glad I ran across this article. It helped tremendously. I did not have a clue with what I was doing. Now I am ready to pursue my site. Thanks alot.
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| Oct. 17 2006 at 11:07 AM |
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Gee I did all that on my business site and had tons of hits by robots  Which looked good in total count  but it did nothing for sales . . I had over a dozen pages of items for sale for any ones need and had lots of visitors before I got tired of spending more than I made for an entire year . . Even had them catagorized per group and holidays just lookie lews and kept going always saying we can get it cheaper some where else . . I went looking for the same item on E-Bay and it was not any cheaper so I quit even trying to kep a site and went back to my free one and put stuff there . . since I did not have to pay for it ! Plus I can make pages like there was no tomorow . .
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| Oct. 18 2006 at 8:04 PM |
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I was really encouraged to see this tips article. As a media communicator by profession, working in web, video and DVD, I find my customers need simple advice to get them going in the right direction. And these are certainly some useful tips.
But I think tip #3 (Keep your site visitor top-of-mind. ) should be first. You're right that MANY web sites get caught up in "beign a web site"and forget that they are only a channel used to interact with your customers.
And I think I would argue with "make it extremely
clear that you’re there to sell them shoes." I know it may be esoteric but you're there to help make their feet comfortable.
At my blog Doing Media and what I tell my customers and teach my students are the Three Ws of any communication:
- Who do you wanfgt to communicate to? (Audience)
- Why do you want to communicate to them? (Purpose)
- What do you want them to Know, Do or Feel after you communicate? (Goals)
And then there's the How -- the media to use. In an Internet world it's sometimes hard to accept that your "How" may not be a web site but it may be a brochure or a DVD or a podcast or a live demonstration.
Stick to the basics, do what works and know who you are doing it for -- your customer.
Todd O'Neill
Doing Media
http://www.doingmedia.net
San Antonio, TX
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| Apr. 10 2008 at 1:43 PM |
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I'd like to add one more item to this list. I've seen too many sites - particularly blogs - where the business owner hasn't posted their name anywhere. People do business with people, not businesses. Unless you're a nationally recognized brand name, you need to include your own name as well as your business name.
When doing business online you need to do everything you can to build trust with visitors. Including your name shows visitors to your site that you're a real person and not hiding behind a corporate entity.
On my blog The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur I have my name in the masthead, sign every post with my full name and have an "About" page with my name, photo and a link to my bio.
Andrea J. Stenberg
The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur
Andrea J. Stenberg
Join me for the Build Your Business Teleseminar Series
6 Speakers, 6 Weeks, $37
www.TheBabyBoomerEntrepreneur.com/teleseminars
astenberg@bmts.com
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| Apr. 10 2008 at 7:17 PM |
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I highly recommend checking out this website - User Interface Engineering. They have a powerful collection of articles on the nitty-gritty of building effective websites. Rather than assume, they do research in how users actually behave.
http://www.uie.com
One of the things that impressed me most was the observation that people say one thing and do another, and are completely unaware of the discrepancies between their words and actions. Their articles will help you build a better website from stem to stern.
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| Apr. 10 2008 at 9:14 PM |
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Here's a site with a wealth of free information on effective web site design.
http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com Sheryl Schuff, CPA
Get your free reports by clicking below:
"The Six Most Important Things That Entrepreneurs Need to Know About Starting a Business, Keeping Records, and Paying Taxes"
7 tips you can use RIGHT AWAY to increase productivity
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| Apr. 11 2008 at 5:06 PM |
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Chuck Anthony
"You can always better your best."
Home Business Hints
BANSlog
Chicagoland Rock 'n Roll Blog
And, the brand new... Tomato Basics
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