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Do You Really Need a Web Site?
By: Janice Byer
Having a website is the one form of marketing for your business that just keeps on
giving! But how do you know if you need a website?
Well, with the amount of information that is available with just a few keystrokes or
clicks of the mouse, why wouldn't you want your business' information to be included?
More and more people and businesses use the Internet to find information. Whether it
is locally or internationally, the Internet is the one place where they are likely to find
what they are looking for. Unless, of course, they are looking for you or your product
and you don't have a site.
Having a website allows your business to advertise 24 hours a day, seven days a
week and it is available whenever someone is in need of information on your product or
services. The elements you include on your website are a determining factor for how
successful a marketing device it will be for you.
For personal websites, you can include everything that your heart desires. You can
have a site that shows off your favorite cat or a site that includes everything you ever
wanted to know about Limburger cheese. The subject choices are unlimited.
However, a business site should be more refined. Get to the point and provide a wealth
of information about your product or service. But, ensure that you leave a little to the
imagination. Inspire them to WANT to contact you for a little for more information, and
then make the sale!
And, on that note, make sure your contact information is readily available on your site.
There is nothing worse than peaking your site visitor's interest and then making them
search for a means to contact you. Believe me, many people will simply give up if they
can't find what they are looking for and go on to another site in hopes of an easier
route.
Navigation is another key element. Getting around your site should be straightforward
and painless for your visitors. Provide links from each page to all your key pages.
Some sites can become quite large, so links from every page to every page would
make the site quite crowded and monotonous. But, make sure you don't leave your
visitor at a dead end.
Limit the use of unnecessary graphics and pictures. Of course, if you are selling a
product that needs to be seen, such as clothing, these pictures should be included
but try to keep them as small as possible. This will keep the loading time down on
your site. However, if you sell automotive aftermarket products, or any other large line
of products, don't put a picture of every brake line and fuse on your site. Including too
many graphics will slow down your site and waiting for pictures to load is not
something that most busy people have time for. Again, they will go somewhere else
for help.
As for advertising other pages on your site, there are many avenues than can be used,
including banner exchanges. These are a great form of getting additional free
advertising, but don't load down your site with an infinite amount of banners or links. If
possible, dedicate a page to display your banners, webrings and favorite links. This
will help reduce the clutter on your information pages.
These hints are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more ways to make your
site appealing, more than can be listed in a single article. Research and using an
experienced web designer can make your presence on the Internet appealing and
informative.
Remember, above all else, make your site with your visitor in mind, whether they are
Internet newbies or seasoned surfers. Your site needs to attract new visitors and it
needs to keep them coming back.
About the Author
Janice Byer is the founder of Docu-Type Administrative Services
http://www.docutype.net, an off-site office assistance company that specializes in
word processing, desktop publishing and website development. Contact them today at
(905)584-1746 or mailto:jbyer@docutype.net to learn how they can help YOU meet &
exceed the expectations of YOUR customers.
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