December 26, 2006
Its almost 2007. Another year to work on your business model and grow your business. Part of this could be developing your online presence. This months newsletter looks at some of the basics a good web site needs.
Web site basics
Now you're ready for designing and building your Web site. What makes a good Web site? Before getting en-meshed in design details, get the big picture by writing a site outline.
It's a misconception that you have to throw big dollars at an e-commerce solution. You just have to be a careful shopper for vendors. Having a detailed outline makes the process more efficient. A site outline should include these key areas:
Content building to enhance your site traffic
The key to a successful web site is content. Give your site visitors lots of interesting information, incentives to visit and buy, and ways to contact you. Once your company's site is up and running, continually update and add fresh content to keep potential and existing customers coming back for more.
Structure your site for accessibility
You now have some idea of what you want from your web site, next - structure your site. Decide how many pages to have and how they will be linked to each other. Choose graphics and icons that enhance the content.
Now organise the content into a script. Your script is the numbered pages that outline the site's content and how pages flow from one to the next. Page one is your home page, the first page that site visitors will see when they type in your URL. Arrange the icons depicting major content areas in the order you want them. Pages two through whatever correspond to each icon on your home page.
Effective website navigation
Make it easy and enjoyable for visitors to browse the site. Use no more than two or three links to major areas, never leave visitors at a dead end, and don't make them back up three or four links to get from one content area to another. For example, if you have a web site for convention planners, make it easy for visitors to link to city sites where they can find information on recreation and activities in the area.
How to Establish Credibility on Your Web Site
Your site should look professional and give customers the same feeling of confidence that a phone call or face-to-face visit with you would. In addition, if you have an offline business as well, be sure to remind your visitors that you don't exist only in cyberspace. Your company's full contact information should appear on your home page.
You can read more articles for online buisness at the business article section.
All the best
Doug Platts
Founder of Fresh Thinking Business