By Lori Gama-White
www.DaGamaWebStudio.com
If you aren't getting the results you want from your Web site up maybe you're making these mistakes…
Mistake #1: Rushed to get something online and did not plan it out. Whatever goal you're aiming for with your Web site, you'll most likely reach it if you take time to plan. If you were opening a real store, you'd plan as many details as possible. You might write out a business plan or at least have thought about it in your mind, explored different options, gathered data and you'd have done many other things that would ultimately affect your store's bottomline. The same planning process applies to your Web site: the more carefully you plan it, the better the results will be. Decide to whom you want to sell and what you're going to sell them. What's your Web site's goal? Is it to get qualified leads to contact you? Or do you want to present information that will drive people into your offline store or restaurant? Do you want people to subscribe to your newsletter, thus, giving you their e-mail and contact information so you can do some e-mail marketing? Do you want them to buy products or donate to your organization? Decide what you want them to do so you can make your Web site do it.
Mistake #2: Wrote your own content (and you're not a writer). Creating compelling copy that sells is an uncommon talent to have. If you have this talent, that's great-go ahead and write your own Web site copy. But if you don't possess this skill, please hire an experienced Web copywriter who can do this in less time than you and much more effectively than you. Don't make the mistake of writing it yourself.
Mistake #3: Allowed the design to be confusing, cluttered, and overwhelming. A 2002 study done by the Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab showed that "nearly half of all consumers (or 46.1%) assessed the credibility of sites based in part on the appeal of the overall visual design of a site, including layout, typography, font size and color schemes." People will decide within the first three seconds of landing in your site if they'll stay or go-mostly based on the design/layout/colors of your Web site. Keep it simple and clutter-free with an easy to understand navigation.
Mistake #4: Turned your brochure into your Web site. If you committed this major mistake, you won't achieve your site goal. Unlike a brochure or radio and TV ads, your Web site can instantly involve people if you offer interactive features like this: survey their opinions, run contests, give a free E-book, give a downloadable tips sheet, have an online game they can play with. Offer access to cool features or detailed information if they register for a free account on your site. With the Web, the possibilities are infinite. People will go back to your site again and again if you get them involved.
Mistake #5: Tried to do it yourself. Great Web site production takes an experienced team, collaborating on creating your top marketing tool: your Web site. If you've attempted to create your Web site yourself, you've committed a big mistake. Don't build your Web site unless you've done this proficiently many times before. Hire a professional Web site company with years of experience. Be sure you look at their portfolio and read their client testimonials so you can make sure they know what they're doing. Meet with them to ensure it's a good fit so it'll be fun to work together.
If you've managed to avoid the first 5 mistakes, be sure you don't drop the ball by making the following mistakes:
Mistake #6: Failed to follow up. Want to really demonstrate how efficient you are, especially with leads? Reply to their e-mails and voice mails within an hour instead of a day. E-mails followed up on within an hour rather than 24 hours, shows that you want that person to be taken care of right now. In these days of waiting in long lines due to inefficient and poor customer service, you'll really outshine your competition if you follow up quickly. Almost all mobile phones and PDA's have Internet service so you can check your e-mail while away from your computer. If you can't follow up within 2-24 hours, at the very least, follow up.
Mistake #7: Failed to market your site. Smart business people not only include their Web site address every time they market their company but they urge people to GO to their Web site. Be sure to include your site address in your: voice mail, e-mail signature, newspaper and radio ads, direct mail, business card, brochure, on your company vehicles, and on your vinyl banner at trade show exhibits. Remember to do some online marketing to be found high up in the Search Engines because 90% of people who research companies before deciding to do business with them use the Search Engines.
Mistake #8: Failed to keep your site fresh, green and growing. After you've planted your Web site in your garden of marketing tools, don't abandon it. Just like a garden, your Web site needs your utmost attention to help it grow and thrive. Continually add fresh content, new photos, new information that's valuable to your Web site visitors. Pull the "weeds" so that old, outdated content doesn't choke your Web site message. Visit your site at least once a week to keep it growing. Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's once said: "If you're green, you're growing, if you're ripe, you rot." Keep your Web site green.
Lori Gama-White owns DaGama Web Studio in Greeley, Colorado. Developing strategic, results-oriented Web sites since 1997, Lori Gama-White and her team of Web professionals are passionate about helping people get their businesses on to the Internet. For more information, questions or comments, call 970-378-7822 or e-mail .
© 2005 Lori Gama-White - All Rights Reserved -
http://www.dagamawebstudio.com
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