The webmaster’s chief job is to improve traffic flow and keep customers and visitors coming back. Building the site is one thing, but simply building and deploying a website does not assure traffic. In fact, a site could be attractive and filled with all the most up-to-date technology and yet not draw a single visitor if it is not marketed effectively. Here are 10 tips to lead you to success with your website.<\/p>\n
(1) Think of the Internet as a New Medium<\/p>\n
The Internet is not intended to be a fixed medium. Web sites get modified all the time. A site is a waste of bandwidth if it simply duplicates something which could easily be put into print. Even newspaper sites are constantly updated. Use features which take advantage of the internet as a channel of communication. Filter content for your visitors. Provide search capability. Provide interactivity with features like audio, video, forums, quizzes and tools. Web visitors benefit from fresh and interactive content.<\/p>\n
(2) Bear in Mind, Time is Important.<\/p>\n
When visitor comes to your site, you have their attention for only a few seconds. You need to make use of the first seconds intelligently or you will lose their interest – in a flash. Most visitors have short attention spans, consequently you need to design your web site’s homepage so that it grabs their attention and provides what they are seeking right away. Your visitor’s finger is conditioned and hovering over and ready to click the “Back” button. Don’t overcomplicate your website’s homepage. Best results will be obtained if you make it very clear where to click to find what they are looking for.<\/p>\n
(3) Design the Site for Your Visitors.<\/p>\n
Your site must fulfill the needs of customers, not your needs. People come to a website for information, to solve a problem, or to find the best price on a product. So, don’t add content which is not really a value for your customer. And, stay away from obsequious advertising hype about your business or products. It inflates the ego of the company more than it assists your visitor.<\/p>\n
(4) Involve the Visitor.<\/p>\n
Keep the visitor involved and cause them feel like they are getting some important help. Ask for feedback and suggestions. Invite communication from your visitors and respond to that communication quickly. When getting communication, acquire their email address. This will let you to communicate back to them.<\/p>\n
(5) Keep it Up to Date.<\/p>\n
You need to have information on your site which is timely and applicable to the customer’s life. Posting month-old news is not very interesting. Posting dry product information which never changes is not attention-grabbing. Yes, you need to have product content and other information on your site that won’t change much, but you can also post more timely information. You can, for example, post information regarding ways your products can be used in certain situations in life. Provide instructions and techniques – things which are immediately applicable and work out a problem.<\/p>\n
(6) Be Careful About Form and Design.<\/p>\n
Enormous graphics just for the sake of graphics often impresses the site’s designer more than your visitors. Images should help convey your site’s story. They should not be pointless. Keep in mind, some visitors may yet be accessing your web site via dial-up. Your site needs to load up fast for all users. A sluggish website will cause your visitors to disappear quickly. Consequently, pay attention to graphic and design size. Some websites are designed for people with wide screens. Remember not everyone will easily see your large presentation.. On the flip side, don’t go too light on graphics. A site which is badly designed and uses the default font and little or no color is not very aesthetically pleasing. Any web visitor, whether they acknowledge it or not, judges your business by your site unless they have something else to go on. A well-designed site conveys concern for the visitor. A poor design makes the site seem like an afterthought.<\/p>\n
(7) Endorse Between Visits<\/p>\n
Start a mailing list and use it. Invite visitors to take a further look at your website or product offers. Repeated contact cause your business to prosper. But, be certain you make use of your mailing list in the way you told your visitors before they opted in.<\/p>\n
(8) Modernize Your Website to the External World<\/p>\n
The internet is a medium which is available to the public. When you establish your web site, don’t operate it as if you are a self-contained island. Get out there and keep in touch with the latest ideas on other websites related to your own. Contribute to forums. Post links to other sites and request a link back. Form partnerships with other sites if it is appropriate. Allow people to email you directly. Just think of how much you detest getting stuck in a computerized phone system. Sometimes you just would like to have a discussion with somebody. Give your visitors that ability.<\/p>\n
(9) Don’t Let Them Leave too Fast<\/p>\n
Use newsletters, continuous updates to your site, out-going email, contests, forums, clubs, auctions – anything that will cause visitors to revisit to your website. When displaying links to other websites, don’t merely send your visitors somewhere else. They may never return. Give them an exit page. Provide a pop-up when they try to leave your web site. Or at the very least make external links display in another window.<\/p>\n
(10) Look At Your Website Statistics<\/p>\n
Pay attention to your site’s statistics and react accordingly. What are people looking at? How are they locating you? Do they simply come and leave right from your homepage? What period of time as they are on your website? Do they come back? These statistics are extremely important in updating your site based on customer needs and wants. Keep in mind, the biggest mistake of any webmaster is designing the site for what THEY want. A profitable website is planned for the targeted viewers, not to make an impression the site’s owner.<\/p>\n
If you’re doing internet marketing<\/a> your need to draw as much targeted traffic<\/a> as possible consider these tips for designing your site and you should be happy with the results.<\/p>\n