(Source: 72dpi e-newsletter - Issue 2)
Wow
Your website needs to stand out. If people have found it by simply browsing, does it make them stay? There are something like 36,000,000 websites out there and 4 billion pages of content. Does yours grab attention? Professional design and professionally-written content makes all the difference.
Branding
A cheap looking website makes your business look cheap. Are you comfortable with that? A website is much like a shop window. A window that looks as if the school child next door laid out your merchandise wouldn’t generate many sales, and nor will a silly looking website.
Readability
Is your text short, sharp and concise - yet still ‘sells’ the product? Is the sales message presented logically? Have you established the benefits of your products as opposed to describing them? A professional copywriter will help you decide what needs to be said, put it in the language your prospects will understand and ‘sell’ what you’re selling.
Action
Get visitors to your website to do something - anything! If just browsing research indicates they’re unlikely to come backs o sell them something small (a loss leader item perhaps) or get them to sign up for your newsletter.
The other questions to consider:
SEO
Search engine optimisation, an online library that makes your website appear in search engines such as Yahoo, Sensis, and Google.
Information
Whilst, you may know all about the product or services you offer, your clients and prospects may not. Don’t skimp on professional copy writing, photography - it’s false economy to save hundreds of dollars now only to lose thousands of dollars in sales (that you’ll never know you missed) later on. The end result will be a clever and succinct website, with visual engaging design and strategic information.
Design
Ask yourself questions like; ‘What does my potential client want to see from us?’, ‘What overall image do I want in the market place?’, ‘How much or how little information do I want to make readily available on the website?’ If you fulfil these simple objectives, then your website will close the sale for you.
And always remember, your website is the sales person who never calls in sick, never takes holidays and works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Set up your website with the correct foundations and you are guaranteed a return on investment.
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