Many websites are great on design, but dumb on strategy and user experience. Websites have moved far away from traditional online information websites into becoming your living, active and interactive digital platform that operate virtually like an automated office that remains open 24 hours, 7 days a week. In fact, chances are that people are going to make contact with your website before they come in contact with you, therefore making a great first impression is a smart move. If your website needs to be worked on, you need to tidy that up quickly. In fact, it will be great if you can get this done before looking at directing traffic to your website.
A great website takes time, money and patience to get things done the right way. Great websites are not only about design but also answer the critical customer question; why are you here? Most websites are developed and designed by developers who focus on extensive applications, aesthetics but little on marketing, value propositions and making sales. Websites should ensure it answers all questions around the credibility, authenticity and quality of your business services.
They have an Overriding Purpose
A ley lesson from one of the most popular websites in the world, Google.com is having an overriding purpose. If you don’t know the purpose for your website, then stop reading this article and go figure that out because it is that important. There are billions of websites being developed every day and it is important that if your website is going to make any appreciable impact on your business.
What do you want them to do when they visit; make a phone call, sample your product, download your brochure, drop their emails, every website attempts to help you being a consumer journey by kick-starting or leading your further down the sales process. As a website owner you need to decide the typical customers and have decided objective the website will deliver. They have clear instructions and call to actions (CTAs) that get them to interact with the website.
Great Designs are customer focused
Great designs are beautiful, but people will soon forget a paper tiger. If you hired a great designer, don’t let him also be the marketer. You not only need to get your designer to focus on the technicalities, your website needs to have the consumer at the centre of all your activities online. You need to work with your designer to create a website that incorporates all of your needs. It should be easy to navigate, visually appealing, content optimized and search engine friendly.
Magnetic content
- The content of highly effectives websites are developed to provide insight, establish credibility, provoke action and to turn mere visitors into leads. Using a balance of images, video, audio, presentations and convincing call-to-actions they make the website visitors feel at home. The content of the websites does not just talk about your business, it also talks about your customers.
- They are built with Content Management System (CMS). Whether customised or the most common types of CMS, they provide powerful features that makes tweaking and updating easy. Most successful websites are integrated with informative blogs that provide a steady flow of value. If you need to look for your designer for every minor changes to your website, there’s a problem.
- They are Search Engine Optimized. Most buying decisions begin with a Google search. Everyday people are going online to search on top search engines in order to find what they need. Your website structure and content needs to be optimized with keywords because that is how they will find you.
- They are simple to navigate. Forget those old snazzy flash displays, when your customers need good animation and videos they know where to find it. Apply common sense by placing the most important links first and prioritize from there on out. A cluttered homepage is like a scattered office space. Keep things simple and smart.
- They are mobile and social friendly. They are not just friendly to customers. They load easily and are easy to navigate via mobile phones and tablets. They also have social media integrated into them. It is no longer news that more people are likely to visit your website via the mobile phones. If your website is not effective via mobile phones, it will cost you customers.
- They tell great stories. The content of your website must tie up into a great story. Your colours, messages, history must all tie into a brand story. Create opportunities to share customer testimonials, demonstrate your accreditation and clientele. Smart websites leave a smart impression.
- They deliver results. Smart websites are fitted with tracking and analytic tools that help measure traffic, sign-ups, conversion and eventually showing what works and what isn’t. These metrics allow for continual adjustments and alignment in order to optimize the website for maximum results.
It is becoming increasingly important for businesses to focus on your ever present and never sleeping employee, your website.