10 things YOU should know about having a successful website.

These days, everyone has a website or is building one. Most likely, even your Grandma has a website for one reason or another. The websites these days range from personal, to business with everything else in between. Being in the website industry for just about 9 years now (building, selling, and marketing them,) I’ve seen my share of good websites and BAD websites. I’ve redesigned my share of BAD websites as well. Today, I’d like address the top 10 key things a business owner should know about having a successful website.

1. Your website is a reflection of your image

Imagine you had a cousin who said they would work for free selling your product or service. However, your cousin only really likes wears ripped jeans, had tattoos all over his body, and didn’t believe in shirts or deodorant. BUT HE WILL WORK FOR FREE AS YOUR SALES PERSON! Would you send him out in front of your customers and prospects? NO?!? They why would you do the same thing online with your website. Point being… don’t try to build a website yourself, or have your nephew down the street do it for free. (Unless of course he is a professional.)

2. A lemonade stand in the desert won’t get much business

A lot of times, I will have a website built for a client and they expect to just magically have their phone ringing off the hook. After a month or so, they call me, upset because that isn’t happening. I ask them if they have been marketing the website like I suggested. Of course the answer is a resounding no. So if you have a website, make sure to market it. Put the address on your business cards, your brochures, your car, etc. Tell people about it and make sure people have a reason to go to it. Which leads me to my next point

3. Give people a reason to go to your website

Make sure your website isn’t just a big billboard. People surf the web for information, and if your website doesn’t have valid and valuable information, they aren’t going to stick around very long on your site. A sales person doesn’t just keep telling the prospect how to get a hold of your company. A Sales person educates the customer and gives the customer a reason to do business. The same idea applies to a website.

4. Your website is a sales person

I know I’ve been touching on this point here and there, but I wanted really drive this point home. Your website is the sales guy to all your other marketing tools. The website give your “free marketing pen” the ability to tell a prospect everything they would want to know about your company. Make sure you keep that in mind as you build and change your website

5. Keep your website dynamic

You can’t drink still water that has been sitting around too long. If your website isn’t alive, chances are you won’t get too much repeat traffic. Plus, search engines like a dynamic site too. You should review your website at least twice a year if not quarterly. Some companies review their websites monthly, weekly, and even daily. Don’t be afraid of change.

6. Search Engine Optimization

With the yellowpages and newspapers going out of style quick, having your website’s online presence built NOW is a huge thing. If you aren’t focusing on link building, and focused keywords; If you aren’t focusing on driving local or world wide traffic to your website NOW, you are missing out on the future. The longer you have a relevant website, the better you are going to look to Google, MSN, Yahoo, etc. Its worth the investment to start optimizing now. P.S. That’s something we do, cough

7. So what? Who cares? What does this have to do with me?

Too many websites focus on what the company does and the service they offer. “We do this, this, and this… now call us so we can how your money.” You need to explain the benefits of your product. You need to tell them about the solution to their problem and how you are going to solve it. If you don’t answer those three questions on the home page at least… you are going to lose people.

8. Stay consistent with your current marketing material

Look at your business cards, your brochures, your shirts, and office. Make sure your website matches, and stays consistent with your over all look, style, and the story of your company. If it doesn’t… consider re-designing your website, or your marketing material to make them match.

9. Make sure its easy for a customer to get a hold of you

There is nothing worse then going to a website, getting excited about the product, then having to try and figure out how to get a hold of the customer. You should have your phone number somewhere on EVERY PAGE. The prospect should never have to figure out how to contact you.

10. Make sure your website is beautiful

Going back to point number 1, make sure your website looks “GOOD.” Not only should your website look good, it should be beautiful in it’s own way. People should enjoy looking at your website. Really pay careful attention to this point because if your website is ugly, or has the wrong colors, or cheap pictures, your website will be a waste of time and money.

If you are considering building a website, need it re-designed, or need assistance marketing it, you can contact us at on the contact us page of our website

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