The majority of people today all have some form of website– whether its a blog, a personal site, or business website, the internet has evolved into our main stream online way of life. Having a website today is as important as having a business card, it it your online visual representation and its critical that it be professional and polished in appearance.
I believe that there are three important ingredients in having your website work for you and they are aesthetics, functionality and search engine optimization. The first ingredient is aesthetics. Aesthetics is basically the look and feel of your website and its the first thing that people see when they first enter your site. Let’s face it, we never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make it a great one! Remember, your competitiion is only one click away for your visitors. I like to use the analogy as similar to putting your home on the market. The first thing you would do when you put your home on the market is find a real estate agent whom your personality best blends with and whom you feel will give you the best representation. Similarly, with a web designer or developer you want to find someone whom you will be able to trust with your website investment. The second thing you would do is stage your home, so that it is tip top shape for public viewing. You want your website to provide the best visual representation of your business identity.
The second important factor is functionality. We are moving away from the once static websites (where there is only a one-way communication) to more dynamic sites (more interactive). Some examples of dynamic websites would be content management system websites, blogs, surveys or polls, and email marketing. Content Management Websites are sites that allow the owner full control over entering, updating content, adding new links or images and much more. Blogs are simply short for web-log. It has evolved into a very useful way of communication and really provides a way for you to interact with your visitors through comments and posts. Email marketing allows you to be able to capture your visitors information for later use of sending an email announcement or newsletter regarding your services. It helps keep your name up front to your clients and visitors that signup through your website. It also saves on postage! Functionality engages your visitors to have a more interactive experience.
The last key factor is Search Engine Optimization or commonly referred to as SEO or SEF for Search Engine Friendly. You can have the best looking website and have all the best functionality but if you don’t have SEO, your website will be placed on a shelf with no traffic going to it. I can do a whole new website on just the topic of SEO alone because its such a deep subject and trends are always changing. SEO is key to driving people to your site and is a very important part of having a website. There is a whole market out in the world wide web just waiting to be tapped into for your product or service. Take advantage of the power of the web, and promote your site to new levels with proper SEO.
The internet is getting more and more sophisticated as we move forward. So whether your just starting up a new website or redesigning one, let your website be the best it can be and incorporate these important website factors. Don’t put up a site without anyone of these items noted. Once you do, you’ll be able to open the door to a wider audience and new business opportunities.
Contact us if you would like to brighten your web presence and increase visibility to your website. Click on the video below if your more of a visual and audible learner.
May 21st, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Wow thats incredible.