Image is
Everything! And the Internet has become
the most effective means of getting your image and message
out to your potential customer. Design is just the
first step. But don't cut corners on proper site
development.
Click here to see some of our clients
- But do be sure to read further!
There's no
question that a Web site is more mission-critical for some
businesses than others. Companies trying to reach customers
in different locations (ie; hotels or tourist attractions)
or who have products that can be shipped to customers far
away (think flowers, handmade dolls, telephones, etc.)
obviously need to have an online presence.
But local
businesses (dry cleaners or shoe repair shops, for example)
also can benefit from a Web site that shows their location,
lists their services or offers special promotions.
And you can't be farther from the truth if you think you don't need a compelling Web site
because you serve other businesses rather than retail
consumers. Many
businesses search for new suppliers online — and order
from them too.
In short, if
you want more customers, you should be online, regardless of
your industry.
Your online
marketing tool
For most businesses, a Web site is rapidly becoming a basic
requirement of a marketing plan. A site can help you reach
one or more of the following goals:
- Help customers find
you in the offline world — your office, your storefront,
your phone number.
- Persuade
customers that you have the right service or product for
them.
- Sell
products online, even across different marketplaces, to
retail customers or other businesses.
- Share
relevant business information and special offers with
customers.
A simple
site helps customers find you
The simplest
possible Web presence is a one-page site that tells people
how to find your business in the "real" world. It
should include:
- A good web
address (URL/Domain) that relates to your company name.
- Your
business address, complete with directions and a good
map.
- Your
business phone number, along with other means of
contacting you during business hours of operation.
- Highlight
your hours of operation.
- A clear and
concise description of what your business offers to your
potential or current clients.
This simple Web
presence is most appropriate for businesses that serve local
customers (a dry cleaner, doctor's office or plumber, for
example) and that aren't actively looking to expand
their customer base (as with a fully booked dental
practice).
For better
marketing, create an expansive site
If you're
interested in active marketing for your business, you can
expand your Web site to make it a more robust online
marketing tool.
The Web site's job is to convince customers to
take that next step: Buy the product online, call you to
place an order or set up an appointment, or drive to your
office or storefront. Your site is essentially your online
marketing brochure, one that's more effective than a printed
marketing piece. Web sites enable customers to dig deep into
the information they care about, without overwhelming them
with the stuff they don't want or need to know. You can't
cost effectively do that with a paper brochure.
Creating
a business Web site can be a major investment of time, money
or both. How do you make sure that you get the most out of
that investment? You can
approach crafting the Web site as you would any other
marketing brochure. Use color, graphics, photos and words to
get across four key things about your business:
-
Cleanliness
is next to godliness:
Too
many small businesses are enamored with speckled
backgrounds, unreadable type fonts and a bewildering
gaggle of buttons and animated gewgaws running across
their Web sites. Resist the temptation. A simple, clean
design will do a better job for you than a site that
looks like a flashing slot machine. You don't see the
big guys like Amazon or Yahoo using pink marble or
shadowy logos for their site backdrop. There is a reason
for that. The background can quickly get in the way of
the site itself, so keep it simple.
- Catch
them in the first 10 seconds.
Your
front page needs to be both a stop sign and a fast,
effective messenger. In two to three seconds the person
should know exactly what the site is about or what the
business does. Determine what image and message
you want the customer to "get" in those first
few seconds, and design your front page toward that
objective.
- The
first page should load FAST:
If
you want to catch them in the first 10 seconds, your
front page had better not take 120 seconds to reveal
itself. Pictures and graphics are great, and can
help highlight or expound your point. But use them
sparingly, and effectively.
- A
navigation system that a 6-year-old can master.
Make
it extremely easy for people to find their way around
your site. On the Web, the system that helps you find
your way around a site is known as its navigational
elements. "Navigation should be clear to a
6-year-old.
- Update
your site regularly with fresh information.
Bring
people back to your site by providing important updated
and current information, news and upcoming events.
Your website can and will become your most cost
effective marketing tool. But only if you use it
accordingly. Remind your site visitors what you
can do from them. Point out the niche market you
can cater to, or specialize in serving.
- Hire
professionals to design your site to design
develop your site.
If
you can afford it, your site will deliver better results
if you work with a designer and a professional
photographer and professional website developer.
Unless, of course, you were born with awesome design
skills and have come to master the Internet over the
last few years.
And the most important element of all - market,
market and market some more. You must have an ongoing
marketing plan in place for your website. Click
here to learn more.
Below is a small sample of websites
that we have designed,
developed and host for our clients. We also work very closely
with several professional graphic artist so our clients will
always get the perfect image they need and want.
