DESIGN ARTICLES

5 Keys to Web Site Success

Speed: In traditional marketing and advertising speed is not an issue. But in Web Marketing, speed is as important as design. The average visitor will only wait 20 seconds, on a dial-up connection for your web site to appear on the screen. If your site is slow to appear, potential customers will switch to view someone else's site instead of waiting for yours. Make sure that all of your pages load fast.

Navigation: This is a key point that is often overlooked by even large companies. Your site needs to be user friendly and your visitor needs to easily see what categories are available at all times. If your site appears to be a game of hide-and-go-seek, the joke is on you. Your site design should include a menu navigation bar on every page so the visitor can easily access designated pages of the site from his or her current page location. The site should also be designed to avoid excessive scrolling on individual pages. Often the navigation can directly affect your sites success. If your customer can't find the information on how to contact you or make a purchase you will lose business.

Content: Your website content should be motivating and accurately reflect your business. The first step is to decide what you want visitors to know about your business. With each page of the site you should answer the question… Why should I buy from YOU instead of your competitors, even if it costs me more? ... If you don't know, then chances are your target market doesn't either!

Marketing: Your Internet business, in some respects, is like opening a new location. If your customers or potential customers don't know you exist, they will not find you. There are many ways to drive people to your site. Some of these include: traditional advertising, search engine marketing, create links, creating your own email lists, and sending emails.