What is your website telling people?
When you consider today’s competitive landscape, the argument that a bad website is better than no website at all doesn’t really stand up. Think about how we use the web on a daily basis to make decisions about products and services:
1. First, let’s presume that your site can be found through search – either organic or paid. Once a user finds you, he or she gets an immediate impression about your business based not only on your site – but also based on the other search results that appear (e.g. the sites of your competition).
2. If your site is bland and confusing, and the competition’s sites are visually appealing, clear and easy to use – you’re instantly at a huge disadvantage in terms of credibility, and you’re not likely to make the user’s “short list” of candidates to consider.
3. If your competitor’s sites also offer promotions, discounts , or value-added content, your site (and eventually your business) could be eclipsed.
How’s your site doing?
Here are a few things to consider:
Design & Presentation
- Is your site visually appealing?
- Does it look professional?
- Does it communicate that you are a creative and dynamic organization?
- Is it thoughtful, well-organized, intuitive and easy to use?
- Is it clear what the user should do, and how they should use the site?
If the answer to these questions is no, here’s what you may be telling the user about your organization:
- You may not be a reputable organization
- You’re not organized
- Attention to detail is not important
- You don’t care about your business or what people think of your company
Content
- Is it immediately clear what you do?
- Are you clearly communicating the benefits of your products or services?
- Are you communicating your expertise?
If the answer to these questions is no, here’s what you may be telling the user about your organization:
- You lack expertise
- You’re not passionate about what you do
- You don’t really want their business
You could have the greatest product or service on earth, but if your site tells people that you don’t care about getting their business, you won’t get their business!
Don’t get discouraged, improving the situation is easy!
Getting your site from where it is now to where it needs to be isn’t hard, and it doesn’t need to be expensive. You just need a plan, and the right resources to help make your plan a reality.
Please contact us to learn more about using the web to grow your business. Everon’s Internet Marketing Services provides a full suite of web design and marketing packages, created specifically to help small to medium-sized business succeed on the web.
Chris Burns
Everon Web Services
Tags: internet marketing, small business website help, small business website marketing, small business websites, website and your business, websites, websites and marketing