Here’s 5 good tips
From Start Up Nation
1. Put your contact information in a prominent location. You want to look like a legitimate business. This is a no-brainer, right? But I’m amazed at how often I have to hunt around on a Web site for a phone number, an e-mail address or a map for directions. Treat your Web site like an electronic version of the business card you give out when you want to make it easy for someone to remember you and get in touch. At the very least, your Web site should include:
- Your phone number
- Your e-mail address
- Your street address
- Your fax number
2. Restrain yourself on graphics. I like nicely designed Web sites as much as the next person, but not when a bunch of graphic elements interferes with my ability to find the information I want. Some Web sites are sort of a sensory assault - so much going on that it’s hard to focus. And all those graphics can contribute to slow-loading pages, which is where we started this whole discussion. Bottom line: If I can’t easily - and quickly - find what I want on your site, chances are I’m going to end up on one of your competitors’ sites.
The whole design issue is a tough one for people who don’t have a lot of Web experience, which is why at Microsoft Office Live (a StartupNation sponsor) we offer hundreds of pre-designed Web page templates our subscribers can choose from. All they have to do is add their content. Those more experienced might want to use a product like FrontPage, but we’re finding that very small businesses, in particular, like the idea of being able to get a Web site up quickly and easily - without advanced technical skills.
3. Keep your site visitor top-of-mind. That should be obvious, but some Web sites get caught up in celebrating the business behind it rather than their visitors, who have a specific purpose in coming to the site. If your visitors want to buy a pair of shoes, make it extremely clear that you’re there to sell them shoes. Don’t make them read about your founder’s philosophy of shoe comfort when what they want is a size chart or a shopping cart.
4. Be sure your content is Web-friendly. Screen after screen of text doesn’t work on the Web, unless you’re some sort of research site. If you’re trying to appeal to the general public, keep your copy brief and to the point. People tend to scan text on the Web, so boldface lead-ins and bulleted lists are excellent ways to present information that catches the eye.
5. Keep it simple. You want to be sure your visitors get the information they’re looking for, but you don’t want to completely overwhelm them. I’ve seen Web sites where the left-hand navigation is as long as my arm. Too many pages with too much information will bewilder and distract visitors. Start out modestly and only add depth when visitors and/or new products and services demand it.
I like to tell people about Microsoft Office Live for Small Business because it lets your Web site evolve as your business evolves. You can get a professional, basic site up quickly and then add as you go. We provide Web site traffic reports, and by analyzing visits to your site, you can see what’s working, what’s not, and make adjustments accordingly.
So that’s my five. I’m done. We all have things to do, places to go and Web sites to build.
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