Ten Ways to Improve Your Web Site TODAY!
Dec 30th, 2008 by admin
Aside from complicated issues like improving SEO and SEM and having a full-scale usability analysis performed, there are some steps you can take today to improve your Web site. Here are ten to get you started:
#10 – Integrate a Blog
Search engines love fresh, original content so take advantage of all that blogging has to offer – better rankings, traffic that you can drive to your primary site (or main landing page) and the ability to establish yourself as an expert without having to rely on the media.
#9 – KISS
The acronym KISS also applies to Web sites. Keep it simple stupid. Avoid crazy flashing graphics and thousands of images that take a site forever to load. And please, do without the cutesy ‘Enter Here’ landing pages. You only have seconds to engage a visitor and keep their attention. They don’t want to deal with extra mouse clicks!
#8 – Opt for a Web Content Management System
Remember the days when you had to call up your designer or programmer every time you wanted to make a minor change to your Web site? Not anymore. With a back end Web Content Management System (WCM) you don’t have to know programming languages like HTML or how to upload a file in order to submit or change the content on your Web site.
#7 – Include Your Mailing Address and Phone Number
If there’s one thing that sets me off into a tirade, it’s clicking on the Contact Us form and simply getting a form. Not everyone wants to wait for a reply by email. So make sure to include a phone number where you can be reached. Also include your mailing address to enhance your professional image.
#6 – Get Rid of the Music
Unless you’re an artist, market a record label or own a radio station, keep the music off your site. Imagine you’re having a bad day. You click on a site and instantly hear Don’t Worry Be Happy Now blaring through your speakers. What do you do? Leave.
#5 – Include a Logo
People look for logos for various reasons. For one, they help people get a feel for who you are while helping you to create and solidify a brand around your products or services. When clicked on, most logos also lead a user back to a home page. This has become a universal given and should be an option for all visitors to your site. Click logo - go to home page.
#4 – Skip the Link Swap Pages
They’re cheesy.
#3 – Check Your Content for Errors (and keep fonts consistent)
No one will ever take you seriously if your Web site is peppered with spelling and grammar errors (and countless font types and sizes are used throughout). Take the time to edit and also to have a second (or third) set of eyes look over your material BEFORE it goes live.
#2 – Offer One Navigation Menu
What’s a surefire way to lose a visitor to your Web site? Confuse them with too many navigation menus. For the most optimal user experience, keep the navigation menu consistent across all pages. Links at the top and bottom of pages should also remain the same sitewide.
#1 – Get into Analytics
Understanding who is visiting your Web site and where they’re coming from does not need to be a complex activity. Simply sign up for Google Analytics which is completely free and extremely beneficial. With customized graphs and up-to-the-minute data, you’ll have the knowledge you need to achieve better Web site ROI and improve your overall marketing efforts.
There’s nothing I hate more than a web site that looks like a ransom note.
Except maybe one that looks like a ransom note and plays crappy music.
[...] BabeOfBusiness.com - Ten Ways to Improve Your Web Site [...]
Nice and helpful tips for making your website alive and kicking. I agree that a website should always offer fresh rich content everyday. This way visitors will be coming back to your site to catch fresh food for their eyes and brain.