This article may come as a surprise to you.
Especially since it is written by a web designer. Let me explain......
Rescue Your Web Site from Boring Words and Poor Design.
The difference between a successful website design and a site that brings in zero or very little business is not how nice the graphics are, not the colors you choose. It's not the flashy animation, and it's not your precious company logo.
I'm not saying to remove these elements. Some of them are important. But they're mostly ego-driven. They are "me" messages, and have absolutely nothing to do with what you want your visitor to do.
And what is that you ask? The answer is of course. You want your visitors to buy something.
People who are considering doing business with you are only interested in one thing; "What's In It For Me?"
One of the first steps toward a successful website is writing copy that tells the reader what's in it for him, in a style that is easy to read.
Make More Cash
Study any website that makes money and I promise you'll see the following copy elements in place:
In the main body copy, the text color is always black with a white background, making it easy to read. This should be obvious, but it's amazing how many websites out there do not follow this very basic guideline.
Testimonials, and other secondary elements commonly use a contrasting font such as courier, courier new. The background in light blue, beige, or yellow shade to make it stand apart from the white background of the main body copy.
Verdana is the most widely used font for your body copy. This font was actually developed for use in the web. Times New Roman, Arial, and Georgiana are also popular. Never use more than two different font faces in your sales copy.
The use of yellow highlights, italics and bold font-style for emphasis.
Headlines and Subheads are usually a contrasting color from the black body text. A shade of red, dark green and dark blue are good colors. However, do not use more than three or four different colors.
Sentence and paragraph font size is commonly between 8pt. and 12pt. Never smaller than that, and never bigger.
Headlines and sub headlines usually between 14pt. and 18pt.
Paragraphs never justified. Most common is left-margin with no indent.
How To Write Successful Headlines
In your sales copy you need an attention-grabbing headline and a compelling sales message full of benefits, clearly describing what your product or service is all about.
Legendary copywriter Ted Nicholas author of 14 best-selling books including "Magic Words That Bring You Riches" has these excellent tips on writing headlines
"Start with a well thought out headline."
"Five times as many people read the headline as the body copy. It makes sense, therefore, to spend the major portion of your effort on headlines."
"A good headline motivates action by stirring an emotion"
"Write as many as 250 headlines before settling on one"
13 Proven Headline Words
Announcing...
Secrets of...
New...
Now...
Amazing...
Facts you...
Breakthrough...
At Last...
Advice to...
The truth of...
Free...
How would...
How to...
How To Write Attention-Grabbing First Sentences
Joe Sugarman (of blu-blocker sunglass fame) and author of best-selling book "Advertising Secrets of the Written Word" has these tips on writing first sentences;
"Keep it short, sweet and almost incomplete."
For example:
It's easy.
It had to happen.
It's time.
It's crazy.
The sole purpose of the first sentence is to get you to read the second sentence.
How To Write Attention-Grabbing Ending Sentences
"You must plant seeds of curiosity for the reader." "At the end of a paragraph offer a reason to read the next paragraph."
Using sentences such as.....
But there's more.
So read on.
But I didn't stop there.
Let me explain.
Now here comes the good part.
These tips represent just the tip of the iceberg on breathing new life into your half-dead web site.
We'll cover all of the other necessary elements in future articles. Stay tuned.
I hope that you have found this information to be helpful in your pursuit of excellence. Thank you for reading.
Regards,
Dave Peterson
About The Author
Dave is not only a Professional Website Designer. He also incorporates exciting state-of-the-art marketing strategies and expertise that help clients put more cash in there pockets. Providing great value to his clients.
car service from Midway Burlington .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareYour web site is the key to your success on... Read More
If you're running a website or online business, your number... Read More
Marketing is not an easy skill to acquire.It requires patience... Read More
This article gives free tips on how to find a... Read More
You know that I'm always extolling the virtues of an... Read More
Home PageHome page should clearly indicate what the site is... Read More
Making a successful online business can be a long and... Read More
The trend today to overuse animation in a website's opening... Read More
Does website design make a difference in how long people... Read More
For those not familiar with CSS Hacks, they are ways... Read More
If one more business owner tells me their website sucks... Read More
I often wonder how serious people are when it comes... Read More
If someone doesn't know you personally, will they trust you... Read More
Your website design may be affecting your sales in ways... Read More
Using CGI scripts to add automation to your web site... Read More
If you'd like to create/maintain a website, having some HTML... Read More
Are you looking for somebody to build you a website,... Read More
Good websites stand out from the masses of boring, hard... Read More
Making a poorly designed website is one of the easiest... Read More
If you are trying to sell a product or service... Read More
If your website is falling through the cracks, the chances... Read More
Let's face it. Buying products and services from the Internet... Read More
Increasing the length of time a visitor is on your... Read More
Countdown to Armageddon - at least you'd think so judging... Read More
Novice and professional designers alike ? you may probably be... Read More
Granger limo Chicago ..The solution lies in creating a 'Database driven website', through... Read More
Everything you say and do says something about you. This... Read More
The HTML editor is usually a webpage design software that... Read More
Here are a few programs I can't do without. They're... Read More
When I purchase something from a web site I first... Read More
Not too long ago while looking for businesses that do... Read More
Well it is not Elvis, that's for sure.I am a... Read More
Your web site should always adhere to standards!A professional web... Read More
There's no doubt about it - the first page your... Read More
Design sells. It's something that all of us know, but... Read More
A search engine robot actually reads the wording on your... Read More
Ever wonder how HTML color codes are put together? For... Read More
First you need original content. Content is the heart beat... Read More
Any kid, and their grandmother too, can make a webpage.... Read More
For many webmasters the title of my article may seem... Read More
It seems that almost every Tom Dick and Harry do... Read More
Should Generating Revenue From A Website Be The Prime Motivator?... Read More
I am constantly bombarded with all sorts of advertisements, single-page... Read More
If your are a new web designer, you may face... Read More
Almost everything is available on the web? products, services, e-books,... Read More
As a webmaster, you want to keep your visitors content... Read More
Mechanical spiders have to eat. In fact, they usually have... Read More
What colors do you have at your website?Can they make... Read More
If you are going to be placing ads on your... Read More
Every action has a beginning phase where you launch your... Read More
Web Design |