Most web sites are more like stage sets than real buildings; they make a good impression and they look substantial at first, but when you open a door, you end up back stage in the dark. They don't generate large numbers of leads, help build relationships with prospects or generate the desired volume of sales.
Is your web site helping you get attention for your business?
Does it prompt prospects to contact you?
Is it helping you build long-term relationships?
Does it generate the volume of sales you want?
Building a web site that works should be more like building your dream home than constructing a stage set. You want to build a solid structure to support the growth of your business, not a flashy facade. First, you'd talk with your partner about what kind of house you want and how it fits into your long-term plans. You'd discuss your budget and the location, style and size of the house, as well as the functions of the rooms and the flow between them. When you were in agreement, you'd seek out an architect to help you plan your home.
The architect would consider your ideas and objectives, create a coherent plan to meet your objectives. You'd review these and then she'd produce drawings and blueprints to guide the construction. You'd need a contractor to build your house, and the contractor would hire specialists to complete the job; carpenters, electricians, masons, roofers, etc. Once your home was completed, you'd need to maintain it; even a brand new house needs periodic attention.
Building or Renovating Your Dream Web Site
Can you imagine building your dream home without careful planning, or a clear sense of how the rooms would work together, or a blueprint?
Before you build your web site, did you define how it would function, how it would get attention, and how it would generate leads and build profitable relationships?
Did you have a web marketing blueprint?
A web designer is like your building contractor. They will assemble your web site, but they can't tell you what the site is supposed to accomplish or how it fits into your overall marketing plan. Before you use a web designer you first need to understand what you want your site to do and how to structure it to convert prospects to clients.
Diane Varner, a successful web designer in El Granada, California, asks prospective clients a series of questions about their marketing before she starts work for them. She wants to find out what their overall marketing strategy is and how their web site fits into it. Her expertise is web design; if a prospect needs help defining their web-marketing plan, she refers them to me.
> 4 Steps to A Web Site that Sells
1. Create Your Web Plan and Marketing Content
Before building or renovating your web site, you, too, should identify how your web site fits into your marketing strategy. Clarify and delineate the actions you want visitors to take and how to structure your site to get prospects to contact you and buy your products and services.
Organize site content and pages to mirror prospects' decision-making process, moving them step-by-step towards a sale. Write content that motivates prospects to continue reading and browsing your site and includes appropriate use of keywords to help boost your search engine rankings.
2. Hire a Web Designer/ General Contractor
Once you have a plan and the supporting marketing copy ready, find a web designer who can put these elements together to create an easy-to-navigate site whose overall look and feel supports your positioning objectives. Many web designers function as general contractors and will sub-contract the programming required to create forms, manage databases, email or online shopping cart systems.
3. Market Your Web Site
Most people make the mistake of waiting until their site is built to think about marketing it. If you started with the previously defined web plan, you will have avoided this mOney-losing blunder. But don't assume that people will find your web site on their own.
Use free promotional activities such as distributing your articles to get attention. Consider advertising in newsletters and/or using pay-per-click advertising.
4. Maintain Your Web Site
Just like that dream house, a web site needs regular upkeep and updating. Allocate the time and money to see that the site is well maintained, whether you learn to update text yourself, have someone in your company do it, or give the job to an outside professional.
The beautiful home you carefully planned and built creates the physical context for you to eat, sleep, relax and enjoy family and friends. Your web site should create the marketing context to help you get prospects' attention, build relationships, and generate leads and s.ales.
Use the four steps above to build or renovate your web site and you'll have a site that is more than a flimsy stage set; you'll have a web site that will help grow your business.
2005 ? In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.
The author, Charlie Cook, helps service professionals and small business owners attract more clients and be more successful. Sign up for the Free Marketing Plan eBook, '7 Steps to get more clients and grow your business' at http://www.marketingforsuccess.com
Northbrook Cadillac Deville rentals .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIf you don't have a web site yet, are thinking... Read More
More and more non-profit organizations are developing websites to help... Read More
If you like the Internet and surfing through the billions... Read More
Never has competition been so difficult in the Internet world.... Read More
With the New Year upon us yet again, it's time... Read More
Just like all things in life, the ways to run... Read More
A system development process can follow a number of standard... Read More
What you should do and know if you are an... Read More
Even though the Internet has been around for a long... Read More
Like wine cars get more attractive to collectors as years... Read More
How popular is online shopping? And is there room for... Read More
When I started my company in 2002, I knew I... Read More
1. Upload robots.txt file in to your root directory and... Read More
For years now I've been looking to start my own... Read More
RIVERSIDE, CA August 4, 2004 ?- "Historically, small business owners... Read More
I recently received an unsolicited e-mail from some company offering... Read More
Most interactive websites nowadays require data to be presented dynamically... Read More
A PHP Redirect automatically transfers a web user from one... Read More
With search engines putting a damper on direct reciprocal links,... Read More
Many small businesses have the misconception that their business can... Read More
One of the most important parts of establishing a new... Read More
Below, I have listed 8 simple steps that you can... Read More
How can we add Word Rich Content to our Websites... Read More
Directory Generator, a product from Armand Morin and Marc Quarles,... Read More
The Disability Discrimination Act states that service providers must not... Read More
Beason Mercedes Benz s500 rentals ..You've decided to create a website to market your products... Read More
Making money with your web site is the dream and... Read More
To the starting internet entrepreneur, there is nothing more discouraging... Read More
When you take a look at the most visited sites... Read More
Creatively marketing your corporate site takes time in the set... Read More
--------------------------------Why Should You Create a website?--------------------------------A. What do you want... Read More
Web sites are not just places to sell things; they... Read More
The first thing my business consultant (read brother-in-law) asked me,... Read More
If you're looking for better web site ROI, chances are,... Read More
You work hard to build traffic to your web page.... Read More
Although CSS layouts have been around for years, they haven't... Read More
A system development process can follow a number of standard... Read More
What do you mean, you don't have a website for... Read More
You've put up a website to promote a product or... Read More
In the time that I have been using the Internet,... Read More
Did you know that hosting companies overcrowd their servers despite... Read More
Is your website Really useful?I had a 'rep' in yesterday... Read More
My life's greatest passion is a safari hobby. And what... Read More
With more and more countries around the world passing laws... Read More
Although designing a great web site is an important part... Read More
Making maximum profit from your law firm website is important,... Read More
If you are developing your website on a host that... Read More
A lot of people these days are interested in getting... Read More
Internet Marketing is not a miracle marketing strategy ? competition... Read More
If your company own one or more stores, you might... Read More
Web Development |