Effective Website
Design
August 13th 2005
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Diana Ennen |
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Do you have the
Virtual Edge with your business? That website that when people go
there they say, Wow, I want to work with that company. If not, here
are a few pointers.
Your website is the
one thing that defines you and your business and has the potential
to draw the entire virtual world to your products or services. How
important is it? Well, I just recently had mine redone, and I
immediately starting gaining more clients. Also, because I added a
more professional edge to the site, I started getting clients who
were a higher caliber and who paid more! Yes, I was able to
increase my rates because my website now looked more professional
and clients had more confidence in working with me.
Here are a few
pointers I think you might find useful:
The First Glance - Hook Them!! Keep in mind that the first
thing listed in the main body of your site should be the best you
offer. The main thing you are bringing people to the site to see.
It has to clearly state what is it you want to sell, offer, feature,
etc. Go look at your site, have you done it?
Buttons That
Tell & Sell - Those side and top buttons—you need to clearly set
up so that people want to click on them and find out more. Also,
you need to have these labeled correctly so they know what they are
clicking on to see. That name is critical to making them take the
time to check out that page.
Bullet Power
- Clients often skim sites and rarely read through the entire site.
They look for items that interest them. If you list paragraph after
paragraph, it won’t get read. Think back, do you read those
paragraphs. I don’t! Therefore use bullets or symbols instead. And
try the slanted bullets or a different bullet style for more eye
appeal.
Chose Your Words
Wisely - Every word on your site should say something
important. Absolutely you need to use keywords, but you also need
to use convincing words to sell you and your business. Write the
text, edit and delete, and repeat that last step over and over until
you have it just right.
Convenience
-- Clickable Links -- In the body of the website itself, whenever
you are providing a reference to a site, make sure you have a
clickable link, even if you have it on the side panel. People often
won’t take the time to go look for the button, so make it easy for
them.
Colors Are Cool
-- Match your colors to your business and you. I just started
another new site (http://www-Publicity-VA.com) and added my favorite
colors to it. It has a softer feel and look to it and yet still has
the professional edge I need for virtual assisting.
Front Page Magic
– Offer Something FREE - On your front page, it helps to offer
something for FREE. I offer a free booklet on obtaining clients in
a pdf format. How about a free 10 ways to do whatever it is you do?
That sort of thing. Let people long after they leave your site
remember you and want to come back to you with their money and
business.
Contests -
Come One- Come All -- Yes, we know they work. They get people to
your site and that adds to your traffic. But, here’s a tip to make
them really successful. Follow-up each response with a personal
e-mail. Now, the key is not making it a hard sale sales letter they
will never read. Instead, a “Hi, thanks for entering the contests,
I’m sorry you did/didn’t win, but I’m ...” And then give them
something special, including a coupon off of your services. Make
them feel special.
Newsletter
-- List your newsletter on numerous pages if not all. This is what
is going to be reconnecting you to your clients and potential
clients.
The Eyes Have It
- I strongly suggest you have another friend or business associate
view your site and offer opinions. It’s incredible what they can
see that you don’t as you are too close to it.
Eyes -- Take
Two -- Right now, stop and check out your site. Have you looked at
it from a potential client’s viewpoint? What did you think? Did it
clearly define you and what you offered? Did it spark your
interest?
I hope these tips
help you to get the virtual edge you need for your business. Good
luck!
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By
Diana Ennen
Diana Ennen is the author of several books including: Virtual Assistant the
Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, Words From Home, Start,
Profit and Run a Successful Home-Based Word Processing Business and Home
Office Recovery Plan: Disaster Preparedness for Your Home-Based Business,
http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com Contact her at
Diana@virtualwordpublishing.com Free to reprint as long as bio is left
as is and links are active.
Website Design Books
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