Your business website is a representation of your company. No matter how small or
large your operation is, if your website is unprofessional, it's costing you sales.
Learn how to tailor your business to customers and create a website that will give
you and your business more confidence and credibility.
Maintain a professional appearance
Just as you dress for success each morning, so must your website be properly dressed.
Unless you're selling clown supplies or glitter, don't be flashy! Stay away from:
- Bright or neon colors.
- Imbedded dancing cartoon characters.
- Background music.
- Patterned backgrounds.
- Flashing text.
These items may work on personal sites, but cause business websites to lose all
credibility. Be bold and imaginative with your design, not flashy.
Design a logo
When you think of the iPhone, what do you see? If you’re like most people, your
mind automatically envisions the Apple logo. Likewise, your website visitors will
begin to associate your business name with your brand when you have a customized
logo. If you're not an artistic, hire a logo designer.
Provide thorough details
Whether you're
selling products or services make sure all the information you provide
is thorough, accurate and leaves the reader with no questions. Imagine if Best Buy,
the electronics store, listed a computer for sale and the description of the unit
said only "white computer." Would you buy that computer without knowing about the
processor or how much memory it had or what operating system it ran? Of course not.
Provide ample details about what you do and what services you offer. The more a
potential customer knows about you, the more likely they are to put their trust
in you.
Use good graphics
We live in a visual age where an image ads power and authority. It doesn't matter
if you're selling goods or services or simply promoting your brand with your website,
you still need images. How many websites do you see today that are made up of only
text? Even online dictionaries and encyclopedias use images to drive their point
home. There are many ways to find and use images, such as:
- Digital cameras. Today, digital cameras are inexpensive and readily available. Take
your own pictures of products, employees, your office or whatever, and upload them
to your website. The only cost to you is a onetime investment in the camera and
time.
- Free images online. There are hundreds of thousands of free images available for
you to use online.
Use proper grammar
Nothing spells amateur more than a business website riddled with grammatical errors
and spelling mistakes. Spell-check everything and have coworkers, friends and family
proofread your website to make sure you haven't overlooked anything. If you're not
comfortable with your writing abilities, hire a professional.
Be customer service friendly
Your website must provide a way for customers to interact with you. Always include:
- A physical address (if applicable).
- Customer service
email address or contact form.
- A customer service phone number.
People value their money and will not just hand it over to anyone. Inspire trust
by giving customers a way to talk with you.
Remember, your website represents your company. Be bold, be creative, and be professional.