What does your website do for you?
Here are 5 things your website SHOULD be doing for your business.
1. Advertising Your Company - Search Engine Optimization
If you aren’t on Google, Yahoo, and MSN yet, your competitor’s certainly are. People don’t even bother to use the yellow pages when it takes literally 5 seconds to pull up any local business up on Google.
2. Goal Tracking – Website Statistics Tracking
If you don’t have statistics tracking how can you know who is on your site and if your site is successful? Most website firms offer this for free, but many people don’t realize the importance of this tool. Set goals and “tweak” your website until it produces the best results.
3. Marketing for your Company - Newsletters/Email
Keep in touch with the people who visit your site! Obviously they visited your site because they were interested in what you offer. Make sure your website allows the user to enter in their email address. Special deals or newsletters help you stay in front of your potential clients. It doesn’t cost a dime to send an email.
4. Looking Professional
Make sure the colors are color-coordinated, the images are professionally taken and placed, and the font is easy to read. Make sure all your links work and there are no errors on the site. These can make or break a website in 5 seconds. People rarely buy products from “unprofessional” businesses.
5. Meeting Clients Demands - Speed
People don’t have patience like they used to on the internet. Technology has improved and if your website isn’t loaded within 10-20 seconds you can say goodbye to that potential client. Do without the heavy graphics or flash if possible. Search Engines don’t even pick up on flash at this time.