PrintEmail

Your website acts as a “storefront.” You should put as much thought and care into your website as you would to the display in your store’s window. Your website needs to attract customers and keep them coming back for more. The following should give you a place to start and a guideline of what a good website should have and what it should do:

1.    Where do your eyes go first?

You only have a few seconds to catch a visitor’s attention. That means you need to make sure that you capture their interest immediately. You need a headline that stops them thinking whatever they’re thinking, and think instead: “hey, this looks interesting! I need to read this.”   

2.    Do you know right away what this website is about?

Don’t have any distraction from the message you are trying to get across. If you start talking about how great your company is instead of what the visitor is interested in, you lose them.

3.     Is the important information immediately visible?

Site visitors want to know details as soon as possible. If they have to work too hard to find out what you’re offering, they will likely leave. You need to be clear on what you want them to do. Don’t sell more than one thing from your landing page. Decide on the main action you want them to take, and talk about only that. The best thing to do on your landing page is to offer your client something that will sign them up to your list.

4.    Can you easily find the benefits of the product/service?

Too many websites offer features rather than benefits. Features won’t get the visitor’s interest. They want to know what’s in it for them. Make sure your website makes it clear to them how your product or service will change their lives.

5.    Is there a clear call to action?

If the visitor likes what he sees, it is important to get him to take action quickly as delaying may lose his interest. Don’t have more than one call to action. This will mix them up.

6.    Are the colours and images aesthetically pleasing?

If your website has too many colours and pictures, it may put the visitor off rather than to catch their interest. Moreover, too many images will take too long to load, and if the visitor has to wait they will lose interest.

7.     Is the font easy to read?

Don’t use fancy fonts that are hard to read or colours that are too light. If the visitor has to strain their eyes in order to read they will lose interest and leave.

8.    Are there long sentences or long paragraphs on the page?

Keep your sentences and paragraphs short, and use bullet points. Long sentences and paragraphs make it difficult to read and understand.

9.    Are the menu buttons clear?

Make sure your site is well designed and that buttons and links are easy to click on. Your page should have a “contact us” and “about us” page.