by: Vignesh Rajendran
1. Why should you have a website?
In order to succeed in today's world, you must have an Internet presence. More
and more people log on to the internet everyday; there are billions of users
world-wide and there are several reasons why one needs a web site. A website is
a powerful first impression. Placing your business on the World Wide Web, gives
your business the potential for global exposure, no matter the size of your
business – be it large or small; singular or multi-national. To have your own
website gives your business invaluable advantages, which is illustrated in the
answer to the next question, viz-a-viz:
2. How can a website be useful?
Website help you leverage web services for streamlining data transfer to and
from your organization.
There are myriad reasons for - How a website can be useful and why you should
bring your business online? Some of them are, briefly, mentioned below:
a. Enhanced customer convenience
Your business concern can be more easily and quickly reached, every time a
potential or an existing client searches for relevant businesses, products and
services over the Internet. Your customers can always keep in touch with you and
your business, just by knowing your web site address.
b. Greater reachability of your business profile:
Your business profile can be accessible from anywhere in the world. No other ad
medium provides such global coverage. You need not depend on phone book entry or
restricted yellow pages and newspaper ad presentations, any longer.
c. Greater possibilities for promoting your business portfolio:
People will not buy your products or services unless they know that they
actually exist. You can tell your potential audience much more through a
WEBSITE, than you could possibly do via any print advertisements, Yellow Pages
listings, or TV/radio commercials. There are no limitations as far as space,
time, nationality and residency are concerned. You can say as many things as you
want, to as many people as you wish. And your business representation can be as
resourceful as is the Internet itself.
d. Efficient low-cost advertising:
Your customers will always be able to obtain thorough up-to-date information
about your services or products. Instead of having to rely on randomly aired TV
or radio commercials, they can simply browse through your website whenever they
like.
e. 24/7 availability:
Website is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It
will be your hardest working employee, never getting sick, or taking a holiday.
And you can rest assured that your website is always there for you – to answer
your customers’ questions or to collect their feedback on your behalf.
f. Time-saving:
Prospective clients can learn about you and your business at any time of the day
simply by visiting your website, so you won’t have to be present or involved
with the process in any way. Your precious time can be saved and invested in
other activities that can increase your profits and further enhance the scope of
your business.
g. Cost -cutting:
You can save a lot of money cutting your costs on print ads, brochures, coupons,
flyers, specials, newsletters or mailings. What’s more! Its always quick easy
and extremely efficient to update real time information on your website; whereas
regular renewals of printed materials turn out to be very expensive and time
consuming. The fact optimized productivity at minimal cost is more valued in any
business and it is possible only through world wide web.
Web services provide a standard way to implement a business function that can
also be managed remotely. It employs an effective exchange of information and
data-feeds between B2B and B2C portals, information warehouses, news providers,
shopping portals like e bay and search engines like Google, MSN, yahoo etc.
Your website must work hard in today's competitive online environment —
attracting visitors, providing a rich user experience and converting them into
loyal customers.
3. What makes a site work successfully?
Its a hotly debated question – “What makes a website work well that will
genuinely help your business and attract more customers?”
A well designed website can certainly lead to increased business. By following
simple guide-lines, it is possible to create a good-looking website that will
really give your business the best chance of being noticed.
For your online presence to really count, your brand needs to exude credibility,
confidence and efficiency through your website. A well designed website can
certainly leverage your business processes. One can achieve this by blending
strong design and content, with seamless functionality, and expert support
throughout - with time tested processes.
Web Designing is “a process of conceptualization, planning, modeling, and
execution of electronic media delivery via Internet in the form of Markup
language suitable for interpretation by Web browser and display as Graphical
user interface” (ref- Wikipedia)
Web Design can have a powerful affect. Web Design is important and it must be
right! The right design kindles in a website visitor the right perception of
your business. It engenders confidence and trust in your business. Success
online is vital to the overall strength of your business.
It’s essential that –
In an arena saturated with billions of web pages, it requires innovation and
expertise, to represent your brand effectively.
Your site must be easy to navigate and simple to use. If your users and
potential customers can’t find what they want, this will undermine your site’s
performance, in relation to your business goals.
Your web site should, clearly and concisely, reflect your business, values and
products, since your web site is now the first point of contact for a new user
or potential customer.
A good and innovative design ensures that the site is memorable and encourages
the viewer to explore beyond the home page.
The web functionality and programming should use only standard, compliant, valid
coding and also provide an alternative programming, to ensure that your site is
viewable in any Browser and at any Screen Resolution.
Most Web design and development companies possess skills in one or the other –
rarely both. This is where ImagiNET Ventures web solutions differ, as we
understand how to design a website that will most effectively present you, your
business or organization, with your products and services.
4. What are the common mistakes of a website?
Lets face it! If visitors get lost or become confused while attempting to surf
your website, they might hit the back button, and look for a more user- friendly
website. People do not like to think, when it comes to finding their way around
websites. Don’t make them tick. You need to plan your website from stage to
stage, and make a difference between between a very poor website and a very good
website.
Let us now see – what are the pitfalls inherent in designing and setting up a
website? You may know some of them already, but by avoiding and correcting them,
you can be sure to keep constant flow of visitors entering and re-entering into
your portal! The list of most common errors is unending but invaluable for new
designers, web developers and content writers – who need a list for their
website spot check.
1.Site best viewed:
New designers usually use this “site best viewed” with a disclaimer statement
regarding which web browser or screen resolution they designed their site, for
best viewing. It does not impress the visitor. Instead, invest in skilfully
designed website that renders well in multiple browsers, and in any screen
resolution.
2.Shabby lay-out and glaring design:
Some sites are totally unbalanced in their lay-out and overloaded design. The
designs do not match the page content and appears misplaced and misfit in the
entire scene. Give your pages a pleasing appearance, with just the necessary
facts and place your design out-lay with a professional touch. Always take
screen shots of designs in different resolutions, before uploading the
appropriate one.
3.Horizontal scrolling:
The horizontal scroll makes it extremely difficult to read the content on your
site, and often your visitors will lose patience and leave. Check your website
in a site resolution viewer. A professional website can be viewed without
horizontal scrolling in, both, a smaller and larger screen resolution. User's
find scrolling from the top to the bottom of your pages, more clear to view and
easy to read.
4.Free Web Hosting:
This is a common web page mistake you definitely need to avoid. Often business
owners claim that the business is "just starting”, and that is why they have not
yet moved their site to a domain host. Do not use free web hosting if you want
your business to be taken seriously. It reflects on your image and credibility.
To resolve this issue, you must choose and purchase a domain name if you,
already, do not have one. You also need to choose a professional domain host.
There is no getting around this one. If you want to run a successful online
business, you absolutely must have a reliable domain host.
5.Appalling Images
Don’t allow your visitor view badly shaped or terribly cropped images and
missing graphics files. Optimize your images, using the best height and width.
Keep your files in the best formats - j peg for Photographs and gif for artwork.
6.Blaring and ghastly color schemes:
Avoid using ghastly and loud colors that does not match your website concept and
mission. Although your text may be easy to read, overly-bright colors distracts
and repels the reader away from your site's purpose. Your designs must reflect
class and designer quality, with state-of-the-art designs and pleasantly
eye-catching color schemes for your web pages.
7.Slow loading:
If your page does not download rapidly, visitors will quickly move on to find
another site. Take action now to reduce the "weight" of your pages . Each image
on your site must be correctly sized and optimized for web use. Keep your pages
lean and fast for the visitor to move on quickly, with interest.
8.Spell check:
Always spell check the text , keeping it free of grammatical error, punctuations
and spelling mistakes. Without spell check, the site looks amateurish and
shabby.
9.Ineffective Text Content:
A major mistake is to fill the pages with long text, without any headings and
sub-headings. Do not cram your web pages with loaded decorative words and hi-funda
text. Readers do not have time to fill their heads with all details.
Make your text more effective. Keep your text simple, crisp and to-the-point.
Use decorative words in the right context. Your language should spell clarity,
consistency and coherence in content, style, structure and font. The pages
should be easy to read and simple to understand, with a smooth flow. The fonts
should be rightly used, with appropriate side-headings and the text need to be
phrased in short paragraphs, giving a pleasing feel to the reader.
Your website must provide a clear message with a goal-oriented direction,
setting you apart from your competitors. Your content should easily answer his
question - “what's in it for me?” The reader must be able to identify with your
write-up and find you as his 'partner' for addressing his solutions.
10. Absence of an Email Subscription Form:
This critical aspect is often neglected by most website owners. It is very
important to have a lead generation for your website via Email subscription
form, for optimal business returns. Having a mailing list gives you several
advantages like maintaining a visitors list who allow you to contact them, build
a relationship, and establish yourself as an expert for solving their problems.
11.Using a weak message 'join my newsletter':
Your content , design layout and solutions should be so user-friendly such that
it compels the reader to subscribe your mailing list. Do not use a weak message
like – “join my free newsletter”. The reader would wonder “Why?” and “If I
subscribe, will you give me a bonus, or a free gift instantly, as soon as I
join?” If your design and text work impresses the reader for availing your
services, you would automatically get email subscriptions for a membership, from
your visitors. It speaks on your credibility.
12.No Contact Information - Just giving your email id and the web address is not
sufficient for your readers – who may be prospective clients. Keep your detailed
contact information easy to find and easy to read. Inclusion of a site-map works
wonders for your business.
13.Advertising – Advertisements provide huge revenue but it should be placed
skilfully and with reference to the current times. Appropriate advertisements
should be placed - reflecting the different verticals of your business. Do not
overload your page with ads, especially the big flashy banners. Well placed,
well designed ads are okay, if you don’t overload the page.
14. Prices –. Don’t waste your time, hoping you will get email inquiries on your
prices. The moment a visitor sees your product or services, his prime question
will be “what is the price of this item?” Do not keep the visitor guessing the
price; it will give him an opportunity to jump into another website where the
price is mentioned and you may end up losing a prospective customer. You need to
include a price with the item description, if you sell something.
15.Under Construction - Avoid having a “closed – under construction” or “yet to
open” website. Give your visitors atleast a single page of content, with a
notice - when the whole site will be open.
16.Music: Include a soft and soothing music or that which is relevant to the
content. Do not include music, if it is not needed. Music should not be
out-of-control and keep the control buttons easy-to-use. Music can turn one's
mind on but at the same time put your mood off, if it is not rightly timed,
controlled and soft.
The list of common mistakes are innumerable. The above general tips gives you an
idea of what to avoid and how to resolve. By keeping your website design in good
shape and ensuring your web content writing is in good taste, you will find more
people visiting and enjoying your website!
For more details on web design & pricing --- http://www.imaginetventures.com
About The Author
Vignesh Rajendran has a very principled, hard-working, calm, friendly, intuitive
and focused personality, with a sharp business acumen.
Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_4848.shtml.
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