Business Website Basics

Is your website sending the right message to your viewers? The most essential elements of a sales driven or promotional website. While today's entry is focused mainly towards corporate websites it does pertain to all sites as well.

Website name with tagline or motto.

• As simple and stupid as it may seem, there are still plenty of websites that don't display their name in an easy to read, well placed area of their website.
• tagline... Yes, a tagline. What is it that your business offers? Do you sell real estate or do you promote realtors? There is a big difference in the previous example. The key to easing your users experience is to not make them think about what you are offering them.

Easy to Read Text

• To this day I still visit a website trying to sell me a product or service and I can't help but question their legitamicy simply because they can't display readable text.
• When your website is difficult to read and looks outdated it creates a very negative image of your company. It makes users think, "Wow, this company must not pay much attention or care that much about their online customers."

A Contact Form

• Using a contact form is easier for your visitors to fill out than sending a full email, so you can expect a higher response rate.
• Using a form also hides your email address from search engines that collect emails for spamming. So your inbox will have less spam, and that's always a good thing.

Final Advice

When in doubt just look at major websites such as Amazon, eBay, or Yahoo!. These websites are all professionaly developed with the users website experience of highest importance. You will learn a lot just by viewing other websites critically.

Thanks for reading and look back as I post more essentials in the near future.