Website Content

It’s important to consider the flow of data within your web site. If you are building a site loaded with tons of content (ie. lots of pages) then you have to chunk up your site – divide the long streams of data into what are called bite-sized chunks or sections that will become categories (or “main links” within your site). Then you can create like an online filing cabinet of content.

Competitive Analysis

Check out the competition. In order to know what to sell to your audience it helps to see how your competitors are positioning their web sites. First of all you get a sense of what the visitors expectations will be. Secondly, if you want your site to perform then you can learn from your competition what to do right and what to avoid. What does the competition have to offer? What are they doing wrong? How can your site do it better? In what ways will your site have be more competitive and give you an edge?

Target Audience

Who is your intended audience? Try to isolate the target demographic as much as possible, so that you know what type of flavor of web site you will need to appeal to the most specific intended audience. If your web site designer does not have a lot of experience with marketing, conversion, usability and compatibility issues, then you run the risk of ending up with a website that looks great, at least to you, but doesn’t do much to help your bottom line. No one plans to build a new online business that fails, but if you don’t strategize properly and take into account many dynamic factors you could be facing an outcome you did not expect. Here’s what you need to know:

◊        Who are your potential customers

◊        Look at demographics and something called psychographics

◊        How you intend to reach them

◊        How you intend to lead visitors on the road to becoming buyers.

◊        Don’t forget that you want to also turn buyers into repeat buyers.

◊        Plus turn buyers into referring partners so they send other people to your site. This is called word of mouth endorsement

Screen Resolution

Ensure that your web site displays properly across any screen resolution so it will fit onto any monitor size. There is nothing quite so disturbing as a web site with a background that is choppy and text that is not aligned properly on a large monitor. You can check your website by changing the resolution of your monitor, using your desktop settings properties.

Font Styles

Since people have different fonts installed on their computer it is recommended that when you design your site you stick to universal fonts like Arial, Verdana or Times New Roman. If you specify a font style that the viewer does not have installed on their system, the viewer will see a “default” font that looks much like a typewriter font which could be courier or times.

Design Mistakes to Avoid

◊      Lack of Web Page Content: Make sure you offer help or information. If people have questions, put up answers to frequently asked questions and make sure you answer them, or your competitors will.

◊      Under Construction Pages: If your content is not ready then don’t put it online. People don’t bookmark unfinished pages to come back later… they just leave your site and don’t return.

◊      Inconsistent Layout: Maintain visual consistency to make your visitors comfortable throughout their visit.

◊      Spelling and HTML Mistakes: If your website does not look professional, and contains spelling, grammar or html mistakes, people will extrapolate and conclude that you are sloppy with your business.

◊      Frames: Search engines don’t index frames well. Don’t use them except, perhaps, for inside content areas that you don’t want found in the search engines.

◊      Long Download Time: If you think they will wait.. they won’t!

◊      Linking Problems: Dead Links, poor navigation, and complicated ordering instructions all drive traffic away from a site.