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1. The user must know what the site is about in seconds: attention is one the most valuable currencies on the Internet. If a visitor can not figure what your site is about in a couple of seconds, he will probably just go somewhere else. Your site must communicate why I should spend my time there, and FAST!
2. Do not use fancy fonts that are unreadable: sure there are some fonts that will give a sophisticated look to your website. But are they readable? If your main objective is to deliver a message and get the visitors reading your stuff, then you should make the process comfortable for them.
3. Do not use tiny fonts: the previous point applies here, you want to make sure that readers are comfortable reading your content. My Firefox does have a zooming feature, but if I need to use on your website it will probably be the last time I visit it.
4. Do not overuse Flash: apart from increasing the load time of your website, excessive usage of Flash might also annoy the visitors. Use it only if you must offer features that are not supported by static pages.
5. Do not use a homepage that just launches the “real” website: the smaller the number of steps required for the user to access your content, the better.
6. Use a simple navigation structure: sometimes less is more. This rule usually applies to people and choices. Make sure that your website has a single, clear navigation structure. The last thing you want is to confuse the reader regarding where he should go to find the information he is looking for.
7. Avoid intros: do not force the user to watch or read something before he can access to the real content. This is plain annoying, and he will stay only if what you have to offer is really unique.
8. Do not use harsh colors: if the user is getting a headache after visiting your site for 10 consecutive minutes, you probably should pick a better color scheme. Design the color palette around your objectives (i.e. deliver a mood, let the user focus on the content, etc.).
9. No horizontal scrolling: while some vertical scrolling is tolerable, the same can not be said about horizontal scrolling. The most used screen resolution nowadays is 1024 x 768 pixels, so make sure that your website fits inside it.
10. Do not use pop ups: this point refers to pop ups of any kind. Even user requested pop ups are a bad idea given the increasing amount of pop blockers out there.

These are 10 of the most annoying things I see on websites. It doesn’t mean that they can’t be used wisely. I have see flash used on sites where it was truly needed and it made a greater impact, but for the most part, these things should be avoided if you do not want to have a website that people want to leave as soon as possible.

Today, I want to talk about providing value on your site. What is it that makes someone visit a particular website over and over again? Is it just because they enjoy the sales pitch of the site? Probably not. Take a look at the Alexa Top 100 visited site in the United States. Evey one of these site provides something of value. The search engines help people find what they are looking for. Pretty valuable huh. Myspace allows people to create their own web space where they can share information.

We can learn a lot from these sites. It doesn’t matter if you a dentist, a contractor, or a blogger. Providing your visitors with something valuable on every page is important. You might be asking yourself what can I provide that would be valuable. There are many things. If you are a blogger, make sure that you focus your writting to your audience. Don’t write “sales” posts. I have read many blog posts that jump off the page and say “Hi, I am an affiliate of this product and want you to buy it.” This turns people away. In the case of a dentist, maybe you could provide a teeth care guide or articles about specific dental problems and diseases. Anything that visitors to your site can use.

The fruits of focusing on value creation instead of traditional “brochure” type sales will quickly become very apparent. Share with us your ideas on how you create value for your site visitors.

My next post will be “DON’T BE ANNOYING!”

So, what do you need to think about when planning your new site, or a site reconstruction? Here are my thoughts:

1. What is my message? - This is critical. If you are not clear on the message your site needs to convey, it will not be clear to your visitors either.
2. Who is my target audience? – Knowing your target audience will give you a huge advantage as you begin to create content for your site, and plan the structure and features of it. I suggest that you read this and listen to the interview. It gives some very insightful information about who your customers are.
3. What is/are the main goal/goals of my website? – The goal of your website will determine how it is built. Is your website strictly a lead generation tool? Is the goal to sell somthing directly from the site? Maybe the main goal of your site is just to give you a place to post your personal thoughts and experiences. Whatever it is, figure it out and write it down. You will want to refer to the main goals throughout the entire process of your websites creation to make sure you are staying in line with your goals.
4. What action(s) must a visitor to my site take for me to consider their visit a success? – This could be a purchase, a subscription to a newsletter, filling out an information request form, viewing an online demo, downloading a free report, etc. This will be traked so that you know if your site is performing.
5. How will we generate traffic to my site? – This is something many people don’t think about. They want to get their site up thinking that all of a sudden they will be selling online. Without a clear plan of how you will get visitors to your site, you may be in for disappointing surprise. Will you pay for traffic (PPC/Ads)? Will you blog? Will you write articles for other sites, submit press releases, host a podcast? All of these are pieces of a larger picture.
6. What special features do I want on my site? – Websites can do amazing things. Do you want a blog, a forum, live help for your clients, knowledge base, crm, podcast, analytics, etc.
7. What resources do I currently have for maintaining my site once it is built? – Many people do not realize that once a website is built, it still takes time and energy to maintain the site. Unfortunately, there are people out there who make a game of hacking websites, you need to make sure that you are backing up your files and data, and that you have recovery procedures in place just in case. You need someone who understands the internet and web hosting to make sure things keep running smoothly.
8. What is our budget for a website? – I included this question, because you can spend anywhere from $199 – $199,000 on a website. Most of our clients can’t afford (and do not need) a website that costs a fortune. figure out what you need and what will be effective for your business, and then do the best you can with what you have.
9. Who will create the content? – Will you be creating all of your sites content yourself. Believe it or not, this is not as easy as you think. Creating compelling content that will sell is an art. We have professional writers who know how to write specifically for the web.
10. What will having a website do for us?¬† (What will it give us that we don’t already have?) – And finally, what is the point of having a website just to have a website. List some reasons why having a website is important to you. What will it help you do or achieve that you couldn’t do (at least notas easily) without it.

If you have any questions, or comments, please let us know. We are always happy to talk with you about your needs and give you some pointers on how you might create the most effective website.

#10 – DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND

In this Web 2.0 world we live in, many people are now using the Internet to research, shop, purchase or hire. If you don’t have a website you WILL lose business (especially if your competitors do!). Think about it… I am searching the Internet for a product or service that you offer. But wait! You don’t have a website. So… I visit your competitors site, and they seem to have what I am looking for. Maybe I even look at 3 or four sites before making my decision. If you don’t have a site, you are losing to your competition.

The sooner you get your website up and running, the better off you will be. Just as in any market having the “First Mover Advantage” can significantly help you succeed, having a well established website will help you stay ahead of your competition.

#9 – SAVE SELLING COSTS

There is a reason that sales people are some of the most well paid professionals. It is because they “Show us the money.” What would your business look like if you had a sales person working for you 24/7 for next to nothing? Pretty good, huh!

If you build your site right, that is exactly what it can do for you. It can generate sales/leads for your business 24/7. You might not think that people would be searching in the middle of the night, but I have made many online purchases in the late night/early morning hours. It happens and you want to be there when it does.

#8 – QUALIFIED LEADS

With a website that is built with your potential customers/clients in mind, you will only receive the best, most qualified leads. They will be people who are actively searching for what you do. Let me give you an example. We have done work for a company that offers online construction management software.

When we look into the keywords people are using to find the site, we see that there are several searches for “estimating housing costs,” “construction estimating,” and other similar terms. People searching for these terms could very well be their perfect client, but maybe not. The client they are looking for is a contractor who builds homes. Some of these people may be home owners looking for a quick estimate. With these keywords, we will get some of each. The website is designed to weed out the people who are not the target market.

Having a website will increase the quality of the leads you get.

#7 – NO HASSLE SELLING

I am sure that you have had the experience of going into a store and having the sales people pounce all over you. I know I have. Today, people want to browse around, talk to their friends about what they are looking to purchase, and then come to the sales person with questions. If I want to buy a new sofa for example. I do not want to walk in to the store, and have a sales person immediately follow me around the store trying to sell me every sofa I show interest in. That is sales 1.0 and doesn’t work anymore. Sales 2.0 would look like this: I want to buy a new sofa, so I go online and do a little research on good brands, materials, etc.

Once I feel like I have enough knowledge I might head over to the furniture store. I browse around and find a few sofas that I like. At this point, I will either go back to the internet to purchase, or I will find a sales person to answer any questions I might have and make my purchase.

Your website gives potential customers the feeling of complete control. They can take a look around, see what you have to offer, and then if they have any questions, they can ask you.

#6 – MAKE CHANGES QUICKLY

In the past, most companies had a printed brochure. This is still a good idea, but your website has a significant advantage. You can update it quickly at little or no cost. If you have a special offer, it can be offered to your clients right away. If you have a special event comping up, you can let them know.

It doesn’t take long and there are no printing fees.

#5 – INCREASE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Your website can be one of the best tools for customer support. With support forums, live help, FAQs, etc. your clients can have access to support and solve many of their own problems saving you time and energy.

#4 – NETWORKING

What makes business successful? There are many answers, but when it comes down to it, PEOPLE make businesses successful. Without people, you don’t have employees, you don’t have customers, and ultimately, you really don’t have a business.

Having a website can give you powerful networking tools. Blogs are very popular right now and for good reason. They allow you to share your knowledge and expertise with the world. As you start blogging, you will meet people who you otherwise would not have ever met.

#3 – THE NEW BUSINESS CARD

I think Billy said it best in his post “Your Website, a New Business Card.”

#2 -LEARN TO UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENTS

With modern tracking technology, you can learn a lot about your clients and potential clients through your website. With correctly implemented tracking, you can see where you visitors are coming from, what they are searching for, how effective your site is at converting visitors to leads, and much more.

This information is invaluable. The better you know and understand your clients, the better you can meet their needs.

#1 – PRESENT YOUR BUSINESS POWERFULLY

Your website should be THE BEST and MOST POWERFUL way for you to present your company to the world. It doesn’t matter if you are a small business just getting started or a huge corporation with a multi-million dollar ad budget. The idea is the same. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE CRUCIAL.

Make sure that your site puts your best face on and shows your potential clients that you are a legitimate, professional company. Many people will judge your business solely on your website. If it is the first thing they see about your company and it leaves a bad taste in their mouth, THEY WILL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Getting your website online AS SOON AS POSSIBLE will be the best investment you can make for your company. Make sure you do it right and that you build it with purpose. If you do it right, you can have a website that will give you all of the benefits of our top 10 reasons and it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg either. Be sure to checkout our website packages page to see what we can do to help you get going.