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Getting the most from your website
Getting your business on the Web is important. Many owners still ask, 'Does my business need a website?' and the answer to that question is almost always, 'yes.' Once the decision to invest in a website has been made, how can you ensure you get the most out of it?
The following are several suggestions for ensuring your site works for you.
KISS
Keep It Short and Simple. Make sure that your site is easy to read, that the layout and colours are clear and work well. Big, hard-hitting companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and Ebay don't have coloured, pattern backgounds because they know that a simple, white backgroud makes text easier to read. Too often sites use flashing buttons, bright colours and strange fonts to try and attract their customers attention. Unfortunately, more often than not, it has the opposite effect and the offending page is simply closed and the customer reminds themselves not to visit that site again.
Absolutely avoid cursor trails and animations that run, swim or fly across the page as they interfere with and distract your customer as they try to read. This will have the same effect and you have one less potential return.
Hit 'em hard and fast
You must grab their attention in the first 10 seconds... and hold it! Your first page must immediately tell the person what your site is about. Think about what image and message you are trying to convey and ensure that your 'home' page is designed to give that message. Consider having your mission statement or a short summary of what your business does available there.
...Fast!
Make sure your page loads fully within 20 seconds and preferably within that first 10. If you have images on your page, ensure that they are sufficiently compressed that they don't take an age to download. If you have scanned a picture, make sure that it is the same size as you want it to be on your website, ie. if it appears at 100 pixels wide by 50 pixels high, make sure it is that size to avoid wasting time downloading image data that is not relevant. Screen resolution is typically 72 dpi (dots per inch) so if the image is to be two inches wide on your web page it should be 144 pixels wide.
Make your pages easy to find
Too often, for the sake of a 'trendy' page, websites use 'mystery meat' navigation. This term refers to navigation sytems where the user is faced with a series of images that bear no relation to the pages behind them and they are required to guess or work out which button to press. Don't do it. Ever. If you wish to use an icon, make sure you accompany it with text that makes it clear.
Standard navigation terms, such as 'home', 'about' or 'contact' should be used wherever possible. People are used to seeing these on the Web now and are comfortable with those terms. Standard layouts are also extremely helpful to users. A navigation bar that is at the top or left of the screen is most easily used.
Invite your customers back
One way to do this is to ensure that your content is regulalry updated - at least as often as the information changes. For example, if your website is for a bar or restaurant and you have your menu listed on your website, ensure that your website always reflects your current menu.
Another way to do this is to provide up to the minute information, such as news or weather reports. Many of these are available now as free 'feeds' that only require a link back to the provider site. Or perhaps you can offer a 'toy' such as the 'Random Compliment Generator' on the AURAL 6 server site.
If you keep these suggestions in mind when designing or revamping your website you will improve your customers experience of your site and thus their impression of you.
Whether you are just building your website or are looking at overhauling an existing site, the A6 Media team can help you build a site that will help your business grow. Get in touch now to see how we can help you.
