Web Design: April 2008 Archives
Finally spring time has sprung in the South. I always get in the mood for that fresh start, that spring cleaning mode every year right when the dogwoods are in full bloom in the woods behind the office . Just like we spring clean our homes, change the smoke detector batteries and clean out the cobwebs, when was the last time your cleaned out the cobwebs from your website?
When was the last time you changed any content on your present site? ...yesterday? ...last week? ...last month? ...don't tell me it was last year! We hear things like, "You mean you can do that!" A recent survey reveals that while many site owners understand the need for frequent updating, a good portion still do not, with 37 percent of respondents saying they update content daily, 16 percent weekly, 16 percent monthly and a whopping 31 percent annually.
While many Web sites keep their content fresh and alive, updating links and content often, many do not. Look I know your busy, but this month would be a great time to carefully evaluate your site's content, run maintenance programs to check for broken links (with a plan to do this regularly), and overhaul any of your outdated content, images or applications that are not being used. Fresh content that is updated regularly is key now a days in improving your rank in the search engines as well. The easiest way to do that is to add a company blog to your site where you can share customer success stories, talk about trends in your industry and share information with potential customers that builds their trust in your comapny.
Does your site appear fresh, or does it need some updating? Sometimes bringing your site more current is as simple as adding some fresh content and archiving the old, while other times you may be getting due for a redesign or complete overhaul in order to stay competitive. Your Web site is the most cost effective marketing tool your business can use and the easiest to respond to your customers demands.
Have some friends or colleagues look at your site for you and ask them for honest critiques. Often times we can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak, so asking others to take a look can bring a different, fresh perspective. Ask them to tell you if your site is easy to navigate, if they find any dead links, if the content is helpful and interesting, and if they have any ideas that might improve your site.
Here are some tips to ensure a fresh and vital website:
When was the last time you changed any content on your present site? ...yesterday? ...last week? ...last month? ...don't tell me it was last year! We hear things like, "You mean you can do that!" A recent survey reveals that while many site owners understand the need for frequent updating, a good portion still do not, with 37 percent of respondents saying they update content daily, 16 percent weekly, 16 percent monthly and a whopping 31 percent annually.
While many Web sites keep their content fresh and alive, updating links and content often, many do not. Look I know your busy, but this month would be a great time to carefully evaluate your site's content, run maintenance programs to check for broken links (with a plan to do this regularly), and overhaul any of your outdated content, images or applications that are not being used. Fresh content that is updated regularly is key now a days in improving your rank in the search engines as well. The easiest way to do that is to add a company blog to your site where you can share customer success stories, talk about trends in your industry and share information with potential customers that builds their trust in your comapny.
Does your site appear fresh, or does it need some updating? Sometimes bringing your site more current is as simple as adding some fresh content and archiving the old, while other times you may be getting due for a redesign or complete overhaul in order to stay competitive. Your Web site is the most cost effective marketing tool your business can use and the easiest to respond to your customers demands.
Have some friends or colleagues look at your site for you and ask them for honest critiques. Often times we can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak, so asking others to take a look can bring a different, fresh perspective. Ask them to tell you if your site is easy to navigate, if they find any dead links, if the content is helpful and interesting, and if they have any ideas that might improve your site.
Here are some tips to ensure a fresh and vital website:
- Establish a regular housekeeping schedule. Determine how often you will introduce new content on your site.
- Remove or refresh stale content. Remove all expired offers, products or services and update information that has changed. Be sure to update featured articles and archive that old articles in a separate section in your site for reference.
- Make your presentation current. Even if your product or service is fairly static, find a way to show that the site is up-to-date.
- Periodically test all the links within your site to be sure they work properly. This is especially true if you link off to other sites. They sometimes change where they place their content or remove the page completely.
I was at a networking function for the International Business Academy, LLC recently and part of our speaker's table top exercise was to go around the table and each person ask this question, "What expectations do you have of a ____________ that you would do business with?'. As we went around the table it was very revealing to me as to what the business community thought of each others industries. When it was my turn I asked the question, "What expectations do you have of a web development firm that you would do business with?" I have to admit that the answers were very to the point and interesting enough riddled with emotion that was prompted from many bad experiences with so called professionals in our industry. The strong emotionals revealed in their answers was something I was surprised by. Here are some of their comments:
• I like to get a website that works! This person was on her third web developer and interviewing a fourth after our breakfast meeting in hopes she could find someone that would get her site to function properly and her shopping cart to at least take orders consistently. You could tell from her voice she was frustrated to say the least since her company's future growth depended on her website working 24/7.
• I would like to find someone that I can depend on for support and ongoing ideas to help me grow. That seems to be the general consensus of those at the table. They all wished they could get prompt support when they needed it. Many commented that when they went back to their original web person they were no where to be found. As to getting new ideas to help them grow, many designers are notorious for the statement, "Tell me what you want and I'll create it!" What's the point? If all our clients knew what they wanted they wouldn't need us. Most of the time our customers have no clue how all of this technology works nor do they care, they just want ongoing ideas that will drive sales and grow their brand online. In our opinion that the fun part of our job, helping companies grow by discussing how you can use technology to create an affinity with your brand!
• I'd like to have a design that was unique, simple and clean instead of some template? While templates are good for those on very, very tight budgets, there is nothing like having a custom designed site done that is specific to your needs, customers and is simple in design and navigation. We have found that with our simple, clean designs we can make any company look like a million bucks for far less than they might think.
• I'd like to find a developer that will design my site so it's flexible and expandable as I grow. Great web development firms always make this a priority. If you don't hear that your new website will be flexible and expandable long term from your current web development company's lips when it's time for a strategic makeover, run to get help immediately!! As a business owner myself, I have to get long term value from every investment I make. I'm drive to make sure our clients get the same.
I was surprised to hear these complaints from the various companies at the table but what they were concerned and frustrated about most are the sort of services we commit to do every day with our customers. Our mission is simple! "Make sure that your company's brand is IN demand 24/7 on the World Wide Web." By creating simple and compelling websites that work all of the time, constantly sharing unique strategies that build relationships with your site visitors and your company's brand of products, we make sure you get a great return on your investment long term.
By the way, over coffee after breakfast we all got to talking and sharing about some really great ideas that all of us have been using successfully to grow our brands online. If you 'd like to find out more about those ideas just email me at mark@csmediagroup.com and I'll send you a copy of my notes.
• I like to get a website that works! This person was on her third web developer and interviewing a fourth after our breakfast meeting in hopes she could find someone that would get her site to function properly and her shopping cart to at least take orders consistently. You could tell from her voice she was frustrated to say the least since her company's future growth depended on her website working 24/7.
• I would like to find someone that I can depend on for support and ongoing ideas to help me grow. That seems to be the general consensus of those at the table. They all wished they could get prompt support when they needed it. Many commented that when they went back to their original web person they were no where to be found. As to getting new ideas to help them grow, many designers are notorious for the statement, "Tell me what you want and I'll create it!" What's the point? If all our clients knew what they wanted they wouldn't need us. Most of the time our customers have no clue how all of this technology works nor do they care, they just want ongoing ideas that will drive sales and grow their brand online. In our opinion that the fun part of our job, helping companies grow by discussing how you can use technology to create an affinity with your brand!
• I'd like to have a design that was unique, simple and clean instead of some template? While templates are good for those on very, very tight budgets, there is nothing like having a custom designed site done that is specific to your needs, customers and is simple in design and navigation. We have found that with our simple, clean designs we can make any company look like a million bucks for far less than they might think.
• I'd like to find a developer that will design my site so it's flexible and expandable as I grow. Great web development firms always make this a priority. If you don't hear that your new website will be flexible and expandable long term from your current web development company's lips when it's time for a strategic makeover, run to get help immediately!! As a business owner myself, I have to get long term value from every investment I make. I'm drive to make sure our clients get the same.
I was surprised to hear these complaints from the various companies at the table but what they were concerned and frustrated about most are the sort of services we commit to do every day with our customers. Our mission is simple! "Make sure that your company's brand is IN demand 24/7 on the World Wide Web." By creating simple and compelling websites that work all of the time, constantly sharing unique strategies that build relationships with your site visitors and your company's brand of products, we make sure you get a great return on your investment long term.
By the way, over coffee after breakfast we all got to talking and sharing about some really great ideas that all of us have been using successfully to grow our brands online. If you 'd like to find out more about those ideas just email me at mark@csmediagroup.com and I'll send you a copy of my notes.
