The Green Sheet Online Edition
September 9, 2011 • 11:09:02
Website in your pocket
Today, a website is like a business card. And for many potential partners and merchant customers, your website will be their first point of contact with your company. It is important that your site make the very best impression on them.
How well does your website represent your business? Is it easy to navigate? If so, this will reflect positively on your organizational skills. Does the design strike the right balance between originality and cohesion with your company's philosophy and purpose?
This alone can encourage people to explore your pages and contact you. And is your messaging tightly written and typo free? If so, people will likely conclude you are professional in your business dealings.
Don't worry about being cool or flashy. When someone clicks on your corporate site, entertainment is not the primary driver. People are looking for information about you and the products and services you offer. Having a rotating globe on your home page probably won't sway them one way or the other.
Three tips
In the pursuit of providing information clearly, in an orderly fashion and in a pleasing format, here are three tips to help you maximize your website's effectiveness:
- Keep it simple: A good rule of thumb is to discard whatever does not provide concise information. Look at your site from the perspective of someone who has never seen it before. If, from that viewpoint, a certain design element or block of text is distracting, eliminate it.
- Reach out: Make it easy for people to contact you. Phone numbers, email addresses, even snail mail addresses and fax numbers should be easily found and prominently displayed.
- Go mobile: As the smart phone ecosystem expands, having your site configured for mobile web browsing is important, even vital.
As the new business card, the website is moving from your wallet to your pocket - because that's where you keep your cell phone.
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