Free Web Site Marketing Tips
1. Regard your Web site as an essential business tool,.not a necessary evil in today’s market. Strive to make Web site upgrades and improvements on a timely basis. It is essential to success.
2. Simplify, simplify, simplify. People might want everything but the kitchen sink on the Internet, but they’re only going to spend about 5 seconds on your Web site before they decide if you have something they want. Make sure your site’s home page presentation is simple and clear. What should customers read? What should they do next? That should be obvious. Cut down on the clutter.
3. Don’t go too high tech. Many Web surfers STILL are on dial up or don’t have work related to the Internet, so have older computers or software. You want those customers, too. Make sure your site can be used by as many Web browsers as possible to maximized your customer base.Minimize use of Java Script and don’t have Java Script pop-up ads. The days of ignoring Apple computers are over, so don’t even think about a business site that only works well with PCs or Microsoft browsers.
4. Clearly describe your business in the first paragraph of your home page text. Don’t assume Web surfers know about your products or services. If you sell real estate, is it homes or commercial or both? If you are an artist, are you a character actor or do you croon the standards? Your text should verify whether Web surfers are at the right place –
or they’ll go elsewhere.
5. Bigger often isn’t better. Never lead Web surfers on a pointless wild goose chase around your site because it never works. If you’re trying to sell a pig in a poke, site volume won’t impress them. Nobody will be going through that maze but you.
6. Minimize the number of clicks Web surfers must make to achieve their goal. If you have a pay site,try to keep the forms down to one or two pages and don’t ask customer profile questions that your don’t really need to have answered.
7. Give your home page a good personality. Your home page is your Web identity – the face of your business. If you’re selling high rises in San Francisco or family homes in the Ozarks, why does your site look like you’re a staid Wall Street broker? If you’re a trendy business, have a modern Web design. Use graphics effectively. Of course, at the other extreme, don’t be too chummy and informal on your site. You’re recruiting customers,
not Facebook pals.
8. Make sure your Web text sells your business. Lots of links and buttons and photos can create an attractive Web site that really doesn’t convey your message. Make sure your text is well written throughout your site, then build your graphics around the text.
9. The quick draw wins the day. Make sure your home page opens/loads quickly. Too many unnecessary graphics and frames loading have killed many a site and a sale.
10. Security isn’t an option. If you ask customers for their personal information on your site, make sure your response page is secure -- or wise customers won’t cooperate. Obviously, don’t even think of taking payments over non-secure pages.