There are basically two types of websites:
- An online business card
- A site that works hard to promote you and your business
Which do you want?
What do you need?
An online business card contains your name, business name, and contact information. If you have a retail store it might also contain your hours of operation and directions to find you. It’s one way communication — and the way most websites were designed when the internet was new.
Give Them What They Want
People love to push buttons and interact with their digital devices. We also like to try before we buy. So how do you get what you want?
- Engage your visitors with an intriguing story about you and why you’re in your chosen business.
- Acknowledge their pain points because it’s your visitors “pain” — emotional and/or financial — that brought them to your website.
- Encourage visitors to give their name and email address so you can keep in touch.
- Offer them something for free that will help them immediately.
Designed To Attract
To make your site powerfully attractive begin with your “elevator pitch” at the very top of your home page:
(1) I work (teach/educate/inspire/create, etc.) with ___________________(name your perfect customer) who struggle with (who want / who can’t / who are) _______________(name your perfect customer’s problem) and who want (would like / need) ______________ (name your solution)
(2) Offer a freebie in exchange for their first name and email address
(3) Add a blog page to demonstrate your expertise
(4) Include testimonials to build trust
(5) Set up a sidebar with:
- links to your social media pages
- a free offer with a 3-D graphic to draw attention and an engaging call to action
- a calendar of events where people may find you: webinars, speaking engagements
(6) Build in a webpage footer containing additional information about you, your product or service. A footer is not a dumping ground — it’s a final opportunity to engage with you visitors. It can contain one or more of the following:
- your latest tweets
- a final call to action
- list of your favorite vendors
- contact info
- a repeat of your navigation menu
- product images
- interesting links
- your recommended tools or resources
- sort bio followed by how to connect with you
- a mini image gallery
- additional resources
- search area
- Social media profiles
- a list of your mosts popular blog posts
Give Them What They Need
Today visitors need a website that is HTML5 and mobile responsive because that’s what works best on all devices: desktop, laptop and mobile phone.
Need help with your website? I’d love to speak with you.
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