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13 Ways To Destroy Your Website
By Scott J. Patterson
With all the talk of how to make a great website and ways to keep
visitors, it is important to also understand the other
side of designing an Internet business.
Every day, thousands of websites are finding unique ways to turn away
visitors and potential customers. Although many
webmasters know about the obvious "turn-offs", there are many little
details that "tick-off" visitors and make them leave.
In fact, I have found that there are 13 "small" items that can make
or break a website. To avoid having your visitors "click-
away" from your site make sure that you include the following things:
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A Professional Appearance:
Most websites don't need flash effects or dazzling visuals. But,
your Internet business should be perceived as a legitimate site,
built by someone who cares about the content and appearance. In
other words, the colors and graphics should blend well with one
another. In addition, all web-copy should be dynamic and devoid of
grammar or spelling mistakes. Finally, any images on the page should
enhance the experience for your visitors without distracting them.
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Proper Navigation:
The pages on your website should be easily connected. To do this,
every section should connect to the main page, with a clear and
concise menu. Don't make your visitors spend a lot of time looking
for different sections. Help them by ensuring that the navigation of
your site remains constant throughout all pages.
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An Obvious Theme:
Your index page should immediately let the visitor know what you are
selling or promoting. Usually the best way to do this is by briefly
describing the purpose of your website and include product photos
that can help people understand your purpose.
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A Logo:
One of the best ways to "brand" your site and remain unique is to
have a logo for your Internet business. By having a logo, your
website is more likely to make an "impression" with your visitors
and develop a following. Any logo used needs to be consistent
with the theme and color scheme of your site.
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FAQs:
There will be times when your visitors
have a question that is not covered by the standard descriptions or
sales pages. To help them out, it is important to have a section
that is devoted to answering common questions. By creating a FAQ
page, your prospects can easily find the answers to their questions
and will be more likely to order from your site.
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What's New Section:
With repeat visitors, there
will be times when you want to update them with current news or
promotions. The best way to do this is to create a "What's New"
section. That way, you can inform old visitors, while making sure
that they know about all current marketing campaigns.
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Contact Information:
Eventually, your website
visitor will have a question for you. Because of this, it is vital
that you list all possible ways that they can reach you. By creating
a contact page, you will be able to answer questions and reinforce
the fact that there is an actual person behind the website.
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Feedback Forms:
The best websites always change, catering to the needs of the
visitor. In order to find out what your customers need, it is
important to solicit feedback from them. A common way to do this is
by creating a feedback form on the site, which includes questions
that will help improve the overall quality of the Internet business.
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Privacy Policy:
With the problem of spam, many people are afraid to give out
personal information such as their email address and credit card
numbers. To help alleviate this fear, you need to include a "Privacy
Policy" section. Basically, this page will let them know how all
information is used and if they will be contacted in the future. It
is better to be upfront about your practices than to be accused of
mishandling information.
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Email List:
Top websites work on developing an email list of prospects that can
be contacted in the future. This should go without saying, but your
email list subscription area should have a prominent position on
your web page. In addition, include a quick blurb about any
incentive that you offer to visitors for joining the list.
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About Us:
Most website visitors appreciate knowing that a business is run by
an actual human being. To help personalize your website, you need to
include a little information about both you and your online
business.
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Sales Page:
Even with the best product descriptions, it is important to create a
dedicated page that describes how your products are superior to your
competitors. This section should be a summary of all your key
features written in a dynamic tone. Basically, you want your
visitors to read this page and immediately buy from you. An example
of a sales page, can be seen from my own site:
mizambar.com/whyevileye.html
.
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Refund/Return Policy:
On the other side, there will be times when a customer is not happy.
To help alleviate any fears that they might have about purchasing
online, there needs to be a section where potential customers can
read your rules on accepting returns and refunds. Carefully list how
and if you accept refunds. If you do not, then be upfront about it.
Because there are millions of websites on the Internet, it is now
vital that you give your visitors what they need.
Unfortunately, they will never tell you what is necessary. But, by
including these 13 items in the design of your
website, you can assured that you will have a distinct advantage over
your competitor's Internet business.
Scott J. Patterson designed and promoted his own online store with NO
computer experience. |
