Channel 101 – A Beginner's Guide

What works and what does?

This exercise is not to see that any the world does and copy them, but to see what works and what does not. This research will also allow you to see how you could be different your competitors, or exploit a perceived weakness in a competitor by your target audience.

You can even e-mail to the webmaster of Web sites you find particularly well done, and ask questions about the site, unless it is a local competitor. When reviewing sites, look critically look static, unimaginative difficult to use or websites that have long downloads.

These are all things you want to avoid in your site web.

When you've found a few sites that have this particular quality or a combination of features that all seem to work well together, put bookmark the site for later review and make a copy. Also, take notes on what precisely what makes you really respond well to a website.

You may be surprised to see that it is not always a lot of graphics, but rather functions as a single database, content or information very organized.

Primary Objectives of Website

Now that you have studied market move to the next step: Defining the primary purpose of your website. In the race to establish a presence on the web, it is easy to forget Obviously what you want your website to do?

  • Is this the purpose of your website to generate leads?
  • Or is the purpose of your website to inform potential customers just who you are and what you do?
  • Is this the purpose of your website to disseminate information or offer online customer service?
  • Or is the purpose of your website to sell products and services?
  • Or a combination all the above?

Write down the objectives of your website. Think your website as one of the main objectives or function and perhaps two or three secondary objectives. If you get caught trying to make your site not too primary goals, your website will be all things to all people, and will probably not be very effective.

Put your business plan or marketing at work!

Whether you an established company that you are about to launch a new business, make sure your site is integrated into an overall marketing plan. Although There has been some great successes site, there were also many companies that have disappointed their website their primary marketing vehicle or unique.

Ideally, your site must be a strong tool that fits seamlessly into your overall marketing plan to help your company to pre-qualify leads, offer promotions, setting up prospect lists and other tasks so you can meet and exceed your marketing objectives.

A common mistake made by companies today is to spend the budget web site all about creating the site but limiting the marketing of the website search engine listings.

This is no different than a new restaurant to spend all their startup capital on the furniture of the restaurant and kitchen equipment, and then not having money to enable the community know they are in business. It's always a good idea to have a marketing budget and a plan that helps you drive visitors to your website.

Sell or not sell. . .

Soft sell, hard sell or not sell? If your site sell for you or not?

In many ways the creation of a website is like creating a brochure about your company and many websites are created to work as a brochure. But brochures or Web sites can not really replace the sales process, unless you sell tangible products that visitors can easily purchase decision.

What accomplish a good brochure?

A brochure says the reader that although the company is, what the company does and where they are. Other pamphlets actually sell with emphasis on all outlets many advantages or product or service.

If a site is generally not a pamphlet, he often combines the functions above a brochure, information and sales.

What could make a website?

Do not overlook the fact that your site can do something that no booklet can do. It can gather information on what a potential customer interested in.

Leaving the website visitors to request information (such as a brochure, newsletter or other information) you can enter their e-mail address, telephone number and area of interest and learn more about the context in which to call.

Contact your reader

Besides just listing your company's capabilities on your website, be sure to profile your success. Remember not mention the big names of accounts or businesses that a visitor can recognize. The fact that you've helped companies large and small other to solve a business problem they feel more comfortable with you.

Build your website in phases

Last, but not least, do not try to do everything at once. Create a website in stages or phases.

First create a presence Web in general and to achieve the main objective of your website. Phasing in website content or extra capacity over several months and be sure not to overlook the marketing of your website to reach your target market.

About the Author

Robert Goodwin has a degree in graphic art and has been involved in website projects since 1997. Robert is a website consultant and frequent contributor to Expert-Website-Design.com