Your goal is to build a high traffic, high ranking and profitable website. A website is more than a brochure. Decide the goal of your website, i.e., selling your services, selling products, lead generation, etc.
10 Tips for Building a Successful Website
1] Focus on the problems of your niche target market: When visitors come to your website, you want them to tune into Radio Station WIIFM (What’s In It For Me). The web copy content should be benefits-oriented. Focus on the benefits of working with you. Many websites focus on the features. Have a strong Call to Action that directs visitors to take some sort of action, i.e., call to discuss your services, buy your products, sign up for your e-newsletter etc.
2] Domain Name Selection Criteria: Use keywords in selecting your domain name. Make sure the name is easy to remember and describes the purpose of your website. To find good keywords visit http://www.wordtracker.com.
3] Website Traffic Strategy: Have a plan for bringing visitors to your website. Just because you’ve built your site, don’t think that people will come to it. One of the fastest and most effective traffic building strategies is Article Marketing. Write articles and submit them to article submission websites, such as www.ezinearticles.com and www.ideamarketers.com. This strategy will begin the process of branding you as an expert in your industry.
4] Website Metrics: You can’t track what you don’t measure. Metrics help you measure and improve the performance of your website, i.e., conversion rate, traffic stats, most viewed web pages, source of visitors, visitor value, etc.
5] Headline: Have a compelling and benefits-oriented headline because you only have a few seconds to grab the web visitors’ attention.
6] Niche Market For Service Professionals: I highly recommend niche-focused websites that clearly define your target market.
7] Website Design: The site must be fast to load and easy to navigate.
8] E-commerce: Your site should accept online credit card payments for services and products, and/or internet payment companies like PayPal www.paypal.com.
9] Database Management: Your site needs to capture visitor’s contact information so that you can add them to your email list (database) and market your services to them, i.e., e-newsletters, books, new product launches, etc. Database Management Resources: Aweber (www.aweber.com) and Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com).
10] Color Scheme: Color can have a major impact on your online sales so choose colors that will generate positive responses. Here are some color guidelines to consider for web design:
Red – Action, attention getting, energy, power, strength, passion, fire, heat. A strong, masculine color. Red is a good color for a call-to-action. Red is cheerfulness, excitement, and warmth.
Blue – Confidence, travel, freedom, truth, professionalism, wealth and power. Also tranquility, dependability, acceptance, patience, understanding, cooperation, comfort, loyalty and security. It is one of the most calming colors and is associated with the sky and the sea, intelligence, reassurance, and trust.
Green – Money, wealth, prosperity, calm, health, food, nature, hope, growth, freshness, soothing, sharing, and responsiveness. Green symbolizes fertility, spring and renewal.
Orange – Health and vitality, autumn, youthfulness, fire, steadfastness, courage, confidence, friendliness, cheerfulness,
warmth, excitement and energy. Vibrant and warm, orange is associated with autumn and the earth.
Yellow – Light, purity, understanding, caution, brightness, intelligence, joy, organization.
Purple – Dignity, sophistication, creativity, spirituality and mystery.
Brown – Credibility, stability, the hearth, home, the earth, wood, comfort and strength.
Black – Authority, classy, committed, serious, night, and sophistication.
Gray – Maturity, security, and reliability, a very conservative color.
White – Fresh, pure, spirituality, perfection, and easy
These guidelines will help you select the appropriate colors for your potential web audience so choose wisely and build a profitable website.
Follow these guidelines on how to build a website that will be successful and profitable to your business.
Robert Moment is an innovative, forward-thinking small business and marketing coach and author of Invisible Profits: The Power of Exceptional Customer Service. Robert specializes in teaching entrepreneurs and small business owners how to start a business that profits and grows. Visit How to Start Your Small Business and sign up for the FREE 7 day e-course titled, “Turn Passion into Profit: Small Business Startup.”
Contact Robert at Robert@howtostartyoursmallbusiness.com
