Does Your Website Work for You?
By Len Doren IFM.ca
June 2006

The Internet is a sea of websites with everyone competing for the upper hand to get their message across to new and existing clients. How do you make sure your website comes out on top?

Well – in terms of design, how does your site stack up?

• Is your index page vibrant and offer an insight about your products or services?
• Is there a “call to action”?
• Is your information easy to find?
• Is your site easy to navigate?
• Has it been longer than 18 months since the site was designed?
  

These questions deserve qualified and honest answers. However the biggest question regarding your business website is more like - exactly what do you want it to do for you? (Oh, oh, here come more questions.) Do you want it to sell your products and services? Do you want to manage your existing client base more effectively – all good questions and ones you must answer yourself honestly.

If your answer is you want to sell products or services via your website, your index page should provide enough information in the form of:

• vivid, compelling pictures
• product descriptions
• special pricing info
• a link to purchase, order or inquire

Now you don’t have to have all that information on your index page, however, you can offer enough info to entice your visitors “click through” to a particular product or services page that will offer full details – especially “how to purchase” the item.

If you want your website to help manage your client base, the site should be designed to offer various levels of support information so your client doesn’t necessary have to call in and take up time your staff could be using to do other things besides answering redundant telephone calls. Simple things like having:

• an easy-to-find mailing address on your contact page
• telephone and fax numbers
• contact email addresses
• a “form” to gather client info
• related updates regarding your products
• or to view a gallery page of “before and after” photos

All of the above will help your visitors help themselves.

The level of detail and functionality you offer your website visitors can be minimal or complex. It could be as easy as adding a web “form” or contacting Support personnel via online chat. What ever your need, please speak to us if you have any questions regarding how we can help you help your website visitors.

Len Doren
Founder & Creative Director of IFM.ca – Web Design and SEO Services.

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