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06.22.06
Building A Better Site
 By
Doug Caverly
Every website wants to draw more visitors. The site's owner then hopes the visitors will become loyal consumers of whatever it is that's offered.
The site itself is, of course, a key component in all of this. A good site will result in more hits and more customers.
Search engines have made fairly clear (in some cases, anyway) what they don't want in a site. Avoid duplicate content, keyword stuffing, link spamming, and the like.
Reams have been written about how to get a high ranking; read these, and consider the advice with an objective mind.
Once an individual comes to your site, you need to make sure it is accessible to them. A home page with a 20-second load time will only discourage first-time visitors.
Try to keep things simple, while still maintaining an attractive layout. And please, please, please, avoid errors in spelling and grammar.
Earning the consumer's trust is another component. Allowing customers to post reviews and recommendations is a common way to showcase a business's honesty.
You should also clearly present any security certifications, warranties, or guarantees that your site can offer.
At the same time, don't get too personal. Many people don't like to register with sites in order to make a purchase.
On that note - ask the opinion of individuals who are not necessarily experts in your field or familiar with the technology. Their fresh eyes can pick up things that you never thought twice about.
A useful (and much longer) list of suggestions can be found here.
In the words of Red Green, "Keep your stick on the ice."
About
the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.
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