Need a website: Creating a internet marketing campaign

So you want to get on the internet and make money. Your been told you need a web site for your business and you cannot succeed with out one. This article will explore the basics of creating your presence on the web.

Selecting a web designer

This is a very competitive market and and many static designers willing to put together a site for you. You need to carefully consider what your goals are for the site.

Some goals to consider

• Who is your target market.?
• How will they use your site?
• Why they would choose your site?
• Will the information be static or dynamic?
• Will you need transaction faculties? How will this be done?
• How will you build trust into your site?
• How will you communicate with your visitor?
• How do you get visitors to come to site?
• How will you deliver the goods and services?
• How will you provide support for you product or service?

Readability of text

Your web designer also needs to have web copy expertise. This means that the text on your site must be readable by the visitor.  Readers of web page read differently to how they read a book or a newspaper. Generally they scan the page hoping to find what they are looking for.

Usability of the Site

Some designers a good designer but poor designers for usability. If its difficult to navigate your site then your site will fail to keep the visitor on site.

Collaboration and Participation

Most websites do not allow for this but it is an essential ingredient to successful web design. User who participate in your site will return to your site and refer other to your site.  Your site should include comments and ratings.  Forums are dead. 

Fresh content

Insure you have fresh content on your site. This takes a lot of time and money but if your site is old then your ranking will drop of the search engines. Visitors will not return and your site will fail.

Responding to visitors

If your visitor makes a comment then you  need to respond in a timely manner. Use auto responders to inform you visitor that you have noted the comment and will reply shortly.

Networking

Create a network through social media channels  and become involved with others in social network.  as they get to know and trust you they will participate in your web site. Do not spam them with sales material but socialise with them as you would in normal life. Then tell them when you have put fresh content on the site.

This covers only a few things on planning your web site and to get professional advice from a consultant before diving into the deep of the internet

Chriso

Internet Consultant.

Don’t waste your money on a web site

This week there has been a lot of discussion amongst some colleagues regarding everyone should have a web site.  I argue this point as most websites are a waste of time and money.

 

Brochure Sites

A brochure web site normally consist of 4 or 5 pages of broadcast material to inform people who you are and what your about. Majority of these sites are a complete waste of money. Designers have tapped into this market advising their client they need to have good design and SEO (Search Engine Optimised). I do agree to this in principle how ever this is very much a baby step in your online presence.

As these sites are costing about $2000 au it is a complete waste of money.  You just become another web site in the ocean of millions of other who have exactly the same content. Drop In the Ocean.

 

eCommerce Site

eCommerce sites are also a must have for all small business so they can get on the world stage and compete at a international level.  This is good if you have a product that everyone wants and your the only one that has the product otherwise it a complete waste of time and money.  Driving traffic to your site is not something that happens overnight and there is also the art of motivating a visitor to purchase while on the site.  

Affiliate Sites

Affiliate web site who provide links to other suppliers has some merit but of little value unless you have content that attracts people to your site.  Becoming affiliate to other websites requires good planning and spam marketing. Having said that there is value if your can provide value to the site.

 

No longer a broadcast Medium

The internet is not a broadcast medium as traditional media like TV and Radio.  Your web site needs to be an experience for the visitor and allow them to participate in your site. Your site needs to create a two way  conversation and user generated content.  Your web site needs to create relationships with people just as you do in your bricks and mortar business.

 

What do I need to do?

When considering your web site ask yourself what value is the web site to your visitor. Will they use  it and can we both benefit from the use. This takes some good analyses about where does your business fit on the web.

• Why would people come to your site?
• What will they do when on your site?
• Will they bookmark your site for future reference?
• Will they tell other about your site?
• Will they make positive claims about your site?
• Will they come back to your site?
• Will your site make them do business with you

Quality Not Quantity

Visitor to your site are looking for an experience and if they do not get that experience they will keep searching until they get what they are looking for.  Been number 1 on Google does not guarantee to make you money.  100,000 hits a month means nothing unless you getting value from the 100,000 hits.

The quality of your visitor to your site is one that participates in your site and adds value to your site. 100 visitor who do that are more valuable than the 1000 people who visit for 30 seconds.

 

Conclusion

Before you invest in a web designer get some professional consulting done before hand. Have a qualified consultant evaluate your business and make recommendations on how you should approach the internet and web presences.

 

Chris Johnson

Internet consultant.

Don’t waste your money on a web site

This week there has been a lot of discussion amongst some colleges  regarding everyone should have a web site.  I argue this point as most websites are a waste of time and money.

 

Brochure Sites

A brochure web site normally consist of 4 or 5 pages of broadcast material to inform people who you are and what your about. Majority of these sites are a complete waste of money. Designers have tapped into this market advising their client they need to have good design and SEO (Search Engine Optimised). I do agree to this in principle how ever this is very much a baby step in your online presence.

As these sites are costing about $2000 au it is a complete waste of money.  You just become another web site in the ocean of millions of other who have exactly the same content. Drop In the Ocean.

 

eCommerce Site

eCommerce sites are also a must have for all small business so they can get on the world stage and compete at a international level.  This is good if you have a product that everyone wants and your the only one that has the product otherwise it a complete waste of time and money.  Driving traffic to your site is not something that happens overnight and there is also the art of motivating a visitor to purchase while on the site.  

Affiliate Sites

Affiliate web site who provide links to other suppliers has some merit but of little value unless you have content that attracts people to your site.  Becoming affiliate to other websites requires good planning and spam marketing. Having said that there is value if your can provide value to the site.

 

No longer a broadcast Medium

The internet is not a broadcast medium as traditional media like TV and Radio.  Your web site needs to be an experience for the visitor and allow them to participate in your site. Your site needs to create a two way  conversation and user generated content.  Your web site needs to create relationships with people just as you do in your bricks and mortar business.

 

What do I need to do?

When considering your web site ask yourself what value is the web site to your visitor. Will they use  it and can we both benefit from the use. This takes some good analyses about where does your business fit on the web.

• Why would people come to your site?
• What will they do when on your site?
• Will they bookmark your site for future reference?
• Will they tell other about your site?
• Will they make positive claims about your site?
• Will they come back to your site?
• Will your site make them do business with you

Quality Not Quantity

Visitor to your site are looking for an experience and if they do not get that experience they will keep searching until they get what they are looking for.  Been number 1 on Google does not guarantee to make you money.  100,000 hits a month means nothing unless you getting value from the 100,000 hits.

The quality of your visitor to your site is one that participates in your site and adds value to your site. 100 visitor who do that are more valuable than the 1000 people who visit for 30 seconds.

 

Conclusion

Before you invest in a web designer get some professional consulting done before hand. Have a qualified consultant evaluate your business and make recommendations on how you should approach the internet and web presences.

 

Chris Johnson

Internet consultant.