7 Steps for a Better Website
March 4, 2010
By: Jake
There are several ways to increase traffic and retain loyal viewers whether you are creating a new website or revamping an old one. Here are 10 easy steps to improving your website:
1. Know your target audience
If you want a website, there is someone that you are trying to reach. Who is it that you want to view your website? You will want your website look and feel to match the style of the people you are trying to reach. For example, how many photographer websites do you see that do not emphasize the photo gallery on the website? The question to ask your self is “What would my viewers want to see?”
2. Quick and to the point
There are a lot of websites out there. So you want your website to get viewers attention fast. You want the point of your website to stand out and you want it to load fast. Imagine if you were birthday card shopping, what are the cards that you spot first? The brightly colored ones? The ones with an eye catching image? The singing cards? Your card choice would depend on your target audience, which was step # 1, and you want that card, or your website for that matter, to jump out at the viewers. Secondly, would you look at the birthday card if it took two minutes to open? Get your viewers attention, and get to the point QUICK.
3. Consistency
It never fails to find a website where every page looks different. It becomes harder and harder to find anything on the website as you click through pages. Not only does it look bad, but it also breaks step # 2 of being able to find what you are looking for quickly. How many times have you gone into a grocery store at a different location and the floor plan was different? It can be frustrating to try and find something when you are use to a certain location. Same holds true for websites. Navigation, colors, fonts, images, etc. The placement and consistent styles of these can help make your website more enjoyable.
4. Search Engine Optimization
When over 9 out of 10 websites are found via searching, it is important to know that your website is optimized and has the right words to get viewers to your website. Depending on how you advertise or how people hear about you can play a major role in your website SEO features. For example, a major musical band may have an all flash website that looks really awesome! They don’t need as much SEO because they have the band name that promotes them. However, unless you are a local celebrity, chances are that you will need more SEO needs in your website.
5. Compatibility
As technology changes and more digital viewing products become available, it is important to be sure that your website can be viewed properly on all the different platforms. Ever bought a new computer that had a new operating system and found out that the old applications you had will not install on your new machine? Same holds true on the web. New browser standards read website code differently and you will want to make sure that your website code is written in the proper way to be visible across multiple browsers.
6. Keep your content fresh
As time goes on, there will be times when you will want to update your content. Take the time to update your text to keep up with the growing culture. Update your images to keep the website interesting. If you have a forum of a blog, keep the content flowing because it can go stale very fast.
7. Connect your website
Just because you have a website doesn’t mean that its getting views. Along with the other 6 steps, you will want to make sure that your website is connected. I don’t mean that it is online to be seen, I mean that you are actively promoting your website. Whether it’s through word of mouth, advertising on business cards or posters, linked in your email, connected through your social media such as Facebook or Twitter, or published in articles and press releases; these will all bring valuable viewers back to your website.
