If You Don’t Have A Website –
Get One Now!
If you’re in business, or are planning to start a business, you need a website. If you don’t have one, get one. If you do have one, here’s a check list to make sure it’s doing its job.
A website fulfills two basic functions for the average (non e-tail) small business:
- It gives you credibility. It proves you are real.
- It acts as a detailed brochure. Here’s who we are, what we do and how you can benefit from doing business with us. It’s an expandable brochure that never goes out of date because you can make changes, add products or announce special events quickly, easily and virtually without cost.
The Only Thing Worse Than Having No Website
Is Having A Lousy Website
Prospects and customers alike judge you by how you communicate. And it is the perception they get from the totality of their contacts with you that determine whether or not they are likely to start or continue doing business with you. A website is your most critically important communication and education tool.
If you have a website, now is the time to take a critical look at it to determine whether it is helping, hurting, or doing nothing at all. Here are some things to look for as you do a quick self-evaluation:
- Is your website easy to read and pleasing to look at?
- Does it convey a unique and compelling message about your company?
- Does the homepage grab the viewers attention and tell them what you do and how you can help? Does it do that in eight seconds* or less?
- Is the content clear and concise?
- Are there interesting images on the site? Are they relevant to what you do?
- Are there videos on your site? Are they relevant?
- Do you offer any educational information – such as a blog - to help your prospects as they do business in your industry?
- Do you share testimonials and reviews with the reader?
- Do you have an opt-in offer?
- Can a visitor easily navigate through your site?
[* As of 2014, eight seconds is the average attention span of an adult human. By way of comparison, goldfish have an attention span of nine seconds. : ) ]
What If Your Website Comes Up Short?
Re-do it. Re-do it immediately. The longer you allow a lousy website to be your main interaction with prospects, the worse it will be.
A good website opens your door to new clients; a lousy website sends them running into the arms of your competitor.
If, after you have done your self-evaluation, you remain uncertain on how to proceed, let me know. I offer a complementary 7 point website analysis at my website https://www.copywritingdone4u.com. I’ve done over one hundred evaluations in the past couple of years. I’ll be happy to help you too.
More Marketing Advice
For over 30 years I have been a professional copywriter and marketing consultant advising various businesses on unique messaging, branding strategies and online web copywriting. I love sharing my marketing tips, insights and secrets. Interested in learning more valuable stuff that could help improve your marketing life? Go to https://www.copywritingdone4u.com/.
# # #
By Alan Tarr, The MoneyWords Copywriter
Author of The 7 Deadly Sins Of Marketing