A More Effective Site !
Quick! What's your favorite
website? Why? Chances are your favorite website shares features
and elements in common with many of the Web's top rated sites--the
characteristics of a highly effective website. Why is this
important? Effective websites bring visitors back again and again.
The goal for your website should be to generate repeat traffic,
loyal users, and recommendations by your customers or visitors.
Let's examine the profile and characteristics of effective
websites.
Highly effective websites:
ARE USEFUL
Effective websites provide service to their visitors. They do it
better, with a touch more class than their competitors. They offer
value--a better value. Effective websites offer a service standard
that Internet users perceive to be "a cut above". What
services are most useful to your audience? Links to related
resources? Free information? Related products? Does your website
provide them? If not, why not?
Surveys of Web users show again and
again that content and services count for more than display, when
visitors make that critical decision to bookmark a website for a
return visit. Research is the key. Take an analytical look at your
target audience. What are their demographics, their habits, and
their wants? Cater to those variables with every website
element.
Begin a study program of analysis of Web demographics at [Nua
Internet Surveys http://www.nua.ie/surveys/]
and [StatMarket http://www.statmarket.com/].
Analyze your site visitor logs. Take a poll. Ask for feedback.
Find out what your visitors really want and supply them with it.
ARE SPEEDY
Effective websites deliver their message rapidly. If download
speed is slow, your website will never have that opportunity.
Effective websites optimize graphics and code to offer the fastest
download possible. They've trimmed the excess, and left only the
white-hot core of essentials. Visual impact is created through
minimalism - the removal of distracting or slow-loading elements.
Trim your website with [Graphics Optimizing Resources http://webreference.com/services/graphics/]
and [HMTL and Coding Optimizers http://webreference.com/programming/optimize/].
ARE EASY TO NAVIGATE
Effective website make it easy for visitors to find their way
around and easy for their viewers to locate the information they
are seeking. They provide navigation aids, helpful menus, and
search capabilities. The pages are visually familiar. Highly
effective websites push the envelope in terms of content and
usability, rather than unusual visual elements. Pages and sections
are linked logically. The site is structured so that visitors can
intuitively grasp the site organization. Compare your site's
navigation strategy to the standard described in [Designing
Website Navigation http://webreference.com/dlab/9705/].
SPEAK THE LANGUAGE
Effective websites communicate successfully with their audience.
They've caught the nuances of speech and information presentation
to grab and hold the attention of their viewers. Effective
websites organize the flow of information, through use of
headlines, subheadings, graphics that support the message, and
clearly understandable wording, that leaves ambiguity out of the
equation. Study the art of perspicuous writing: [Writing For
Cyberspace http://www.dsiegel.com/tips/wonk9/usage.html]
ARE RESPONSIVE
Effective websites listen to their audience. They are customer
driven. They respond quickly, courteously, efficiently and
helpfully to communications and orders. Effective websites are
in-tune with the needs and wants of their customers. They provide
numerous avenues for connecting with their visitors. They admit
mistakes and correct them quickly. Do I shop at the largest
bookseller on the Web? Not after being double-charged for a $6.95
item. Why? Because Large Bookseller insisted (rudely) that I'd
ordered two copies of that particular item. I may have
accidentally double-ordered. But why should returning an item be a
hassle? An online bookseller who includes a free return label with
every order now services my voracious reading habit of three or
four new texts every week. Customer loyalty is won and lost over
small issues. Effective websites put visitors and customers first.
ARE DESIGNED TO BE FOUND
Highly effective websites take promotion seriously. They work to
create a high profile. They continually look for ways to increase
traffic and visitor loyalty. Those responsible for the
administration of effective websites watch Web trends, and insist
that 'findability' be incorporated into every content page. Highly
effective websites have developed a brand and style that goes
hand-in-hand with content. Be persistent, analyze what best for
your particular site, study and implement the most successful web
promotion methods, learn the search engines. An ever-increasing
knowledge base gives highly effective websites their edge in the
marketplace.
ARE IN GOOD COMPANY
Effective websites link to, and are linked by websites that
provide useful services to their target audience. They seek out
the best of the Web and offer it to their visitors. The highest
compliment a customer can pay is to return to your site for its
expertise and usefulness in providing resources for further
information related to your content. An excellent model for the
practice of seeking related links can be found at [eHow http://www.ehow.com].
Study and cultivate the habits of
effective websites to help your site emulate their success.
Provide an experience that cries out "Bookmark Me"
whenever a targeted visitor finds your site. By bringing your
website closer to the ideal profile, you'll increase your site's
usefulness, exposure, repeat traffic and effectiveness -
guaranteed!
Article by Laare
Rowan
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