Having an Effective Website
by Effect Web Media, an Indiana Web Design Company
Professional Website - There is a Difference
Many businesses don’t know there is such a thing as an effective website. There are tons of typical company websites that do nothing more then display the “About Us” and “Mission Statement” spiel. Forget the poorly designed graphics, navigation, and overall unprofessionalism of the whole package– does the website lead the customer to a sale or goal? What is the goal of your company website? Droning on about how our company is the coolest company around doesn’t help your customers get what they need and it does not get you a sale or lead. Some business owners or managers in charge of getting a website developed don’t know what else to put on their websites. Just ask yourself, what does your company do and what are its goals? If your company manufacturers custom coil springs– have your website list your clients, high-quality photos of your products, a form to reorder springs, a customer login section to view status on orders, modify orders, place new orders, etc. If your company distributes your product to dealers, have a dealer locater page to allow customers to find where they can buy your products.
The trick is to connect your business goal, a sale, to your customer quickly. If your site doesn’t provide what the customer is looking for, they will simply click off to another site that will. Companies that realize the potential of having an active website will rise above their competitors. These companies will set the new standards. Customers will see this professionalism and they will see your companies is a leader in your industry.
Be Professional
In order to design a professional website — it must be designed by a skilled professional who is on top of the industry. The career of ‘website designer‘ has been given a bad reputation. It is common to think that a web designer is usually an unskilled high school nerd, an extended family member, or someone you know that “does web design on the side”. A lot of websites have been slapped up on the web by these types of unprofessional novices. Most of us can mow our lawn, but we don’t do landscaping on the side, right? A website not only defines your company’s professionalism, but also connects your customer to your business by making a sale, generating a lead, giving the information to the customer that they are looking for, or a number of other features that go beyond the simple “About Us” website.
Don’t tell your customers (and competitors) “well, here we are finally - this is our attempt at making a presence on the internet, we didn’t want to invest in a professional website because it’s not important to us “; make your website excel and expand. It’s every bit as important as your brochures, salesmen, logo, and company personality. By being creative and going the extra mile, your company will have a website that says, “we are leaders in our industry, we are professional, we stay on top of technology, and we place high importance on being professional.
Brainstorm possibilities for your website and consult with a professional company. There may be options you’ve never thought of. Also, when your selecting a company — take a good look at their website and their clients’ websites. Do they care about professionalism or just getting a quick job done? Many website companies have decent websites themselves, but then their client portfolio shows the actual level of quality the customer receives.
Websites are Ever-Evolving
So now you’ve got a great website. Now what? Keep it updated with your current products, news, dealers, etc. Having a Feedback form can really help your company adjust and improve your website based on customer response. Your website should evolve with your company. Every so often, have a meeting to discuss new options and features that may benefit your website. Make your website benefit your company as a valuable new resource. Having a website that simply ‘exists’ doesn’t do much for anyone. If you’re going to get on the web, make your presence known.
