In today's business world, it is important to have an online presence. Many consumers turn to the web first when looking for a product or service. If your business doesn't have a website, has a poorly designed website, or has a website that can't be found easily, you could be missing opportunities every day.
Building a website can be a very overwhelming experience. Either way, if you decide to do it yourself or find someone to build it for you, there are some general things to consider. We have listed a few of these below.
- Purchase a domain name that makes sense - When you purchase a domain name, make sure it is something that is easy to remember and represents your business.
- Avoid splash pages - While splash pages can be fun the first time, remember why visitors have come to your site. They are trying to find specific information and don't want to waste time trying to find the “Skip Intro” link.
- Use simple and clear navigation - Create a navigation structure that gets visitors to the important information without having to search through your site. If they spend too much time looking for something and get frustrated, they will leave before finding what they are looking for.
- Keep the information easy to read - Use a font and font color that are easy to read. Avoid using long blocks of text; rather, split them into separate paragraphs.
- Make sure your website works with multiple browsers - If your website works great with Internet Explorer but can't be viewed correctly in Firefox or Opera, you could lose potential customers.
- Hire the right person - If you decide you need help with your website, make sure you find someone who is competent. Take the time to view other websites he or she has done. Make sure you hire someone who is going to take the time to understand your business and who your customer is.
Keeping these points in mind as you decide to move your business online can help you be more successful from the start.