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The_8_Must_Do_rules_for_effective_website_design
| The 8 Must Do rules for effective website design
To succeed at your online business (whether you are selling your
own product/service or are selling for other merchants as an
affiliate), you need a Web design must be just for that - a
simple, focused site. One that is easy to build,
maintenance-free, low cost, credible, and a powerful
traffic-builder and customer-converter.
Having the right tool and the right product alone doesnt insure
the success of your website. There are many factors to be
considered in effective website design. Unfortunately, most of
these are overlooked by offline business owners using the
internet to promote their business.
Web Design Rule #1 - Build It for Speed It's a fact of modern
life - people are in a hurry. This means that you have between
10 and 30 seconds to capture your potential customer's
attention. To minimize your load time, keep graphics small.
Compress them where possible. Use flashy technology (JavaScript,
Flash, Streaming Audio/Video, animation) sparingly and only if
it is important to your presentation.
Web Design Rule #2 - Target your Market Know who your market is
and make certain that your site caters to their needs. It is
critical that your site reflect the values of your potential
customers. Is your market mostly business professionals? If so,
the site must be clean and professional. Is your product aimed
mostly a teenagers and young adults? Then your site could be
more informal and relaxed. The key here is to know your market
and build the site to their preferences.
Web Design Rule #3 - Focus the Site Make certain your web site
is focused on the goal, selling your product or service. A site
offering many unrelated products is not necessarily unfocused,
but this is often the case. If your business does offer many
products, dedicate a unique page for each instead of trying to
sell them all from one page.
Web Design Rule #4 - Credibility Is Crucial The most
professionally designed site won't sell if your customers don't
believe in you. A clear privacy statement is one way to build
your credibility. Provide a prominent link to your privacy
statement from every page on the site as well as from any
location that you are asking your visitors for personal
information. Provide legitimate contact information on line.
Web Design Rule #5 - Navigation should be simple Make site
navigation easy and intuitive. Simple and smooth navigation adds
to the convenience of the visitors. Add powerful search and
catalog features. Many times a lot of visitors do not have the
patience to navigate through the whole website to find what they
are looking for.
Web Design Rule #6 - Consistency is the key Make sure the site
is consistent in look, feel and design. Nothing is more jarring
and disturbing to a customer than feeling as if they have just
gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout
the site.
Web Design Rule #7 - Make your site interactive Make your
website interactive. Add feedback forms as well as email forms
that allow your prospective customers to ask you any questions
they might have pertaining to a product. Personalization of your
website is another key element that can lead to customer delight
and can increase your sales. Personalization technology provides
you the analytic tools to facilitate cross-selling and
up-selling when the customer is buying online. It would give you
an idea of what products to cross-sell and up-sell. For example,
when a person buys a CD player, a disc cleaner can also be
offered.
Web Design Rule #8 - Content is King Good content sells a
product. Ask yourself the following questions. Does your copy
convey the message you wish to get across to your visitors? Is
it compelling? Does it lead your visitor through the sales
process? Have others review, critique and edit your copy to
insure it is delivering the intended message. Always double
check your spelling and grammar.
These eight, simple rules will go a long way toward an
effective website design, and most importantly, turning visitors
into customers.
About the author:
Article written by Rudi Ashdown and first posted at
http://www.whywebsiteswork.com . This is article 1 of 10 - get
the other nine free at http://www.whywebsiteswork.com
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