Website Basics Can Save Your Business
So, do you think that the Internet is a dead-end for marketing
your business? Are you intimidated
in to stasis by the sheer
millions of hopeful Web entrepreneurs that are vying for a piece
of the steam-rolling World
Economy? The fact is, most business
hopefuls quickly crumble because they are doing it ALL WRONG!
In its infancy, the Internet was nothing short of a revolution
for the business world. Despite
the eventual downfall of
many online companies, the World Wide Web is still heavily leaned
on by many to market, to
advertise, and to sell their product.
This is because it's one of the easiest, most cost-effective, and
most lucrative ways to market
a home-based business. Because all
the work can be done on a home computer with Internet access,
aspiring entrepreneurs
can choose the most convenient time to
work. There's no commute to worry about, let alone even changing
out of your
comfortable pajamas!
The best place to start Web advertising for your home-based
business is at the beginning --
the website itself.
Companies found that the best way to market their business's Web
site lied in maintaining
simplicity, while still including vital
information about the product, or service being sold. A website
must move a
potential customer from the information acquisition
stage to a qualified lead, to a buyer, and/or business associate.
For example, Joe is a network marketing representative for a
company that sells mail-order
pies. He has created a website,
and has had it up and running for two weeks with little to no
response. Joe is frustrated,
so he begins to do some research.
Joe finds out that the main problem is that the site's home page
contains too much information.
He has listed almost every aspect
of the business, including its reputation, history, and
description of all the pies.
Also, he's included his contact
information, and his biography.
When Web surfers see this much information when first arriving at
a site, it is easy for them
to leave for a more user-friendly,
more succinct version.
So, how did Joe fix this? He went back and streamlined his home
page. Instead of all that
information being the first thing a
visitor saw, he replaced it with a brief overview of the
business, along with the
best reason to get involved. Then, he
kept the more detailed information reachable by a list of buttons
along the side
of the home page.
So, even if you feel that your website is streamlined enough for
the most click-happy Internet
surfer, it is still a good idea to
re-evaluate the content and layout of your home page once a
month.
As Shakespeare never said: brevity is the soul of a successful
home page!
