Planning Your Business
Web Site Strategy
Getting your business web site set up and ready to
make sales is an important part of developing your Internet business. However,
it is only half of the battle. There is still a long way to go in developing
your overall web site strategy.
It is important that you understand what your web site
strategy is before you actually design it. Otherwise, you may find that the
design is completely wrong, and you will have to start over from scratch.
As you probably know, there are basically two types of business web sites
- content sites and mini sites. A content site includes lots of information
and resources related to your niche, while also advertising your products
or services. A mini site, on the other hand, focuses completely on your product
or service.
Both content sites and mini sites can be successful, as long as they look
professional, have good sales copy, and a good marketing strategy.
Content Business Web Sites
Let's first look at content sites. A content site may
include articles, ebooks, tutorials, videos, or any number of other elements,
all designed to inform and educate. People visit these sites because they
want to learn more about the topic, and they like to take advantage of the
resources that are found on these sites.
Content sites can earn revenue in a number of ways, including selling your
own products and services, promoting related affiliate products, and even
displaying Google and Kontera ads.
Content sites go a long way toward building trust with your customers and
potential customers. It helps to establish you as an expert in your field,
and people start turning to you for answers. Once you've established trust
and credibility, people are more willing - and more likely - to purchase
your products, or products that you recommend. With a content site, you are
essentially pre-selling your customers through your content.
Business Mini Sites
Mini sites are the exact opposite of content sites. Content
sites are full of content, and mini sites don't generally have what is considered
content at all. A mini site may not be much longer than one or two web pages,
and the entire focus of the site is on one product or service. A mini site
is basically nothing more than a sales letter for the product.
Mini sites are generally designed using standard HTML and very plain, as
you want the focus to be on your text. They contain very few graphics, plug-ins,
or any other glorified elements that are often used to spice up a content
site. In addition, mini sites almost never include any links to other web
sites, as outside links will lead the visitors away from the site.
While content sites are often directed toward a wider market - those who
want to educate themselves - mini sites are more tightly targeted to people
who are ready to make a purchase, and the site just essentially tells them
why they should purchase this particular product or service over others.
Designing Your Business Web Site
Regardless of the site that you design, your web site
is usually the first impression that your prospects have of you and your
business. This is why designing a clean, nice looking site is so essential.
You must think of it like a brick and mortar store. If a customer walked
into a brick and mortar store that was a huge mess, they would be heading
toward the door - without buying anything - fairly quickly. Your web site
must be clean and professional, and the site should have one purpose - to
make sales.
When it comes to web site design, every part of the site
will play a role in your success. The colors, font face, size of the font,
graphics, navigation, scanability, ease of ordering, and the sales copy will
play a part.
Overall, your business web site should have all of the following:
* Your own domain name (no sub-domain names)
* Dependable web hosting
* Effective sales copy
* Opt-in form to capture the email addresses of your visitors
* Directly target your potential customers
* Offer quality products and services
* Optimized for the Search Engines
* Professional, clean appearance
* Links and scripts should all function properly
* Well organized
* Easy to navigate
* Load quickly
Before you start designing your web site, make sure you take the time to
develop your web site strategy. Understand who your target market is, and
exactly what it is that you want your visitors to do when they arrive at
your site. If you want to capture their email address, your site should focus
on getting them to give you their information. If you want them to purchase
your product, your site should focus on getting them to make a purchase.
No matter what you want your visitors to do, your entire site should focus
on just one thing - getting your visitors to take action.
Copyright © Shelley Lowery
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is a successful well-known Internet Marketer and the owner
of several successful sites, including
www.Web-Source.net. Would you like
an easier way to make money online without having to design your own site?
Learn how to easily generate thousands of dollars every month with this secret
residual income system on complete autopilot. Visit:
www.ResidualIncomeOpportunitySecrets.com
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print,
in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author
bylines are included.
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