 5 Ways to Build a Better Website You've got a website and it's been up for a while, but is it as good as it could be? 1. Take Another Look If your website is more than a couple of years old, it may be time to consider how well it’s working for you. Design There are lots of templates, designers, and web developers out there, some better than others. Take a critical look at your site. Does it inspire confidence? Is your information up to date? Do you have large blocks of text that read more like a novel than a website? Writing for the web is different than other forms of writing. Short paragraphs, headlines, bullets, numbered lists, and highlighted text are effective tools for keeping your audience engaged. (This article is a good example.) People like to skim and then go deeper. Make it easy for them. Does your site feature a dark background? Though it can be striking to have a dark background, it makes reading difficult. And that means people will stop reading before they finish learning more about how you can help them. 2. Is It All About You? It Shouldn't Be. Do you welcome visitors with a line that's all about them ... or is it all about you? Sure, your website is about you, but when people visit they're thinking about themselves and how you can help them. Your landing page should start with sentences like, "We help YOU...," sentences that make people feel welcome and let them know right away what you can do for them. Sentences like, "WE have 25 years of experience ...," or "WE'RE the best ..." belong on your about page. Who you are, your background, your years of service, it's all important information. But it's information people want only after they know how you can help them. 3. Use Your Expertise When someone comes to your site they’re looking for information, hoping to be inspired. Make it interesting. Aside from the usual menu items (home/about/contact), what else can you offer? Maybe you could consider a blog or special features: Blogs Blogs are great if you commit to posting regularly, but clearly not for everyone or every business. If you have a blog and the last post is from over a year ago (or, gasp, three or four years ago), you might consider taking it down. Or, breathing new life into it. Special Features. Consider features like how-to articles, a behind-the-scenes segment, staff profiles, infographics, and updated photographs. Regular updates can also help with search engine results. Turns out a stale website is, well, stale. New information garners attention and boosts your ranking. 4. Share What You Know If you have how-to information, a special edition poster, infographic, a report, an ebook or print edition, promote it on other social media platforms as well. You can also consider sharing what you know for a fee or by subscription. You have information people want and need. Position yourself as an expert and distribute and sell what you know. 5. Stay In Touch Email remains one of the best ways to connect with customers and associates. Consider a monthly newsletter delivered by email. You can build your email list by offering something in exchange for contact information. Something like an ebook, a top five list of something relevant, or a discount for services or products. Use the content you develop on your blog or with specials features for your newsletter. As you build your email list, you'll be helping others by sharing what you know and building your reputation as an expert in your field. ------------------ Is it time to refresh your website? Call or write today to learn more about making your website the best it can be.  Look like the professional you are The demand for online content continues to grow. Done right, it can elevate a business and bolster credibility. Done poorly, it does the opposite. Make it easy for people When people visit your website or read an email or book you've produced, they want to know if the information you're giving them is the information they need. They want to know they're in the right place. They don't want to waste time trying to figure it out. Is it clear how you can help them? What should do now that they're on your site? How can they get in touch with you? Good design provides a positive user experience where visitors find what they need and are encouraged to take the next step ... to get in touch with you. Bad design is distracting and confusing, and it can hurt your business. If visitors to your site can't find the information they need, you'll lose them. If what you present is hard to navigate or poorly written, they'll wonder how good you are at what you do. It's all about them When a customer or client visits your website they're looking for information that can help them. They don't need to know how long you've been in business, or how good you are at what you do. It's important information and they will want to know all of that, but first they need to know they are in the right place to get the help they need. The opening line on your website should make it clear. Let's give them what they need It can be a challenge to figure out what to say and how to organize it in an easy-to-navigate format. Need help? We've got the ideas and experience to make it happen. Call or write today and we'll help you look good ... online and on paper.  Writing a book is no easy feat. It's an ambitious task and it takes time, a lot of time. There's the writing, rewriting, editing, and proofing. And when the writing is done, there's the design and layout. What do you want your book to look like? The design and layout of your book can be as important as what you've written. Why's that? If it's hard to read or lacks a professional look and feel, you'll lose your readers before they get to the first chapter. Let me help. Together, we'll make your book read well and look good. From creative page designs to illustrations, photos, pullouts, and sidebars, we'll make your book a real page turner.
• illustrated biographies • reference books • manuals • corporate histories Get the 5 Compelling Reasons to Write That Book Call, text (207.252.9757), or write today, for a free consultation to see how I can help make you look good in print. |
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