Build A Better Website - Time for A Once-Over?

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.
 
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Is it time to refresh your website?
Call or write today to learn more about making your website the best it can be.