Your Strategic Web Design Plan
Your Strategic Web Design Plan
There are millions of web sites on the Internet today
with thousands more being added each day. The competition is fierce
and in order to be successful, you must stay one step ahead of the
game.
Although designing a professional web site is an important part
of your strategic plan, it is only the first step. Before you begin
the actual design process, you must first determine your overall
strategy and design your web site accordingly.
Internet marketers have basically two choices:
-> Design a mini web site that focuses on just one product or
service, with no other content of any kind.
-> Design a content web site that includes not only your products
and services, but also information and resources that will be of
interest to your target market.
Although both types of sites can be effective, your success ultimately
depends on your site design and marketing strategies. Both will
play a very important role.
Content Web Sites
Content oriented sites are sites that provide visitors with content,
such as articles, tutorials, free ebooks and resources. This type
of site attracts their target audience with incentives. Their products
and services are mentioned on the main page with a link to further
information.
Content sites usually profit by educating their visitors. For example,
a content site focusing on dog grooming might provide a basic tutorial
to assist their visitors in learning how to groom a dog. They provide
this tutorial completely free; however, the main purpose for this
tutorial is to educate their visitors and promote their products.
When you provide your visitors with quality information that teaches
and informs, you are not only gaining their trust in you by sharing
your expertise, but you're also building your credibility, which
is very important on the Internet.
The key to using this technique effectively is to provide content
that targets your potential customer.
Mini-Sites
Mini-sites are different from content sites, as they don't provide
any content. They usually contain one or two pages and completely
focus on one product or service. Basically, the site is just a sales
letter for the product.
No matter which type of site you design, keep in mind, your web
site is a direct reflection of you and your business. The appearance
of your web site is the most important factor in determining your
web site's value. If your site doesn't look professional or pleasing
to the eyes at first glance, it's perceived value will be low. The
perceived value of your web site will have a great impact on your
success.
On the other hand, you may have a great web site, well designed
and a quality product or service, but if it takes too long to load,
the value will still be perceived as low. Why? Your potential customer
will not wait -- ultimately costing you business.
If you're serious about your Internet business, designing a web
site specifically designed to sell your products is an essential
part of your success. Everything within your web site should have
one specific purpose -- getting your visitors to take action.
Your Strategy
Prior to designing your web site, you must decide on the type of
response you're looking for. For example, if you're selling a product,
the response you're most-likely trying to achieve is to make a sale.
If you're developing a content site, your main goal for every page
of your site should be to lead your visitors to your sales page.
You can accomplish this in a number of ways, including:
1) Display a graphic image of your product on your main page with
a short ad and a link leading to your sales page.
2) Create a "Products" section within the navigational
menu of each page with a short description and link to each of your
products.
3) Write articles that focus on the same topic as your product.
At the end of the article, within your bylines, provide your visitors
with information about your product.
4) Write tutorials that target your potential customer. At the end
of the tutorial, provide information about your product.
5) Provide your visitors with a free autoresponder course. Your
course should identify a problem, provide advice in regard to solving
the problem and provide the solution with your products or services.
Keep in mind, your course should not be written like a sales letter.
It must provide quality information written to teach and inform.
No matter what type of response you're looking for, your site must
be specifically designed to achieve your goal.
Every part of your web site must be strategically designed. From
your overall design to your sales copy -- each will play a very
important role.
Your web site is the most important sales tool you have. A professional
web site should be pleasing to the eyes, well organized, easy to
navigate, load quickly and be optimized for the Search Engines.
Above all else, you must specifically design your site for your
potential customers. Provide them with the information they desire,
while continually mentioning the benefits of your products, and
you'll reap the rewards.
About the Author Copyright © Shelley
Lowery
Shelley Lowery is the author of the acclaimed web design course,
Web Design Mastery.
http://www.webdesignmastery.com And, Ebook Starter - Give Your
Ebooks the look and feel of a REAL book. http://www.ebookstarter.com
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