Nine Steps for Building a Successful Website

Today, “sales” is not just about cold calls and shaking hands. Most often, your website is your company’s most successful sales tool. Consider these nine ways to make your site more effective.

1. Customize content for your target audience
It’s important to know your target market and give them what they’re looking for. On the home page, explain who you are, what you do for them, and how visitors can contact you.

2. Make the site user friendly
Keep the navigation simple and intuitive. People will leave a website quickly if the navigation is confusing.

3. Employ quality graphics
Use quality graphics to make your website is professional and appealing. This is often the first contact that prospects will have with your company. Make sure your site portrays a quality image that will produce the best results for your company.

4. Keep them coming back
Content on your site should be understandable and concise. Keep it fresh to give visitors a reason to come back.

5. Promote your company
Include a “What’s New” section to share company news and list upcoming events such as workshops or participation in conferences. Consider offering testimonials and case studies from satisfied customers.

6. Integrate social media
Increase your organization's exposure and reach new customers by including links to your Facebook fan page, LinkedIn page and Twitter.

7. Provide a call to action
Look for ways to collect visitors’ contact information to generate sales leads. For example, ask them sign up for an e-newsletter, register for a company-sponsored webinar or fill out a quick form to receive more information.

8. Increase traffic
Generate more traffic to your site through Search Engine Optimization – the process of making your website rank higher in the search results of major search engines and directories. Two of the most effective methods to enhance your search engine position are to increase the number of quality links to your website and include substantial content.

9. Market your site
Include a link to your site on all your marketing materials, business cards, social media sites, press releases and your e-mail signature.

For specific strategies to increase your website’s effectiveness, contact The Leatherbury Group, www.leatherburygroup.com

Authored by: Linda Leathebury