Web Design: How To Get Your Visitors To Stay

Remember the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come"? In the world of Internet marketing, you not only want them to come, you want them to stay.

The Internet is fast-paced. Your visitors decide very quickly whether or not you have what they want. There are five strategies that will help you engage your visitors and encourage them to explore what you have to offer.

Make Your Site About Your Visitors Not You

In order to do this, you must clearly know your target audiences and what you anticipate they will be looking for when they visit your site.

For example, your target audiences could include the client groups you serve, potential donors, policymakers, members of the general public and the media. In order to get and keep their attention, you must quickly let them know that you understand their needs and have a service or product that meets them.

Remember, your visitors want to know what's in it for them.

Make Your Site Easy to Navigate

Limit the navigation choices your visitors can make. One recent study found that many sites offer an average of 25 options from the home page. That's too many. In addition, make sure the wording of your navigation bars gives your visitors a clear idea of what they'll find. You want to make it easy for visitors to get the information they want.

Visitors who get confused or frustrated leave.

Make Your Web Site A Funnel

You want visitors to decide that they want to get to know you. Give them easy ways to learn that you can meet their needs.

Let me give you an example. If you provide health-related services, guide them to content that gives them health tips they can use. Then let them know that they can receive this kind of information regularly through your monthly e-newsletter. Give them an opportunity to subscribe. Then lead them to content that talks more directly about your programs, services or products and the benefits of what you offer.

Draw your visitors into the work of your organization.

Use Testimonials

Word of mouth is one of the best ways for people to learn about you.

You can get the same result with testimonials.

Ask your clients what benefits they got from participating in your services or activities. Ask board members to tell you why they chose to become involved with your organization. Ask your volunteers what benefits they get from working with you. Then ask their permission to use what they said as a testimonial and put those testimonials on your site.

Testimonials help visitors feel more comfortable with you.

Make Your Site Interactive

Use short assessments and other feedback mechanisms to engage your visitors. Offer opportunities to attend events or to volunteer. Make sure that visitors can easily contact you - both online and offline.

Interaction starts building a relationship.

Take a fresh look at your web site. Look at your site's organization and content in terms of these strategies. What action can you take right now to encourage your web site visitors to stay?

Judith Rothbaum's passion is helping nonprofit organizations thrive. She gives seminars, workshops, presentations and coaching programs nationwide with one key message - think boldly about who you are and the impact you have in your community. Visit http://www.datafordecisionmaking.com to learn more.

---

Give Your Web Wite Visitors What They Really Want - Information!

Surfing the internet is basically an information-fest! From intellectual discussions... Read More

Are You A Bill Clinton Webmaster?

One of the most frequent questions I get asked about... Read More

Speed Up Or Lose Out! How To Improve Your Websites Download Speed

So your web site's online and you've got high rankings... Read More

Website Design Firm

Website design firms come in all shapes and sizes.When choosing... Read More

Elements of Graphic Design for Your Website

We've all seen them. Poorly designed web sites that make... Read More

Use Feng Shui Techniques To Design a Harmonic Website For Your Business

By following feng shui guidelines and techniques, you can build... Read More

Looking For A Designer To Re-Design Your Website?

If you were like me and you have just started... Read More

Web Site Templates and Their Benefits

Unarguably, the most important part of your website is content.... Read More

How to Design a Search Engine Friendly Web Site

Many web site designers don't design their sites for the... Read More

Website Design For Small Businesses

There are many different website design companies, offering different facilities... Read More

Web Design for Dictators

No question about it, web design is an art. Finding... Read More

Web Site Redirection - How to Implement a 301 Redirect

You just created a new web site but want to... Read More

What Content to Publish on Your Website

Many businesses want a simple website where they tell people... Read More

The Secrets of The Shriekers

I am constantly bombarded with all sorts of advertisements, single-page... Read More

Adding the Right Keywords to Your Website Content

You've made your website, added a great title and keywords... Read More

Meta Tags ? An Introduction

A long, long time ago? In a galaxy far, far... Read More

How to Find Inexpensive Web Design

Web design is a very competitive area and there is... Read More

Custom Icons For Your Specific Brand

Developing a software application is not easy at all; apart... Read More

Fast Web Design For The Skint Webmaster

About two years ago, I had a go at commercial... Read More

Choose & Use the Best Colors, The Psychology of Color

Are you using the best colors for your web site?... Read More

Web Templates: Replacing Designers?

I've seen articles (and websites) that suggest you can buy... Read More

Free Website Templates - Top 10 Things You Need to Know

When building your website you might not have a large... Read More

7 Benefits of HTML Validation

You may not bother with html validation or writing simple... Read More

How To Use Unsafe Web Colors With Minimum And Safety And Maximum And Profit

Do you want to use unsafe web colors without offending... Read More

Graphic Terms- The Basics Part I

You're almost set. The content of your website, e-book, or... Read More

How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes Member Sites Make in Their Marketing Copy

If you have a web site to which people pay... Read More

The Importance of Choosing Your Website Keywords Carefully

The importance of choosing your website keywords carefully is very... Read More

Revising Your Site - What Happened To My Search Engine Placement?

As of September, Smartads went through what so many have... Read More

Lead Capture Pages Explode Your Direct Sales Business Online!

Are you building a direct sales or mlm business online?... Read More

The Secret To A Profitable Website

Whether you are planning on having a website built for... Read More

Setting Up a Website

Where does a person start when setting up a website?... Read More

Put Up A Website And Start Promoting In About An Hour

I can't figure out people who have products or information... Read More

Your Free Guide To Obtain A Cheap Web Design Quote

Website design is a very competitive area and there is... Read More