You Cant Just Build A Website And Hope It Works!

Like any area of business your website needs some effort from you if its going to be successful. You'd be foolish to just build any old website and hope it works. Yet this approach, or rather lack of approach, is still widespread on the internet. Businesses still dont seem to understand what the internet can do to benefit them and their customers. They just dont get it.

This is not a new criticism, people have been saying it for years. Notice i used the word people, because thats exactly who suffers. You, me and the millions of people like us who are visiting those sites during our virtual travels. Many of these businesses do actually have great products and services to offer us, its just that they havent put the effort in to find out what we, their customers want. They havent bothered to find out about us, about our needs, about our wishes. They have other more pressing priorities it seems. So they just present them to us any old way and hope we dont notice or are too stupid to notice. Dont they understand they are losing sales, customers, repeat customers, referrals and more?

Whether your business has a whole team working on your website or just you, its going to take some effort and commitment to get to a point where your website is satisfying your customers. A website where you have a direct conversation with your visiting potential customers. A conversation where they feel you are talking directly to them. A conversation where they feel you understand them. You understand their needs and wishes like no other business has done before. In short, a place where you connect with your customers and they connect with you. A place where you are entirely focused on them, NOT on you. Not on your products, not on your credentials or ego, not on anything else about you.

For example, instead of just detailing information about your products, present your information in a way that is valuable to them. Of course, they will want to know what your product does and some key information about how it works, etc. But present it to them so that they know instantly and precisely how they benefit from it: How much money they will save with it. How much time they will save with it. How it will make their life better. How it will make their life easier, etc.

Focusing wholeheartedly on your customers is not easy, it takes time, motivation, commitment and innovation. Which i suspect is ultimately why it doesnt always get done. Dont let this happen to your site. Do it well and you will see the results. But be sure about it, you've got to take on the responsibility to do as much as you possibly can if you want to see those golden results. Ensure your customers visit is a positive one that will stay fresh in their mind for some time.

How can you tell how well your site is doing? Answer the following questions to get an indication:

  • Do you regularly promote your website to carefully targeted customers?

  • Do you know exactly how your customers benefit from your website?

  • Are you getting the sales figures and incomes you want?

  • Are you getting new customers regularly?

  • Do you get regular positive customer feedback?

  • Do you get regular positive website feedback?

  • Can you describe your customer and their needs and wants easily?

  • Are you regularly looking at ways to improve your site and products for your customers?

  • Does the text on your site speak to an individual person?

  • Is it easy to contact you via the site?

Generally, the more questions you answered yes to, the more successful your website can be. You should of course aim for 90-100% (9-10 yes's). Lower than 90% (9 yes's) indicates that you need to improve.

One of the great things about the internet, unlike other more traditional media, is its ability to be updated immediately. You can change anything on your website at anytime and as often as you like. Use it to experiment with offers and products. Experiment with the way you present them to find out what works and what doesnt. Use this great feature to improve your site for the better. Better for your customer that is.

Tips:

  • Listen to your customers.

  • Dont be too precious about your site content and products.

  • Dont become too attached to anything on your site. Change or remove it if it doesnt work.

  • Ask for honest feedback.

  • See the bigger picture.

    Good luck!

    About The Author

    Need to get your business online? contact me now to find out how you can do it for less mailto:peter@dynamiq.co.uk You can see more of my articles to help you get results online at www.dynamiq.co.uk/ezine.

    peter@dynamiq.co.uk

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    What is SQL?

    What is SQL? SQL stands for Structured Query Language and... Read More

    Tell me what your website does!

    You know exactly what your organisation does and what your... Read More

    How to Get Your Website In Front of Thousands of Customers At No Cost To You!

    Dan Kennedy once said that if you can't make money... Read More

    Do Authors Need a Website?

    "I am a writer, not a business-person. I don't want... Read More

    Having a Domain Name And Web Site Gives Your Business The Key To The Door

    Just like all things in life, the ways to run... Read More

    I Want To Be A Freelancer

    So you have decided that you want to do freelance... Read More

    Freelance Programming is Easy to Manage

    There are several reverse bid freelance sites out there. Beyond... Read More

    The Number One Reason Most Websites Fail

    Failure, just like success, is measured differently by each and... Read More

    Building eCommerce Websites that Work - Part 3

    An interesting eCommerce success factor that isn't precisely overlooked, but... Read More

    How to Increase Sales with Automation Improvements

    How popular is online shopping? And is there room for... Read More

    Why Do I Need A Web Site?

    Even though the Internet has been around for a long... Read More

    Unlocking the Power of Your Website!

    Why do some web sites reap huge benefits while others... Read More

    Why Every Small Business Owner Needs Two Websites

    Every small business owner knows that they need a website,... Read More

    How to Get a Knock Out Website!

    The first step in setting up an online business...Starting an... Read More

    Web Coach Tip: What You Should Know About DIY Web Sites

    Recently, a friend asked "What's the deal with those DIY... Read More

    If Its Done Its Done for: Make Your Website Part of Your Business before You Build

    Web sites are an Ongoing Part of Business.All too many... Read More

    UK Online Shopping with an Edge, for Buyers and Sellers Alike

    Any new website competing on the internet, needs to take... Read More

    Your Website Should Be Selling

    It may come as some surprise to a traditionally off-line... Read More

    7 Tips to Make Your Order Page Work Harder

    So your prospect, Mary, is sitting at the computer reading... Read More

    The Topic Of Your Website

    The first thing you will have to deal building your... Read More

    Why Your Brick-and-Mortar Biz Needs A Website

    The internet has taken over our lives with a vengeance,... Read More

    Tips for Building a Great Business Website

    A website is lifeline of internet home business. In order... Read More

    Developing A Login System With PHP And MySQL

    Most interactive websites nowadays would require a user to log... Read More

    Five Question-Five Minute Web Makeover Quiz

    If you haven't made the sales and built your clients... Read More

    Selecting a Web Content Management Product

    So you want to take a look at a real... Read More

    Product Promoting: Getting The Response

    When you publish a content site there are times when... Read More

    Websites: You Get What You Pay For!

    So you finally decided to invest in a web presence... Read More

    Why Local Service Companies Should Have a Website

    The Internet is being used by local service business to... Read More

    Web Designer? You Dont Need No Stinkin Web Designer!

    RIVERSIDE, CA August 4, 2004 ?- "Historically, small business owners... Read More

    Content Management ? The New Standard in Web Design

    The evolution of web development parallels the model of technology... Read More

    Creating Compelling Content , Write It and They Will Come

    In a previous ezinearticles.com article,"I Need real visitors, Not Search... Read More

    Web Measurement: What You Don?t Know Would Make A Great Book

    "What's in it for me?" you ask. "Why should I... Read More

    Maximizing ROI via Web Site Traffic Analysis

    We are clearly well past the innocent "golden age" of... Read More