5 Keys to a Winning Website

by Sandy Reed

As a new business owner you may wonder how important it is to have a website. When you have multitudes of other tasks on your plate to get your business on its feet, you may think that a website is not that important. However, a study by Interland (Dec. 2003), a web-hosting firm for small and mid-sized businesses, stated that 78 percent of small businesses believe their company benefits from having a website.

In the same study, between 20 and 30 percent of these small businesses said that they rely heavily on their website for sales and that it helps them reduce other marketing costs. Personally, I have found that our website provides the best return on investment, as compared to direct mail, which costs a significant amount of money to implement.

Once you have decided to invest your time and money on a website, you will want to make sure it has all the ingredients to give you the best return for your money.

Here are 5 key ingredients you will want to include on your website.

1. Be clear on your website to whom you are marketing your products or services. Picking a niche market makes your marketing easier, and gives you a specific area in which to focus your time and money. Think of it this way, if you were in need of heart surgery would you want to see a heart specialist or a general practitioner? Your clients will feel the same way. They will be attracted to those businesses that specialize in their specific needs.

2. Use keywords and meta tags that apply to your specific target audience and the products or services you offer. If this sounds like Greek to you, your web designer will be able to help in this area. Just be aware that keywords and meta tags are needed to drive the right traffic to your website — the traffic that needs what you have to offer.

3. Make sure your contact information is on every page of your site. You want to be as accessible as possible to your potential clients.

4. Make sure you include a compelling message and a clear call to action. There are thousands of websites out there just like yours competing for the same customers. Make sure you use copy on your website that gets attention as soon as someone navigates to your site. Don’t assume people know what to do once they get there. Tell them in big bold letters what you want them to do, such as call for more information or sign-up for your newsletter.

5. Have a way to get back to those people who may not be ready to buy now. Offering a free report or monthly newsletter with information of value to your clients goes a long way towards building good will and credibility. Have an opt-in box on the top of your home page with a prominent place to sign-up for your free offer.

There are many more elements of design that can help you market your business more effectively. A good web designer, with experience in driving traffic to your website, is a worthwhile investment in the start-up phase of your business.

A website has been proven to be a necessary part of your marketing strategy. The more professional it is the more clients you will attract, and the more opportunities you will have to prove your products or services can add value to your customers.

 

 

 

Sandy Reed is the President and Founder of the International Association of Women in Family Enterprises (IAWIFE). She is a professional business coach, writer, and co-owns her own successful family business. If you’re ready to take your family business to the next level of success, join her members at www.iawife.com to receive support, share your vision, and connect with wise women. For help with marketing your business, check out her www.SoulpreneurSuccessStrategies.com website. Sandy’s business building articles have been published in “True Wealth” and “Simply Home” Magazines.