Anyone in the business world knows that when someone
asks, “What’s your website address?” you better have a URL to
give them. They don’t want to hear “I don’t have one yet” or
“I’m working on it”. Having an established, professional
looking website, always scores credibility points for any
business owner.
However, it is importance to understand that it is far
better to not have a website than to have a nonprofessional,
cheesy looking site. You will do much more damage to your
business by portraying your company in a less than top-notch
light.
If you don’t have the knowledge, skills, abilities or
desire to produce an good looking design yourself, then hire a
professional web designer. Web designers may not be cheap, but
if you want something respectable, it's best not to cut
corners.
You can save yourself time and money if you have your
website copy written ahead of time. Provide your web designer
with the text and the layout ideas on how you want it to look.
Offer color schemes. You can even send links to other sites
that you admire. Of course, you never want to copy someone
else’s site, but by giving your designer an idea for the theme
you’d like to have, the process will go much faster.
The more work you can you do up front yourself, the easier
it will be on your pocket book. Many designers work by the
hour. If you want to have lots of links in your website, spell
that out clearly. Ask your designer if you should submit your
text and ideas in a Word document or if they would prefer it
some other way. And make sure to forward any photos you want
to use to your web designer. Web designers are not mind
readers. Most will do as many edits as you like, however you
will be charged for each edit.
There are many "quick and easy" web design companies out
there who advertise they can have your website up in an hour.
And there are many templates that you can use that are very
user friendly. But, keep in-mind that many of these tools are
for beginners. They will not necessarily provide a
professional looking site. If it’s your business, the one
you’re trying to make profitable, do not try to short change
your image with poor quality work. Cutting corners in this
area could have an extremely bad effect on your company's
image.
Direct Response Websites
The best web site model for selling single niche products
is the “direct response” model.
Direct response web sites have five key
features:
1.They are clean and uncluttered.
2.
They are straightforward.
3. They present product benefits
in sales letter format.
4. They ask for the sale.
5.
They automatically complete the sale and the delivery of the
product.
On direct response sites, graphics are kept to a minimum.
Typically, there are no external links – and any internal
links point to things like contact information, faqs, legal
notices and an affiliate program.
The goal is to keep your visitors on your site. Don't send
them to someone else's web site! Don't give them too many
navigational choices. You want them to read your sales copy
and take action: either buys the product, sign up for more
information, or leave.
Unless you happen to be a web design guru, the design of
your direct response site is a task I definitely recommend you
outsource to a professional. You'll never have to write a
single of code, and your site will look fantastic.
Places to Get the Job Done:
http://www.elance.com/
http://www.rentacoder.com/
http://www.hypercover.com/
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Glenn
Cutforth is a writer and publisher of quality eBooks at Maxx Publishing.com.
For extensive information on operating a Work From Home and
Online business, check out his website at: Guide To Online
Success.
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