Your web site is your salesperson, representing you on the web. A
properly constructed site, like a good salesperson, can bring in
business. A good web site for business has:
A Well Designed Home Page
Your home page should serve as a table of contents to your
site; use bullets and draw your customer in by offering the
opportunity to point and click (do not overdo it). Remeber to
state at least one benefit to the user on your home page.
Appropriate Use of Graphics
While graphics can add to a web site, do not overdo the
graphics on your home page. Remember that graphics take much
longer to download than text.
As a rule of thumb, if it takes the user more than twice as
long to download your home page than it takes them to type in
your competitor's URL, change your home page.
A Structure
Let your customer explore your site by offering choices. Use
links to move to other parts of a page, or other pages in your
site. Do not provide too many links out, except possibly as list
of resources which can add value to your site.
Content
Give your customer at least 2 parts useful information to
each one part of sale. This adds value and helps bring in more
users by word of mouth. You can also use content to help promote
your site.
A Sales Letter
This lets you customer know what you can offer them. Use one
or two pages to tell them the ways you can help solve their
problems and make their life better.
An Order Form
You have given your customer value with the content on your
site. You have shown them how you can help them with your sales
letter. Do not do your customer a disservice by not asking them
for fair value in exchange for your product or service. Remember,
your web site is your salesperson on the internet. Any decent
salesperson asks for the order, and computers are used to
rejection.
