http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/internet/seo/want-tips-for-making-your-website-user-friendly.html http://www.articletrader.com/internet/seo/want-tips-for-making-your-website-user-friendly.html Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
First time visitors can’t judge your way of conducting business, they do judge you by your site standards. The average Internet cruiser is quite weary these days – we are living in the “attention economy” as the say. So how do you catch his/her attention? By having a qualitatively designed site! This can be achieved by employing a professional web development company.

Also you must not forget that traffic retention is equally, if not more, important than driving high traffic to your site. After all, there is absolutely no use of spending all your time and money on building a 100-page site and spending big bucks in advertising through some strategic internet marketing Services Company if visitors don’t like to stay on. Here are some simple tips for turning your site into a user-friendly one that brings in and retain new visitors/potential customers:
•It should load fast : your website should be fast loading .You can achieve it by using more text and fewer graphics.

•It should have easy navigation : Website must be easy to navigate so that people should easily and quickly find what they’re looking for without scrolling down each page. It’s important to link pages in a consistent, well thought out manner so that users can easily navigate in-between them.

•Use graphics sparingly: Graphics does add glitter to your site but they should be used judiciously – using them where they are absolutely required. Otherwise they might distract visitors from important concepts of your site or take much time in downloading.

•Use colors selectively: Use suitable colors which magnify your product otherwise your copy will be difficult to read and few people will bother reading it.
•don’t let pop-ups irritate visitor: Do use pop-ups as they can be an effective way to get a higher response from visitors, but you shouldn’t overuse and abuse them. Pop-ups should be used to offer something of high value to your site visitors.

•Fulfill visitor’s expectations: Put yourself in visitor’s shoes and think what you want this site to deliver and try to fulfill this expectation. Ensure that your navigation and related content use keywords which are most searched, as popularity of a particular keyword related to your business reflects what a visitor wants.

•Minimize number of clicks: Most visitors would leave your site if they have to click too much to get what they want. Remember a normal Internet surfer is jaded and doesn’t like to waste time. So put the content on scrollable pages with quick navigation links so that people can jump to any section while being on the same page.

•Fast downloading: the above mentioned argument is equally true for this point – people don’t wait while surfing on Internet. So avoid flash intros or bandwidth-hungry graphics as much as possible. Try making your site as lean and nimble as possible to ensure fast downloads.

Your site’s credibility is also one of the factors which decide its usability which can be achieved by having an ‘About Us’ and a ‘Contact Us’ page. Many people would like to call while visiting your site so assure people you’re a proper business by giving them options to contact you through phone, email, and related directions.

If you can develop your website on your own, good! Better idea is to contact a Professional Web Development Company which is also well versed in Strategic Internet Marketing and let it develop your website and market it professionally for best results.


--
Partho Mondal is the CEO of Wisitech, a leading Professional Web Development Professional web development, Search engine marketing & Professional SEO consultant in India.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/internet/seo/want-to-make-web-2.0-work-for-your-business.html http://www.articletrader.com/internet/seo/want-to-make-web-2.0-work-for-your-business.html Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Web 2.0 technologies bearing names like wikis, blogs, RSS, AJAX, mashups and the startups hawking them -- Renkoo, Gahbunga, Ning, Squidoo sound to be straight out of Star Wars, right up Mr. George Lucas’ alley.

So what does all this mumbo-jumbo means to a normal businessman – a value multiplier or ‘only for geeks’ stuff? Rest assured Mr. Businessman, for all its appeal to the young, the nerds and the wired; Web 2.0 may end up making its greatest impact in business.

And this could well prove to be the one vehicle to usher in more changes in corporations that are already in the throes of such tech-driven transformations as globalization and outsourcing. Indeed, what some are calling Enterprise 2.0 could transcend the whole lot of organizational boundaries, between managers and employees and between the company and its partners and customers.

So how does one go about making Web 2.0 work for his/her business? Let’s see how:

1. Work out a plan

Don't dive in just for the sake of keeping abreast with the changing world and its technology. Be clear about what you're trying to accomplish, how and where Web 2.0 can help your business, how much you're willing to invest and what time frame you are working on. Plan ahead!

2. Good content is the key

Web 2.0 is the social web, but it's still content-driven. And the control lies in the hands of the users here, mind you! You might think yourself to be the smartest marketing man this side of the Suez but remember, it is the user who would determine how good or bad you are. Lousy content leads to lousy marketing, no matter how flashy it is. Make your content relevant, interesting and real. Put yourself in your customer's shoes, ask yourself questions you would as a customer and answer those with your content.

3. Be information provider not a salesman

Help, inform, educate but do not sell. Web 2.0 is all about people connecting by helping each other. No salesmen allowed! Think education, not advertising. Deliver useful, nuts and bolts stuff or honest opinions they can believe. That's how you build credibility and trust that lead to new customer relationships.

4. Have a free hosted blog

Wordpress and Blogger both have very useful and simple blogs you can setup for free. Use them to start blogging and get a feel for how it works and how people use Web 2.0. Dip your toe in the water to test it before diving straight in.

5. Do it yourself

Web 2.0 is about being real. It's real people connecting with each other. Make sure you or your employees create the content and do the work to start with. And when scales demand it, hire a professional company offering internet marketing services. Still keep tab on what they are doing and what they are writing.

Surf blogs, YouTube, Google Videos, Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Technorati and other social media websites. Get a feel for how they work and who goes there. Become part of some social media communities. Make new friends online. Get in touch with professional web development companies and firms providing internet marketing services well versed in Web 2.0 tools and marketing ways. Immerse yourself in the Web 2.0 culture so you know how it works and where and how it fits in smoothly with your marketing plans.


--
Partho Mondal is the CEO of Wisitech, a leading professional web development, search engine marketing, Pay per click (PPC) management services provider in India.



Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>