Business Website Tips 

The Purpose of a Business Website

Do you own a traditional offline business or a professional practice? Well, if your business or practice is not on the Internet you could be on the fast track to failure. So, if you haven’t already done so, one of the first things you must do is set up your business website, so that your prospects and your current customers have a place to come to and find you.

But don’t stop there or you’re likely to have a website that is nothing more than an online business card.

Nowadays having business website to promote your products or services is not just a good idea, it’s an absolute necessity. Your goal should be to have a website that is one of your main points of contact with your customers, clients or patients and your prospects.   

You’ve probably heard this analogy before -- but it really makes my point, so please indulge me for a moment. Do you recall in the movie Field of Dreams when Kevin Costner hears the mysterious voice say, “If you build it, they will come.”? Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that strategy is not transferable to your business website.

A proper business website, one that will make your offline business profitable, will take some time and careful planning. However, it will more than pay for itself many times over.

Designing a Business Website

Remember the old saying about making a good first impression? Well, it’s still true today and, it is even truer when it comes to websites. So you’ll want to make certain that your business website is designed to be appealing to your particular market. I don’t necessarily mean a site with fancy graphics, scripts and every new bell and whistle, but something that is designed to be professional and commercially effective. By effective, I mean that it must sufficiently attract your prospects and customers to induce them to want to browse around and check out what you and your business have to offer them.

Unless you have web design experience, hire a professional business website designer. You should focus on what you know best, your business. Professional business website design can be surprisingly affordable and is well worth the investment.

Business Website Content

Your business website must provide good content. By content I am referring to the text that is written on your company’s web pages. Write your business website content in such a manner that it relevant to your business and draws a visitor’s attention, without sacrificing the professional image of your company. As with all forms of advertising you’ll want an enticing headline or company tagline to draw people in. The content layout should be set in an organized manner that is easily navigated by your visitors, who are your customers and prospects. Use headlines, sub headlines and bullet points, etc., to make it a pleasant experience for them …and ultimately a profitable one for you.

Website visitors are not going to spend too much time on any one site (yes, even your business website). Statistically many visitors surfing the web will be at any given website for moments before they turn their attention elsewhere. Knowing this, it is important to offer something special for your new prospects so they stay longer and become customers—and for your customers and clients to keep coming back.

Direct Response Email Marketing

One of the main goals of your business website should be to provide a way of capturing the names and email addresses of your prospects and customers. While I use the word ‘capture’ here, the real plan is to entice them so that they are eager to leave you this information. Typically this means that you want to give them something of value in return. For example, if you own a restaurant you might offer an instantly downloadable discount coupon. Or you may offer a short report with valuable tips about your product or service. Use your imagination. And, the best thing is that this process can be automated with autoresponders.

Your Most Valuable Business Asset

Most business owners are always advertising for new customers. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but sadly, little or no efforts are made toward keeping customers and developing and solidifying that already established relationship. Your current customers should never be neglected or taken for granted. When you think of the high cost of acquiring a new customer you will start to see them for what they truly are—your most valuable business asset. 

If you need help getting started, it would be my pleasure to offer you a FREE, no strings Consultation.

We can tell you more about (or and assist you with) creating or modernizing your business website, your direct response email marketing  campaign, setting up an autoresponder… and much more.

To schedule your FREE appointment, please call 239-398-7018 or click here to fill out our online questionnaire to get a free evaluation of your marketing needs.