6 Key Elements to a Good Website

Posted by Irina on February 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

The following information was presented during our last webinar as a guide to help website owners  take their site to the next level. Webinar was intended to be a quick 30 minute guide to provide simple to follow tips from the Webs pros regarding the top 6 key elements that make up a good website.

Key Elements covered:

Good Visual Design– Design is an all encompassing word for all the visuals elements of your website – logo, font(s), white space, theme/template, layout and colors.
Using a theme that relates to the topic of your website can help to keep you/your content on track. When it comes to design it is important to remember to use white space and think about color usage and meaning.Content– The key to a good website is providing relevant content that your readers want.  Content should answer the question “what’s in it for me?”Navigation– Navigation is the “GPS” of your website. Navigation or Nav Bars are the buttons that get your visitors where they need to go to get information or do certain things. Usually this bar is along the top, as we in this one, or along the left side of the site.Should be simple to use and uncluttered. It is always a good idea to group like pages under the same topic to streamline navigation.Call to Action – The Call to Action is a set of words that urge your website visitors to take an immediate action on your website.  There is no magic formula to a good Call to Action. The key is to continuously test what works best for your website and your audience. Test the placement, size and color of these…make sure you use actionable words.Credibility – A good website instills trust from visitors. Good website design takes this into consideration by incorporating items that help identify that you are a legitimate resource. One way you can do so is by utilizing
verified links, clearly stating your identity and contact info,  good grammar and employing social proof.Mobile site – More and more people are looking at your site from a mobile phone or web enabled device. It seems like anything with a screen and a microchip in it is capable of getting on the internet these days. Make sure your site is viewable on a mobile internet enabled device. Quick note: Webs websites are automatically converted into a mobile friendly site when you build it.

Webinar also covered 5 mistakes that could spell disaster for a website:

Stale Content – Don’t let your site go dormant. Visitors and potential visitors will skip over your site when content is old and out of date – not to mention the effects this has on your search results.Too much content –  This is worse than not enough content. The more people have to read through narratives and long drawn out chunks of information,the quicker they are going to leave your site. Leave the long-windedness to your blog entries.No Photos –  Using no imagery makes your site boring and dull. Today’s web readers expect some amount of content mixed with pictures or logos and icons.Looking illegitimate – Customers when visiting new sites will come in with their guard up – especially if they have been the victim of internet fraud before.The lens of the tainted viewer is always going to err on the side of “shady site”, and even more so if the site looks like one. Organizing your content, using consistent colors, employing a theme that stays the same from page to page, along with landing pages that match email campaigns (if you’re doing email marketing) are key to making a site look legit.Being Bland – You started your business because of some sort of drive, and a story there. You spent all this time putting together a business plan and starting your company – let your site convey your personality. If you have a business where you great everyone by name, smile and are generally happy, pick a theme and convey that. Avoid color schemes and writing that is “boring”. You have to keep your visitors attention and a bland site will get some one to leave very quickly.

Do you have an idea for the next topic we should cover in the Webs webinar? Post below for chance to be selected.

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Grow Your Business with Mobile

Posted by Jessica on January 17, 2012 |

Okay, so you’ve taken the plunge and created a website but have you thought about Mobile?  Smartphones and tablets are everywhere and people are using them to find information and to make purchasing decisions for products and local services. According to CTIA-The Wireless Association as of June 2011, for the first time in history the number of wireless subscribers in the United States (322.9 million) has surpassed the population (315.5 million). Moreover, the wireless network data traffic had a 111% increase to 431.2 billion megabytes!  What are you doing to capitalize on this traffic?

The good news is that if you have built your website with Webs, you have also created a mobile site! We have integrated our mobile site application so all sites created on Webs display properly on smartphones. It also automatically synchs with your website so you only need to make changes in one place. Read more on how to customize your mobile website.

Mobile is a new shopping channel, more and more people are making purchases through their smartphones and you don’t want to miss out on that traffic. If you run an online store, you may want to consider putting some of your advertising budget into mobile search.

Mobile is a great tool to acquire new customers and build relationships for a traditional brick and mortar store. You can work with coupon sites like Groupon or Living Social to acquire new customers, plan carefully to make sure that you aren’t operating at a loss or being overwhelmed with too many coupons in one day.  If your customers are looking for you on their phone, make sure they can easily find your physical location, hours of operation and any other information necessary to do business with you.

Foursquare is a great way to interact with your customers. No matter what type of business you are, if you have a storefront you should claim your business. You can create your own specials at no cost to both attract new customers and keep loyal customers happy.

There are lots of opportunities for you to grow your business through a mobile site and mobile applications. This should be a part of your marketing plan for your business.

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Example Site Wednesday: How Webs Users are Taking a Stance Against SOPA & PIPA

Posted by Irina on January 18, 2012 | 2 Comments »

January 18, 2012 will now be known as the day internet companies took a stance in the largest internet protest against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) bills. Today we would like to showcase how some Webs.com users are taking their freedom of speech to express their points of view on these bills:

Creators of pinkmoonwebdesign.com decided to redirect their website today to http://sopastrike.com/:

While the creator of AG Lovers has put up a tombstone over their website:

Some are taking a less aggressive stance by posting custom made banners:

Learn more about these bills and how you can take a stance.

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Writer’s Block – How to get your inspiration back

Posted by Kirk on February 7, 2012 | 11 Comments »

You know that it is important to update your website on regular basis and post blog updates often to maintain and improve your search engine ranking (SEO). You sit down in front of your computer/laptop but nothing comes out. You want to post an insightful update and just can’t come up with a good idea. It’s a problem that strikes us all, especially when it comes to writing – the dreaded writer’s block.

Don’t fall victim to procrastination or fear of the blank page. There are plenty of things you can do to get you on the right track towards posting:

Start with looking at your competition: what kind of information are they providing their guests?Look at websites you like and determine what it is about them that you like.Look at sites you don’t like (not just your competition). What is it about them that you don’t like – do they over share? Do they provide information that you need or is it just words on a page?Ask people/fans/customers what they would like to see posted on your site.Keep a notepad near you while you work that is just for web-ideas. When you think of something write it down and keep it on your “to-do” list.Follow social media. There is a wealth of intentional or unintentional information available on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and even Pintrest.  Use these portals to discover new trends and interesting information relevant to the topic of your website. It is also a good idea to save your favorite articles for future references.  Reading such articles can help spark your inspiration.

The simple fact is that inspiration can strike from anyplace or anything. Just be open to it and remember it’s sort of like lightning, that it often strikes when you least expect it and rarely ever strikes twice.

Do you have another great way to find inspiration? Share it below in the comments section.

View the original article here

How to Build a Call to Action That Can Boost Conversion Rates

Posted by Irina on January 20, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Regardless of the purpose of your website, you always want your website visitors to stick around and perform specific actions. These actions can vary from being something simple as viewing your online portfolio, discovering your product offering, signing up to receive regular email updates or making a purchase.

While website design and good layout can get the visitors to stay on your website and browse around, it doesn’t mean that they’ll click or purchase. This is where a good call to action comes in.

What is a call to action?

According to BusinessDictionary.com, call to action is a set words that urge the reader, listener, or viewer of a sales promotion message to take an immediate action, such as “Write Now,” “Call Now,” or (on Internet) “Click Here.”

When it comes to a good call to action, every element matters and has impact contributing to your website’s conversion rates. Here are some things to consider and test when it comes to Call to Action treatments:

Is it a link or a button?Look of the buttonSize of the textPlacement on your website pageColors used

What can you do to make your call to action stand out?

Testing is the name of the game. There is no magic formula, what works for one website might not work for another, that’s why you should always be testing. Here are a few suggestions on what you should consider for building a good call to action:

Size – You do not want your call to action to get lost amongst all the other copy. If you are using a button, this button ideally should be the largest element on the page to emphasize its importance.Color – Colors have the ability to evoke emotions, thus choose a color for your call to action that suggests a positive reaction (this is the reason why a lot of “next buttons” are green and “cancel buttons” are red). In addition make sure to select a high contrast color scheme that helps the call to action stand out from the other elements on your page.Placement – Each website is unique and you will need to play around with various positions where your call to action can live. However some studies have shown that placing a call to action above the fold can increase conversions. You also should provide enough space around your call to action to allow it to create a powerful impact. Regardless of the position you choose for your call to action, make sure that it is prominent and doesn’t get lost amongst other elements on the page.Copy (Text) – The language you use in your call to action should be clear and straight to the point. Do not try to fool your visitors by using misleading language, be upfront and tell them exactly what to expect. It is always a good idea to test various text versions to discover which one resonates most with your website visitors.

This list is by no means a complete list of things that will or won’t work when it comes to calls to action. It’s important to test and to see what works best with your audience. If you’re reluctant to test, then look at your competition and see what they are doing. If you have a site for a particular demographic, look at other sites that are aimed at that audience too and see what they are doing – are they using buttons, are they using links, or are they using pure text.

There is no set formula and no definitive answers, the experts all say something different. But you’re the expert on your site, so start thinking about what is going to resonate best with your audience.

Happy site building!

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Writer’s Block – How to get your inspiration back

Posted by Kirk on February 7, 2012 | 11 Comments »

You know that it is important to update your website on regular basis and post blog updates often to maintain and improve your search engine ranking (SEO). You sit down in front of your computer/laptop but nothing comes out. You want to post an insightful update and just can’t come up with a good idea. It’s a problem that strikes us all, especially when it comes to writing – the dreaded writer’s block.

Don’t fall victim to procrastination or fear of the blank page. There are plenty of things you can do to get you on the right track towards posting:

Start with looking at your competition: what kind of information are they providing their guests?Look at websites you like and determine what it is about them that you like.Look at sites you don’t like (not just your competition). What is it about them that you don’t like – do they over share? Do they provide information that you need or is it just words on a page?Ask people/fans/customers what they would like to see posted on your site.Keep a notepad near you while you work that is just for web-ideas. When you think of something write it down and keep it on your “to-do” list.Follow social media. There is a wealth of intentional or unintentional information available on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and even Pintrest.  Use these portals to discover new trends and interesting information relevant to the topic of your website. It is also a good idea to save your favorite articles for future references.  Reading such articles can help spark your inspiration.

The simple fact is that inspiration can strike from anyplace or anything. Just be open to it and remember it’s sort of like lightning, that it often strikes when you least expect it and rarely ever strikes twice.

Do you have another great way to find inspiration? Share it below in the comments section.

View the original article here

Business Idea, check; Website, check; Logo….What logo?

Posted by Kirk on February 16, 2012 | 6 Comments »

You’ve taken the plunge and decided to work for yourself. Congratulations.

In the midst of doing your business plan and filling out articles of incorporation, you launched a website that you’re pretty proud of. But, did you take the time to create a unique graphic identity?

A graphic identity is a fancy way of saying Logo. Your logo is a symbol of your company. The greatest brands of the world have logos that just about anyone can recognize without even seeing the company’s name.

When you sit down to start thinking about a logo, you should ask yourself these questions:

What do I want my logo to be? The logo you choose for your business should have a tie into your “brand” or the products/services you provide. Think about the great logos that are out there right now, how do they symbolize the company that they “work for”?What shape do I want for my logo? Should you use an abstract shape? What about the geometry of your logo – round or square? Your logo should be memorable and should correlate with what it is you do. For example, if you’re a dog walker, your logo might be something as simple as your name but with a collar and leash replacing a “round letter”.  Keep in mind that your logo does not always have to be a physical shape.What color should my logo be? Selecting the right color can make or break your logo. When first designing your logo, start out using gray scale. Once you have settled on the shape you feel passionate about, experiment with colors.  Not sure which color to select? Do some research: what are your competitors doing, how do your customers feel about certain colors?

Your logo shouldn’t be something that doesn’t connect with your or your customers. Your logo should be simple, recognizable and communicate a message to the public. Additional tips on how to create your own logo.

Not sure about where to start? Check the LogoGizmo App that can help you create and design your own logo.

It’s very important that you invest time into the creation process of deciding upon and designing your logo to make sure that it reaches the audience you want to reach and has the right impact on your business.

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Example Site Wednesday: Pimp My Cake with Mama Rhu + Guidelines for Showcasing Your Business Personality

Posted by Irina on February 1, 2012 | 15 Comments »

Our weekly tradition dictates a showcase of another awesome Webs website. Today we are showcasing a fun website from the UK:  Pimp My Cakes with Mama Rhu. What makes this website stand out above the rest this week is the website owner’s dedication to not only showcasing their products, but also her letting her personality and enthusiasm for her business shine through on every single page on the website.

What can you take away from the creator of this website? As a small business it’s perfectly acceptable to showcase your personality to help you and your business stand out from the competition. For this site, “Mama Rhu” lets her site visitors know she’s serious (but has a good time) about her cake decorating business.

Guidelines for Showcasing Your Business Personality

Your business personality should support your business growth both externally and internally.Don’t get too personal, but do show your enthusiasmShowcase your passion for what you do.Be yourself.Show how much you are dedicated to  customer satisfaction

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Why Content is Important for SEO

Posted by Irina on January 31, 2012 | 10 Comments »

When you think of SEO, do you think of content marketing? You should. Discover why the information you put on  your website, your content, matters and how it can impact your search engine ranking.

According to the following infographic compiled by Brafton News, continued escalation in competition between available search engines to present the most relevant information is going to continue to place additional emphasis on the type of information websites contain. More specifically, emphasis will be placed on original content and its quality.

Click on the image to view full-sized

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Example Site Wednesday: Alpha Wrestling League

Posted by Irina on February 22, 2012 | 7 Comments »

Today’s Example Site Wednesday goes to an action packed, adrenaline filled website that exemplifies how to keep your website interactive and fun. The Alpha Wrestling League is an online role playing website dedicated to fantasy. The strength of this site is the interactive engagement which allows for anyone across the globe to combine creative energy to produce an amazing user experience.

This site is entering their 2nd month of existence and already has accumulated an amazing and loyal following. AWL’s forum has over 2800+ posts and is home to over 50 members. If you would like to gain similar gains in user interactivity, it is important that you make your site as user friendly as possible.

Here are some tips that will help to keep users glued to your site and grow your site activity:

Don’t Be A Stranger: Open up a forum post that offers users a place to voice their opinions or suggestions to make your site better, give all of your users a sense of ownership to your site.  Furthermore, you can encourage forum interactions by responding to posted issues/comments and asking thought provoking questions.Be Consistent: Keep your site updated with new media, blog or forum posts on a consistent basis. Give your users a reason to check your website on a daily basis. New content will not only give your visitors reasons to keep coming back, it will also provide a way for site visitors to get to know you better. The more they feel comfortable on your site, the more willing they are to become interactive.Keep it Simple: Make sure your layout is neat and organized; the key is to allow users to navigate your site with ease. So make sure your header links are accurate and are easily visible and your layout is consistent throughout your site. You can simplify and improve your website navigation by utilizing drop-down menus. Make your content easy to read by using bulleted lists and short paragraphs.

There are many tricks that you can pull away from AWL to keep users buzzing about your content. Interactive content with positive atmosphere can help you go a long way towards success when it comes to website building.

No matter what kind of website you are creating, there are many features that are available for you to use to make your site easy and fun to use. Website hospitality goes a long way in ensuring a relationship with tremendous longevity between you and your website visitors.

As always,

HAPPY SITE BUILDING!

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Are You Missing a Huge Potential Audience?

Posted by Kirk on February 21, 2012 | 5 Comments »

Smartphones, everywhere you go now, it seems like everyone has one! People aren’t just using the internet while at home or at the office anymore. These devices are also changing the way small business can attract new customers. Have you asked yourself recently if you could be missing out on potential customers because your mobile site isn’t up to par?

Your customers and potential customers aren’t just using their devices for Angry Birds and to Facebook. They are using them as mini computers. They browse the internet; they get directions, even conduct price comparisons right there in your aisles. Think about the potential you’re missing without a mobile friendly version of your website.

A mobile optimized version of your website allows customers and prospects to reach your web presence on their phones. Just last week, someone may have come by your store, remembering the name, but not the address. Today, they are back in your neighborhood, What’s the first thing they’ll do? Google your business-name. They’ll find you, but your site doesn’t render well on their smaller screen and takes forever to load. They can’t find your location, or a telephone number and you’ve just lost a potential sale. But if you optimize your site for mobile readers, it’s really easy for them to navigate and find you.

Luckily with a Webs website, your site is automatically converted to a mobile version. It’s a win/win situation for you and customers – your site stays up to date, and in sync with what is on your full-sized version and your customer can locate you easier.

So what does it really mean – having a mobile website? Simply put, you’ve got to present a lot of info in a tiny space. The real estate of a Smartphone is a lot less than that of a computer monitor – think New York City micro-condo versus estate.

Content is king! Present information that people are looking for first. The number one reason why a potential customer could be searching your mobile website is to locate your contact information. Ensure that you prominently display your telephone number and/or your physical address location. Put that information front and center. Use good content, and white space (it helps with the spacing on smaller screens), especially around links – mobile users don’t have the pin-point accuracy of a mouse and cursor, most users are using fingers to tap around your site. Placing multiple links on top of each other can make it frustrating for readers to navigate your site.

But what if you want it to do more?

Premium users get cool features like:

Click to Call: people can reach you from their mobile device simply by tapping your telephone numberIntegrated with Maps: Show your business address on mobile maps, making it easier to physically find youGain Insight: Get stats for who is visiting your mobile siteThis is in addition to being ad-free.

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