Top 10 Tips for Effective Internet Marketing Websites
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What constitutes an effective website can mean different things in different businesses and at different times. The tips I’m presenting here are for effective Internet marketing websites.
An Internet marketing website means a website optimized for the website owner to sell his/her products or services either from the website directly or from a brick-and-mortar location after people learn from the website about the brick-and-mortar location.
Compiling a list of top 10 tips for effective websites even by this Internet marketing definition is still subjective. Although I’ve just made this list, if I were to make a new list next week, some item might be replaced by another item.
Thus take this list as a starting point against which to check your own website:
1. If you’re selling something on your site (such as a book), make the “buy this now” option immediately apparent. (Don’t hide this at the very bottom of an interior page.)
2. Have an email opt-in box with an “irresistible” free offer (preferably NOT a newsletter because we all have so much to read) to capture email addresses for follow-up email marketing.
3. Do not have a photo of your store or office building on your Web site’s home page.
4. Do have a photo of yourself and/or your staff on your site.
5. Do not have a photo of a sunset or something similar on your home page that has nothing to do with your brand, book or business. (Not even if it is a beautiful sunset.)
6. Do not use large blocks of white text on a dark background – way too hard to read.
7. Do use a font size large enough for older people to read.
8. Do not waste the most valuable “real estate” on your home page with a Welcome message.
9. Do let people know the second they land on your home page what’s in the site for them.
10. Do have valuable free information on the site to share with your site visitors.
What’s the bottom line about effective Internet marketing websites? You want to make it as easy as possible for people to engage with your site – which means engaging with you. (This is why, for example, no to a photo of a building but yes to a photo of you.)
If you consider your website from the point of view of a stranger meeting you for the first time, you’ll be on the right path for having an effective Internet marketing website.
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Phyllis Zimbler Miller’s company Miller Mosaic, LLC combines traditional marketing principles with the power of Internet marketing strategies to promote your business more effectively – see TeachMeInternetBusiness.com and WeTeachWebMarketing.com – and she’s a National Internet Business Examiner at InternetBizBlogger.com .
Author: Phyllis Zimbler Miller (2 Articles)
Phyllis Zimbler Miller’s company www.MillerMosaicLLC.com combines traditional marketing principles with the power of Internet marketing strategies to promote your business more effectively. She’s also a National Internet Business Examiner at www.InternetBizBlogger.com.
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These are great points, except I disagree with item #3 where you state "Do not have a photo of your store or office building on your Web site’s home page." I think that many Web site buyers will find comfort in knowing that their online store also has a brick-and-mortar presence. It can convey a sense of 'stability for the company' and comfort to the buyer to show that there is an actual "place" where you can make a return/reach a real person — if needed. I'm curious as to why you think having a photo of the office building is a negative.
Marie –
Sorry I’m only seeing your question now.
While you make a good point about a photo of a physical location being able to represent stability, that photo would be better utilized on the ABOUT US page rather than taking up prime real estate on the home page. I’ve just written a post — see http://budurl.com/gtool — which shows how little home page real estate you have to capture someone’s attention.
Phyllis Zimbler Miller
http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller
Phyllis Zimbler Miller´s last blog ..A Google Tool That Lets You See What Others See on Your Website
Pretty good list although I too disagree with #3. Most of my clients prefer a photo of their business on their front page so their customers may easily identify them when driving to their office. Plus, it does give a sense of stability. A photo of yourself is also great. Larger text is definitely a must….O.K…I guess I'm older! Don't forget compelling, informative content as well as stunning design. Both keep the customer involved as well as establish your brand.
Catherine –
I just saw this comment now. A picture of a physical place is very good on the “map” page with the address and directions. The picture doesn’t need to take up prime home page real estate.
Phyllis Zimbler Miller
http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller
Phyllis Zimbler Miller´s last blog ..A Google Tool That Lets You See What Others See on Your Website
Good tips. It's important to be "welcoming" without having a "welcome message" that says nothing and takes too long to read. On tip #3, while I understand that a photo of a building can be off putting, in some cases it's much more identifiable to people than a photo of a person they would never interact with. It's all in how the page is designed.
very nice tips for internet marketing
sudharsan @ technoskillonline´s last blog ..Tips to Boost Pagerank – Next PR update March-April 2010
Thanks for leaving this comment. I appreciate it.
Phyllis Zimbler Miller´s last blog ..A Google Tool That Lets You See What Others See on Your Website
Jon –
I didn’t see these comments until now. Check out my comments above on where a good place for a photo of a physical office or store is on a website.
And see my new post http://budurl.com/gtool regarding how very small in area the prime home page real estate is.
Phyllis Zimbler Miller
http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller
Phyllis Zimbler Miller´s last blog ..A Google Tool That Lets You See What Others See on Your Website
great tips for ,especially for who are new to the IM world .
great tips ,especially for who are new to the IM world .
Razer –
Glad you like the tips.
Phyllis Zimbler Miller
http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller
Phyllis Zimbler Miller recently posted..How to Get More Mileage Out of Older Blog Posts
This blog is very good. It deals with every point that are needed for internet marketing. The blog offers excelllent tips for them who are new to the field of internet marketing.