Stepping
Into Your Client’s Shoes
by EarthQuake Studios
Have you
ever sat down and really spent some time surfing through your
own company website? Are there any broken links? Are you happy
with the functionality and the graphical interface? Is it
easy to navigate and find the services that you are looking
for? Well, if you haven’t done this, we strongly suggest
that you do. You could be losing tons of customers simply
because your website is not up to par with today’s standards
and does not properly deliver the valuable sales information
that potential customers are looking for.
It may
seem difficult at first, but try to put yourself in your customer’s
shoes and take a long look at the message that your website
delivers to the public. Pretend that you are a potential customer
and it’s your first time ever visiting your company
website. Let’s start by visiting the home page. Does
it contain “sticky” content that is visually and
mentally appealing? That is, does it have what it takes to
keep today’s savvy consumer clicking through your site.
Customers are getting more and more knowledgeable about the
Web as time passes by, and their time is extremely valuable.
They are accustomed to getting what they want and when they
want it. If they aren’t impressed right from the get-go,
they will simply move on to the next company, in search of
the product or service that your website could not provide.
Your home page is a VERY important, if not the most important,
part of your overall website. Take the time to figure out
exactly what your customers are looking for and make it readily
available on your home page, or at least have a prominent
link to the product or service in plain sight. Try to create
headlines that grab the viewer’s attention and make
them ask for more.
Next,
make sure that your website navigation is clean and user-friendly.
If you have buttons that lead the user into a deadend corner
of your site with no way out, then you have major problems
to correct. The website user should never have to use the “Back” button in their browser to navigate. If
they get lost, they will leave your site.
Your product
or service pages should be informative and lead the customer
to a course of action. Those pages should steer the customer
into purchasing online, calling you directly or requesting
more information or a custom quote. Make sure that your phone
number, preferably a 1-800 number, is visible on every page
of the website, thus lowering the path of resistance to making
a sale. Also, be sure that the rest of your contact information
is easily accessible. That includes your phone number, address
and/or a contact form or email address to reach you. We have
seen many websites that do not post an address or phone number,
leaving the potential client feeling weary about the company’s
credibility.
Lastly,
if your webmaster or web design firm lacks the skills to produce
a visually appealing site with strategically planned content
and functionality, then hire someone that is able to do that.
It will pay off in the end!
EarthQuake Studios may be contacted at http://www.earthquakestudios.com
.
EarthQuake Studios thrives on the leading edge of innovation,
continually developing services that enable our clients to
improve their business models. Our service offerings include
web design & development, website hosting, domain name
registrations, marketing communications, full-color print
advertising & collateral, intranet / portal development,
e-commerce, email solutions, search engine optimization, SSL
certificates and digital photography. With extensive industry
experience and a spotless track record, EarthQuake Studios
proudly offers a wide variety of technology solutions to fit
each of our client's needs. Our full array of services offers
a complete solution to clients requiring a Business-to-Business,
Business-to-Consumer or Business-within-Business service.
EarthQuake Studios delivers technology-based business solutions
to companies wishing to increase their efficiencies, reduce
costs, and increase revenues. Contact us at 1-877-EQ-STUDIOS
or visit us at http://www.earthquakestudios.com
HOW TO SET YOUR FREELANCE RATES - A GUIDE FOR FREELANCERS & CONSULTANTSThere are many factors which business owners must consider on a daily basis as it relates to the running of their business. Things such as how to find good help, where to acquire supplies and how much to pay one’s employees are all pertinent matters which must be addressed. There are a few ways to go about figuring out your rates when it comes to how much to charge the customers.
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DEC
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