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If your web site visitor can’t
find the information on your web site, within 10 seconds or
less, you will lose them. Two of the largest factors that
contribute to this, are the lack of clear purpose and poor
layout of your web pages.
Let’s look at how you can resolve each of these issues.
Lack of clear purpose – the first page of your web
site must have a clear title and description, which
immediately states what your site is about. If you need
help to determine the purpose of web site, read:
“How To Build A Web Site That Sells”
You must include a clear benefit of your product or service
in your description. For example if you are a web design
company, your title may be “How to Build a Web Site That
Sells”. Your description may be something like: “Let us
save you precious time and hassles, by designing a
professional web site that WILL sell your product or
service”.
Realize many others may be
competing to sell the same product. Focus on something
unique you may have to offer, that stands out from your
competitors. If you are setting up an affiliate program,
make sure it is a reputable company with a good track record
with lots of help available from others involved. Don’t
recklessly jump in – you will waste a lot of time and
money. This is the number one reason, why many entrepreneurs
give up so quickly.
1. Alignment – There
are 3 kinds of alignment for your web page
– left side, right side and centered. Choose one, then use
it on
the entire page or even throughout your other web pages.
Don’t
try to mix alignments, because this will make your web page
look
unprofessional.
One such example, is to align all the text on your page to
the
left. This will create a strong edge and make it easier for
your
visitors to navigate and read. Avoid bumping up your text to
the navigation bar or graphics. Create an equal amount of
space
between all the elements on your page. If they are bunched
up,
it will create a cluttered appearance.
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2.
How To Use White Space – Visitors do not appreciate
useless
clutter and masses of content on Web Pages. Most users
prefer a
page with well distributed content resulting in less
clutter.
Users quickly scan pages and the more that they must scan
through, the more information they will miss.
This does not mean you should not provide a lot of
information.
Just do not provide it all on one page. Each page should
contain
approximately 50 per cent less text than a printed version
of
the same information.
If you have a lot of copy on your web site, try to have
only 4-6
sentences per paragraph. Split the page up into different
topics, with the subject title close to the accompanying
text.
3. Repetition – each page of your web site should
look like it
belongs to the same web site, the same company and same
concept.
For example, navigation buttons, colors, style,
illustrations,
format, layout can all be part of the repetition that
unifies
the entire site.
4. Contrast – this is what draws you into the
page and pulls you
in. Pages that just have all text and no graphics, or vice
versa
and have no contrast can be very boring (unless it is an
article or book). If elements on your page, such as type,
rules, graphics, color, texture, are not the same, make
them
very different.
Be aware of what you want the visitor to focus on. What
will be
the first thing that a person will be attracted to when
that
person first enters your site? If your site is not well
organized, it will be difficult for your visitor to find
what he
is looking for.
5. Graphics – graphics should be used to
illustrate the benefit
of your product (this is why there is the popular saying,
“a
picture is worth a thousand words”). You should use them
to
enhance the experience of your visitor. If it does not
have a
clear purpose to be there (other than just to have a
pretty
picture on your site), don’t use it.
6. Spelling and Grammar – bad spelling and
grammar can destroy
the professional effect of your web site. Don’t just use
the
spell checker for correcting your copy. Read through it
yourself
several times or get a friend who is a proficient proof
reader
to check your work, before you launch your site for the
world to
see.
With a clear purpose and layout to your web pages, your
visitors
will easily find the information they are seeking, rather
than
your competitors. Doing this, will help to increase sales
from
your web site.
=========================================================
Herman Drost is a Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW)
owner and author of iSiteBuild.com
Affordable
Web Site Design and Low Cost Hosting
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