Website Planning

The most important question…

The most important question you need to answer is:“when someone comes to your website … what do you want them to do?” Phone you? Email you? Fill out a form? Download some information? Order a product? If you know the answer to that question when you are in the planning stages of your website, you will have much more success in your online marketing efforts. You will be able to structure your site to have the relevant information stand out.

We are constantly amazed at the number of business people we ask these questions to and they say, “phone me.” When we look at the website, their phone number is hidden on the contact page or it takes significant searching to track it down.

Generally speaking if your website is not asking visitors to take some action the site will not be effective.

Where the rubber meets the road

Your website is where the rubber really meets the road. No matter what else you do online, whether it’s search engine optimization; using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter; running a blog; or sending out Emails, for most people your website is the place where nameless web surfers become prospects and/or clients. It’s also a place where you can cement your relationship with existing clients.

Your website ought to be the place where “conversion” happens. It’s “bad form” on most social media sites to overtly promote your business and, in fact, if you promote your business too much some social media sites will close your account. That said, it’s easy to post a link that goes to your website which talks in great detail about your business.

Look at your website as another location of your business. For many of us it’s the only location of our business. If you have a brick and mortar retail store, your website should be thought of as a 2nd location that’s open 24 hours, 7 days a week, has a very low rent, and requires minimal staffing.

If your website is not giving you the results you want please feel free to give us a call at 250-415-0500 or email consulting@bnic.ca.We’ll be happy to give you a FREE critique of your site and suggest some improvements that can make a big difference in the performance of your website