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Advance Planning Is the Key to a Successful Website |
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Written by Marty Dickinson
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Thursday, 18 March 2010 09:05 |
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One of the most difficult, but key components of the Internet marketing process is to design your website to achieve the goals you have set for your business. But this critical step is usually the one business people skip, or just leave it to their web designer to consider, which can be even more damaging to their overall goals.
by MartyDickinson
One of the most difficult, but key components of the Internet marketing process is to design your website to achieve the goals you have set for your business. But this critical step is usually the one business people skip, or just leave it to their web designer to consider, which can be even more damaging to their overall goals.
When you take the time to strategically plan the outline of your new website or an upgrade of your current one, not only will you achieve a website that will show off your business in the best way, but one you will be able to add and edit content easily, and probably most important will help to achieve your overall business goals. Here are a number of important steps to take in the website planning process:
1. Create a list of anything your website visitors will want to know about the product or service you are offering. For example, visitors to a school's website would probably want to know the attendance levels, size of the classrooms, information on staff members and what sports they can participate in. Brainstorm every possible topic someone might want to know related to the industry, product or service your website will be offering.
2. Take on the role of your website visitor. Surf the Internet and visit various sites offering similar services, then review them as a potential customer would. As a visitor who is genuinely interested in your product or service, what are the good things and bad things about each site you visit? Does the website inspire you to take further action? Are you able to find what you are looking for quickly and easily? How many different pages do you have to click through to find what you want? Note all this data down with the intent of making your new website as easy for your visitors to use as possible.
3. Investigate to find out the keywords your visitors will most likely search for to find your website. You don't need to invest in expensive search tools, Google has a free keyword tool that is adequate for this purpose. By typing in a general phrase such as "exercise video", other keywords will come up that are related. Your visitors already have questions about these things. By arming yourself with this information, you will be able to plan your website to answer their questions right away.
4. Plan your new website so that it can expand. Stay away from website formats that can't be expanded easily to add products and new pages. A website is not static, but rather should change constantly to meet your customer needs.
5. Finally, make sure your website is easy to control, so you don't have to rely on your website designer to make even the smallest changes. Old fashioned websites that only a web developer can change do not work in today's dynamic Internet marketing environment that demands new content added regularly. You need a website platform that will allow you to add website content fast and simply.
Your website is most often one of the biggest marketing expenses your business will encounter. It is critical to take the time to plan a new website that is compatible with your business goals.
About the Author:
Marty Dickinson is the president of HereNextYear, Inc., a full service Internet marketing company in business for over 10 years. His passion is Internet marketing solutions for the small business owner, speakers and authors. Visit to see what HereNextYear has to offer and to discover more about their innovative new website packages fully integrated for ease with social networking and other Internet marketing strategies. |
