How to Build an Effective and Profitable Web Site

Business owners build Web sites every day that will do little to serve there purpose. They invest in a quality Web site designer, include well written descriptions of their services/products, yet they don't know why their Web site is not performing. If you are just about to build a Web site of your own, your business will be well served by taking the time to read this article.

Purpose
The first and most important question to ask yourself is, "What do you want people to do when they get to your Web site?"

Your purpose in building a Web site should have three goals: 1) Your first goal should be to decide what you would like visitors to do when they visit your home page; 2) The second goal should be to communicate to potential customers that your service/product is the solution to their need; and 3) The third goal should be to capture the visitors contact information.

Your first goal can be satisfied by making yourself aware of how visitors scan a Web page, and then positioning page elements in these places. Studies indicate that most Web site visitors fixate on the upper left hand corner of the page before moving to other locations. Typically, the last place they look will be the right hand column of the page.

Your second goal can be satisfied by including a "Why Us" tab on the home page. This page should include several compelling reasons to purchase your service/product, with a call to action at the end.

Your third goal can be satisfied by giving them a reason to contact you, and including opportunities to contact you on every page.

When you sit down with a Web site designer, make sure your goals are clear. Web designers in the budget price range know how to design an attractive Web site, and how to make it functional at best. Consider providing them with examples of other Web sites that will communicate your ideas, and a basic layout of the homepage.

Marketing
Once you Web site is launched, it will be your job to tell people about it. This will mean that all printed material, including business cards and letterhead, should now include your Web site address. You should also begin to build in-bound links to your Web site. There are many ways to accomplish this, and some will perform better than others. Article marketing is one of the most productive way to drive traffic and increase search engine rankings.

Recommended Resources
How to Choose an Unforgettable Domain Name
Designs for Eyetracker III Web Sites
Search Engine Optimization for Beginners