According to BusinessInsider.com, there are currently more than 644 million active websites on the internet with more than 6 million new URLs registered in the fourth quarter of 2011. To say that consumers are bombarded with digital information daily is an understatement, and the competition for their attention continues to grow.
Therefore, it’s never been more important to ensure that your company’s website is working for you.
What makes a website effective?
Think like your customer and take a good look at your company’s website.- Is the site easy to navigate?
Visitors need to be able to easily find the information they are looking for – and quick! Make navigation simple. Make it easy to find and clearly defined. Put important information on multiple pages with clearly labeled links. - Is it attractive?
Websites are sometimes the first and only impression a potential consumer receives about your organization. Make that impression count! Use appropriate color schemes, fonts and meaningful graphics. Don’t clutter the site. Quality photography, line breaks, and bullet points can capture the visitor’s attention. - Remember content is King (or Queen)
Content rules when it comes to the quality of your site. Is the content meaningful? Useful? Does it serve the purpose? Is there a call-to-action? Content must hold value for a site’s visitors. Provide truly interesting and valuable information and visitors will be back again and again. - Is it Dysfunctional?
Each component of your website should work accurately and quickly. Poorly constructed or broken components will lead to frustrated and disenchanted customers. Links and items such as site search, event registrations, and contact forms should work as expected. In addition, double check all copy, figures and facts. Functionality is about making the site work for your purpose. - Usability
Usability includes content, functionality, navigation and more. The best way to make sure visitors stay on your site is through valuable content, clear organization and attractive design. Pages should load in less than 20 seconds and offer minimal scrolling. Layout and navigation should be consistent, and the site should be compatible on all browsers.
