Step 3 What Makes a Great Website

So what makes a great (and profitable) website?

If you have the resources:

• An easy to maintain website, one that you or someone on your staff can update, one that does not require special skills to update

• You need to make your business welcoming for potential customers. You should have a picture of the store on the front page and driving directions to get there
• A complete description of your product line or services
• An explanation of why people should shop with you
• Clean, uncluttered and attractive layout
• An easy to find search box
• A simple and logical menu system
• A Events or Specials calendar
• An integrated (or link to a separate) company blog
• Online forms so that people can enroll in your events or send you feedback
• Hours of operation
• The ability to sell all or some of your products online
• Facebook/Twitter account integrated with your website announcing events and services
• Live audiocasting, videocasting and podcast of your events
• An email newsletter and integrated signup form.
• A way to allow people to "subscribe" to changes to your website.

These are some of the things that make for excellent web site design.

The only limitation to implementing these features on your website is your ability to maintain them.

For example, it makes no sense to put an event calendar or blog or a Facebook on your website if no one updates them. An email newsletter won't do you any good if no one writes it. Audio or Video broadcasting and podcasting makes no sense if you have no one that can run them.

That is why I firmly believe in not implementing lots of changes at once. Train your staff in one change (per department) at a time.

I am available for consultation on implementing your web presence in an orderly and maintainable time frame. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it