subject: The Must Have Features of Websites [print this page] The Must Have Features of Websites The Must Have Features of Websites
What is a Website? Perhaps the best way of looking at it is to think of a website as an extension or replacement for a standard store front.First of all you have to ascertain who your potential customers are and what they are looking to purchase. For example if, off line, you were looking to buy a refrigerator then the obvious place to look would be either in an electrical shop or the electrical section of a large department store. You wouldn't go to a shop specialising in baby clothes!The same argument applies on the internet. If you wish to purchase on line then you would search for a website offering electrical goods.So are you making it clear in your advertising exactly what you are promoting?Obviously you do not want people to visit your website if they have no interest in your product(s) especially if you are on a pay-to-click system. Could work out very expensive!Once you have a targeted visitor how attractive is your site? Why should they wish to stay and look around? Using our analogy of the electric store you would want the atmosphere to be welcoming, the store well laid out with the different products easy to find with all the information you would need made available in easy to understand language. You would expect the salesperson to have all the necessary knowledge to be able to answer any questions you might have.So why should your website be any different? The best way to ensure that your website, regardless of what product(s) you are offering, is successful is to try to envisage how your potential customer would see it. Preferably get a friend who knows little about your subject to visit and see how well they can understand what you are promoting. Once established and getting customers/visitors why not ask them for feedback, perhaps offering them a small enticement for doing so. Don't try to "bribe them" though or you may not get true feedback but only what the customer/visitor thinks you want to hear. Things such as how your product compares with the competition in price quality etc. This way you can plan future promotions more effectively.Therefore the way forward when designing your website is to put yourself in the shoes in of your potential customer. Study other websites, not only your competitors but those in other fields to ascertain their good points. If you like what you are see then the chances are that other people will also.So study others and set up a professional website and the orders will follow.To your success!John Beaumont Internet Marketer
