Give Your Website a Reality Test

It is difficult to effectively promote a book or speaking services today if the author or speaker doesn’t have an effective website, even if sales are typically closed off-line. However, there is still the misconception that having a website is just a matter or purchasing a template or finding someone on Craig’s List.

There is certainly no need to have a flashy or complicated website, you should make sure to put your site through a number of tests to make sure it is up to par. Competition on the Internet can be fierce with the economy becoming more and more global and more people and companies using websites as part of their marketing strategy.

First impressions are key on the Internet. And that impression can last less than a minute as click happy page viewers come and go. What would you say in answer to these questions about your website?

Do People Know Where They Are Right Away?

Do you have a logo that can be seen right away and that can visually describe the nature of your business? It is important to grab your viewers attention right away, because before they start reading, they will take in your website visually. Convey the result people will derive from your website through pictures and other attention grabbing graphics.

Words are important as well, though, so make sure your company name is clearly visible immediately and that you have a tagline that tells people what you do. It is also important for every page to have a powerful title that communicates to your viewer immediately where they are and what they can expect from the page.

Try to be unique on your website, but never be modest or assume your customer will sell themselves. Make sure your site communicates boldly what you can offer your future customers.

Have you checked out your computer on various viewing platforms and browsers?

All computers behave differently. What looks great on Firefox might be a mess on Windows Explorer, and even on different versions of each. Check to be sure. Ask people you know and trust to view your website on at least 5 different monitor sizes, Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems, and on PC as well as MAC computers.

Check a blackberry and iPhone as well if your customers may be using a cell phone to view your site. The differences in the way your site looks between different platforms might surprise you.

How functional is your website?

There is nothing more annoying to a page viewer than to sit and wait for a page to load. In most cases, that potential customer clicks away before even seeing what you have to offer and becomes a former potential customer before you know it.

Make the effort to walk through your who site, page by page, as though you are your perfect customer. Do the pages load quickly enough? If there is a link, does it work and does it go to where you expected it to? Do you see spelling errors or other grammatical problems? Is the contact information readily found on your website?

The reason to go through the Website Reality Test is to ensure that your potential customers are not driven away but instead are welcomed into your website. Make it easy for them to get around your site, find what they want (and what you’re selling) and become your customer.

Visit Action’s Store to find lots of resources that will help you streamline and outsource your online marketing campaigns