| I am talking about creating efficient and effective | | | | of all successful business sites. At most a visitor |
| "Business" websites. A business site is not the same | | | | should only 1-2 actions or decisions they can make on |
| as a personal page, fan site, or hobby site. A | | | | any page. Avoid a too many colors, or whiz-bang |
| business site should have one purpose, to create | | | | widgets moving all over the screen, keep it simple |
| revenue for the owner. A business may be a labor of | | | | 4. Security - Make sure you have an SSL certificate if |
| love, a business site is not. With this mindset, and | | | | you ask the customer for any information; and email, |
| over 8 years experience in the Atlanta Web Design | | | | name or address. Even if you shopping cart is handled |
| business these are the top factors in building a | | | | by a third party business, if you ask you customer |
| business website. | | | | for an email address or name, make sure it's on a |
| | | | secure https page with an SSL certificate. |
| 1. Keyword Research - Without a doubt the single | | | | 5. Customer oriented philosophy - A common mistake |
| most important factor. Your site must be built upon a | | | | of a small business owner is to make the site about |
| set of well researched keywords and keyword | | | | themselves or their business. They have a need or |
| phrases. You must understand exactly what | | | | problem and want an answer or solution. Do not |
| keywords people are actively searching in your | | | | make the site about your business - always make it |
| market. Find the top 5 - 10 keywords or keyword | | | | about your customer and their needs. An "About Us" |
| phrases and target those aggressively. Once you | | | | page is fine for service oriented businesses, but keep |
| have achieved first page status on the major search | | | | it simple and don't let it distract from the purpose of |
| engines, do your research again and start over. | | | | your site; it should be short, simple and to the point. |
| Remember it takes as much effort to build a site | | | | An effective small business web design, can also be |
| upon poor keyword choices as it does to build in on | | | | an affordable web design. In reality a good business |
| great keywords. | | | | web design is simple fast and should not cost a small |
| 2. Focus - Avoid trying to do too much on your | | | | fortune. Of course an e-commerce shopping cart will |
| website. Decide what single thing you want a visitor | | | | add complexity and cost to a business website. You |
| to do; place a phone call, leave an email address, buy | | | | should not pay a well-qualified professional web |
| a product or download additional information. Then | | | | designer more than $2K dollars for a complete |
| laser target your design around that goal, after you | | | | business website. Before you hire a designer, make |
| are finished, review your site and remove anything | | | | sure that can provide you with a thorough keyword |
| that does support that goal. | | | | research. If not hire someone to do the appropriate |
| 3. Simplicity - Do not overwhelm your visitors with | | | | keyword research first. |
| any unnecessary distractions. Simplicity is the hallmark | | | | |