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Web PAGE Design (Not Web SITE Design)
Chris Jaeger
The thought and effort you put into the PAGES at your website, which collectively create your web SITE, are very important. Here are a handful of things to consider when developing your pages. Content
The information on each of your web site pages is very important. First, it's what a bride came looking for. If you don't provide what brides are looking for at your website, guess what? They leave. Secondly, the words and how you use those words on your page play a critical role in how well your website is ranked by Google, Yahoo!, and MSN. Content is very important. Content is King. Clear Message This is similar to content but more specifically involves the message you are trying to deliver to the brides who find your website. Your marketing message needs to be crystal clear. There can be no doubts and you can't present it in a way that makes your visitors have to figure it out. This is one of the problems I have with FLASH. There's so much going on on a bride's screen... she doesn't get the MESSAGE. What consitutes a clear message? What do you do? What makes you different? What have you done for others? What have you done for others LATELY? Why should a bride choose you? If you don't answer these questions quickly, in most cases on your home page, you're going to have a conversion problem and lose sales. Correct Keywords
Keywords are the specific words and phrases brides are using at search engines to find local wedding services or wedding related products. If these words don't appear on your web pages brides won't find your website - it's that simple. It pays off big when you take the time to carefully develop your keywords/phrases and then effectively integrate them into your content and clear message. Side note: There is MUCH MORE to getting good search engine rank and position than keywords, but without the right keywords/phrases you have NO CHANCE of top rank and position at Google, Yahoo!, or MSN. Call-To-Action Make it easy for brides to find your contact option. Even better, don't make them have to click something to get to it. Still, even BETTER, provide brides with a compelling offer and a call-to-action. In sales it's generally agreed that the best sales people are the ones who ASK the buyer to buy. The same principle can be applied at your website. A button at the bottom of your pages that says "Tell Us About Your Wedding" or "Free Engagement Photo" can easily increase your inquiries 30% or more. I've seen it work first hand. Contact Option Again, don't make brides look for your contact option and give the brides who visit your website multiple paths to your contact option (navigation, buttons, in-text links). Some people are using the Internet like the phone book. Be sure your phone number is on the top of all of your web pages. With broadband and DSL, it's not unlikely a bride will be online, visiting your page, and want to talk with you, and can, at the same time.
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