Most businesses today recognize that they need a website as part of their overall marketing strategy. But what they may not realize is how much impact, good or bad, their website potential customers.
According to a study conducted by Stanford University in 2003, 75% of web users admitted making judgments about the credibility of a business or organization based solely on the design of its website.
LIke it or not, the company website is often the first line of contact for people wanting to find out more about you and your organization. This is the first place you will have to make an impression. Naturally, you want it to be a good one.
A clean, well organized, thought out website can go a long way in persuading customers, yet it is often the last thing considered when trying to increase sales. That’s because many businesses don’t think of their website in the same way as their sales force or other traditional media, like print and tv ads.
The fact is that the Internet is not only the most cost effective way that a business can advertise, it has the potential to reach a much larger audience. This is due in part to the globalization of the economy. The Internet has given us a lot more options, and in turn has opened up a wide range of new possibilities for corporations.
A professionally designed website that reinforces your brand is much more effective, than a sloppily put together site that doesn’t say much to your customers.
Long time, loyal customers may forgive you, however, new customers may not. The harsh fact is that a sloppily put together site, screams unprofessionalism, and tells potential customers that you just don’t care about your brand. And if you don’t care, why should they.
Internet users do not have the patience to navigate through a poorly designed site. If it doesn’t work they way they think it should it will probably mean the loss of a sale.
So, what’s the point in spending lots of time and money to get traffic to your site, if you don’t get a sale out of it? After all, that’s what you want, sales!
You need to treat your website with the same measure of care that you treat your sales staff, and realize that both are equally important in today’s economy.
Once you realize that your website is an important extension of your brand, you will begin to develop ways to make it more customer friendly, and your new customers will thank you.
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