The Elements of an
Effective Website
Jerry Barnett
jerry@netshapers.com
(225) 293-6464
Why Have an Effective Website?
- Grab the attention of visitors
- Increase interest in our offerings
- Make more sales
- Close more referrals
- Reduce time-wasting calls
- Give the information people want
Elements of Effective Websites
Professional Look and Feel
- Make great first impressions
- People judge us on professionalism
- Advertising on Truck
- Sign Company
- Lawn Websites
Easy to Use
- Simple layout and navigation
- Make websites mobile friendly/responsive
- People leave hard-to-use websites
- Use a simple, familiar layout:
- Home Page
- About Us
- Services
- Testimonials, Resources, etc.
- Contact Us
Content that Builds Credibility
- Give people what they want within 3-5 seconds:
- Who we are
- What we do
- Who we serve
- How to get started
- Be brief and to the point
- Pictures speak 1000 words
- What do our customers need to see to trust us?
- Examples of our work
- Client List, Trust Bar
- Testimonials
Search Engine Optimization
- The Internet is the new phone book
- SEO helps people find your website when searching the internet
- Tells search engines what the website is about
- No such thing as #1 any more
- Use best practices, not SEO "tricks"
Strong Call to Action
- Get visitors to take action
- Contact forms
- "Call Now" button for mobile
- Map to your storefront
- Websites build interest, not make sales
Let's test our new skills!
What Else Can We Do?
- Print/Traditional Advertising
- Social Media
- Digital Advertising
- Custom Functionality
- Appointment booking software
- Event Calendar
- ADA Compliance
Do It Yourself or Hire a Professional?
If you are good at design, have the time to learn, and are ready to take on the responsibility for marketing your business, try it yourself!
Do It Yourself
- Wix
- Weebly
- GoDaddy
- Squarespace
If design is not your thing, you may want to hire a professional.
Hire a Professional
- Experience
- Portfolio
- Client List
- Local
Summary
Effective Website Checklist
Eye-Catching Design
Professional Website, Logo, etc.
Easy to Use
Simple Layout, Mobile Friendly
Engaging Content
Build Credibility with Services, Testimonials, etc.
Search Engine Optimization
Use Best Practices to Help Your Site Get Found
Strong Calls to Action
Phone Number, Contact Forms, Call Now Button
