Web can make or break business
Web can make or break business
You know what she said? She said a great Web site "really has its act together." She's so right, but what she really meant was that the company itself has its act together because it has what sales guru Jeffery Gitomer calls "21st Century awareness."
That type of awareness means that the company is so aware of the power and reach of the Internet to highly special markets -- huge markets -- and also linking communities around our planet -- that it hired an experienced Web professional to develop its Web site.
The company knows that its Web site is as important as its mandate. Potential customers and future employees check out your Web site before they decide to call you. Customers certainly research your Web site before deciding whether or not to buy from you. If your Web site is still hanging out in 20th century garb and functioning like a 1970s appliance (clunky and green), it's time for a redesign.
And while you're at it, fix the usability factor and make it easier to navigate. Go all the way and put some strategy behind it so you can be sure to get the results you're after. Your Web site is that important to your overall success in business and in life. When your Web site operates as smoothly as your company, more people respect you and want to do business with you.
Imagine if your customers walked into your store or office and were greeted with amateurish decor, broken doors and windows that lead to nowhere and confusing layout of rooms. You wouldn't gain many customers with that type of environment. So, why does your Web site look and function that way? People should like your design and even be comforted by it, like a sigh of relief ("Ah. This company knows what it's doing."); usability should be easy enough for a 10-year-old to figure out; page elements should lean on the visual side, vs. text-heavy; and your site should be easy to find in Google -- somewhere near the top of the natural search results. Now that's a 21st century Web site.
Here's a checklist you can use to test whether your Web site is not "with it."
* Broken links
* Confusing or overwhelming number of choices in navigation menu
* Too much text
* Slow download
* Poor or amateurish design
* Too many page elements (where do I click first?)
* Amateurish photography and/or no diversity of people
* Lack of "gotta-have-this" features to click with certain market segments
* Just plain cheesy
When you purge those items from your Web site, you automatically increase your "21st-century awareness" factor. But remember that one of the most important things about your Web site is this:
When you show up in the top three natural search results (not ads), people perceive of you as a leader in your industry. You must know what you're doing if you're at the top of the list in Google---wouldn't you agree?
Web can make or break business - To learn more about this author, visit Lori Gama's Website.
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My friend, Ana, was telling me about the types of Web sites she likes to visit. They're usually great-looking Web sites that are easy to use and make her want to buy products every time she visits. "What's so great about these sites?" I asked, bracing myself for a vague answer, like "Oh, I don't know ... they're just ... nice".
You know what she said? She said a great Web site "really has its act together." She's so right, but what she really meant was that the company itself has its act together because it has what sales guru Jeffery Gitomer calls "21st Century awareness."
That type of awareness means that the company is so aware of the power and reach of the Internet to highly special markets -- huge markets -- and also linking communities around our planet -- that it hired an experienced Web professional to develop its Web site.
The company knows that its Web site is as important as its mandate. Potential customers and future employees check out your Web site before they decide to call you. Customers certainly research your Web site before deciding whether or not to buy from you. If your Web site is still hanging out in 20th century garb and functioning like a 1970s appliance (clunky and green), it's time for a redesign.
And while you're at it, fix the usability factor and make it easier to navigate. Go all the way and put some strategy behind it so you can be sure to get the results you're after. Your Web site is that important to your overall success in business and in life. When your Web site operates as smoothly as your company, more people respect you and want to do business with you.
Imagine if your customers walked into your store or office and were greeted with amateurish decor, broken doors and windows that lead to nowhere and confusing layout of rooms. You wouldn't gain many customers with that type of environment. So, why does your Web site look and function that way? People should like your design and even be comforted by it, like a sigh of relief ("Ah. This company knows what it's doing."); usability should be easy enough for a 10-year-old to figure out; page elements should lean on the visual side, vs. text-heavy; and your site should be easy to find in Google -- somewhere near the top of the natural search results. Now that's a 21st century Web site.
Here's a checklist you can use to test whether your Web site is not "with it."
* Broken links
* Confusing or overwhelming number of choices in navigation menu
* Too much text
* Slow download
* Poor or amateurish design
* Too many page elements (where do I click first?)
* Amateurish photography and/or no diversity of people
* Lack of "gotta-have-this" features to click with certain market segments
* Just plain cheesy
When you purge those items from your Web site, you automatically increase your "21st-century awareness" factor. But remember that one of the most important things about your Web site is this:
When you show up in the top three natural search results (not ads), people perceive of you as a leader in your industry. You must know what you're doing if you're at the top of the list in Google---wouldn't you agree?
Web can make or break business - To learn more about this author, visit Lori Gama's Website.
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George LudwigGeorge Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website |
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Kim CastleWith nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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