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By: Beth Cole, Fri May 4th, 2007
It's easier than ever to stake your claim on the web these days with plug-n-play templates or one click web wonders. Whether you do a website yourself, or work with an expert, steer clear of the following common mistakes.
---No white space. Avoid wall-to-wall text on your website. So many pages are laden with paragraphs and dripping with ads. Instead of all-text, use white space and clever graphics to give your reader a break, and to lead gently to the final destination (your offer).
---No focal point. Something has to be the boss, folks. Shallow as it is, I can tell you in about 5 seconds whether or not I want to do business with someone based on the look of their site. I know I'm not alone in this instinct. Make sure you have a focal point on your web page - something that reflects who you are and lends credence to your message. If you're writing a blog post, consider inserting a graphic in each entry. A picture says a thousand words.
---No call to action. Every page of your website is a potential gateway to your company. Since you never know which door someone may walk through, be sure to include a call to action on every page of your site. Examples are:
**Join our mailing list
**Request a free brochure
**Schedule your free consultation
**Call for a free demo
Don't send your visitors away empty-handed!
---No breadcrumbs. The web is an amalgamation of rabbit trails. It's easy to get lost. Be sure to help your reader by including easy to use site navigation at the top and bottom of your site and a 'you are here' breadcrumb trail i.e. Home> How we work> Success stories. We all feel more secure with a map, eh?
---No more me-me-me. Unless you want your mother as your only reader, don't write all about yourself. My favorite websites are those that speak directly to my problem, offer a perfect (quick and easy is good) solution, and send me on my way. It's okay to write about yourself, just not on every page. Keep it real and keep it focused on your reader.
I hope these ideas are helpful, thanks for reading.
For more free articles and ideas on web marketing visit my website at thewebservant.com/free.html.
Beth Cole owns The Web Servant, www.thewebservant.com, a web design company whose mission is to help creative women prosper online through personal branding, action planning, Signature(tm) websites, and the latest in promotional tools.