Deciding How to Improve my WebsiteHaving a website is not enough. It has to be an effective website! Your website must perform its job, or it’s not a tool at all, but a relic.

Does your website…

  • present your company clearly?
  • make it easy for visitors to find answers?
  • suggest the next step for visitors?
  • make it easy to be found with searches?
  • offer interesting and informative product articles?
  • offer deals and insider information via your social media?
  • achieve the goals you set for it?

 

What’s the verdict on your website? Not so hot? How do you fix it?

You don’t need a one-size-fits-all solution because you know your business is different from others – really, every business is different. What you need is a guidebook, a plan, with points to be evaluated, revised, and re-evaluated – by you, if possible, right?

 

Website Improvent Plan - 4 part listFREE download: 10-Step Website DIY Eval Form

 

Here’s the “4-part Website Improvement Plan” I use for each website I improve. I’ve always used this plan; it has changed over the years, adapting to the best way to accomplish each part. I’ve even made the parts separate so that we can do one part while leaving the other parts of the website alone. Let’s see what this Plan is all about.  –>Be sure to check out each of the parts’ tabs.

 

DESIGN: Logo, Navigation, Organization

Start with the overall Design. You know about first impressions. What are your web visitors seeing and finding on this first page? Are you clear about who you are and what you do? I mean, really clear? (Sometimes another person will be able to judge this better than you will.)
What to look for:

  • Clear logo with tag line to describe your business’s focus.
  • Easy-to-find answer locations in navigation buttons and “next-step” directions.
  • Logical organization of products and information with consistent navigation buttons throughout the site.
  • Able to update and add events, sales, new product information yourself via CMS (content management system) software like WordPress.

My Website Eval will take you through this evaluation process in more detail.

Next click the Message Tab or Let’s get Started

MESSAGE: Your Story and Special Offers

Your most important content message is to answer your prospects’ questions. If he finds what he came to learn, you have made a fan. This visitor doesn’t care what you call your widget or your service; he wants to know it will solve his problem. Then, he wants to know who you are, if you are trustworthy.
What to look for:

  • Description of your products or services in terms of how they solve your prospects’ problems.
  • The story of who you are and your company development, along with the key people who run your company
  • Stories from your customers about their experiences with your company and your products or services.
  • Offers of free samples, tips on using your products or services, special package deals.

My Website Eval will take you through this evaluation process in more detail.

Next: Click on the SEARCH Tab or
Let’s get Started

SEARCH: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Traffic Generation

The keywords found throughout the text of your website need to be exactly right for what you’re selling and who your customer is. With the use of various keyword tools, such as Google Analytics and Google AdWords Keyword Tool, you can discover what these important words and phrases need to be.
What is needed:

  • You have a list of keywords and phrases prospects are using to find websites such as yours.
  • The website uses these keywords in page titles, headlines, and content with specific keywords for specific pages.
  • The website has descriptive text on numerous pages to give search engines more opportunities to find the site. A blog is a plus.

My Website Eval will take you through this evaluation process in more detail.

Next: Click on SHARE Tab or Let’s get Started

SHARE: Blog and other Social Media

Cruising along with the same old website, updating every few months or years means you probably don’t have a blog, and maybe no social media either. If you do, check the points below to see if you have it right. If you don’t, it’s time. The web thrives on new content and blogs are best if posted at least every two weeks. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and others encourage new information even more often. Expect higher ratings in Google when your social media is active.
Let’s see what you have:

  • A blog answering questions and giving tips your prospects want to know.
  • Blog posts published at least every 2 weeks.
  • Blog comments are encouraged and you respond to these comments.
  • Facebook page also offering tips, testimonials, plus deals or free samples. Updated Regularly.
  • Twitter account posting (at least) daily comments on posts and adding tips, comments of the day.
  • LinkedIn, Google+ and other social media accounts if tended to regularly.
  • Person in charge of this part of your website presence.

My Website Eval will take you through this evaluation process in more detail.

So what’s next? See below or click here: Let’s get Started


What to do with all this web improvement information?

You’ve looked over your website to try to determine if it’s salvageable. Your list of fixes might be long or short, one you’re ready to tackle yourself, or one you’re going to need Erickson Creative to help you with. I have several options for you and your web improvement list.

Ladder to Success

I do each part – DESIGN, MESSAGE, SEARCH, SHARE – one by one until we get it right. This can be an activity we do gradually or one right after another. You may also do just one or two. It still works; you’ll have better success with all four. The choice and the schedule are yours to make.

Design: $195 • Message: $99 • Search: $195 • Share: $99.

Let’s get Started

Start to Finish

I do the whole website – all parts, as quickly as we can get it accomplished. The changes will require your input, making your available time one of the determining factors on the time schedule.

The complete package, bundled deal: $549

Let’s get Started

Tips for DIY

You really want to do this yourself, but are afraid to “mess it up.” I do a complete evaluation then give you directions, tips, and learning sources in order to do it yourself.

Evaluation and your Custom DIY Guide: $99

Let’s get Started

Don’t overlook a very important step in all of this: What is the goal of the website? You know it’s an important tool for your business. Be specific about what you need from this tool. Let’s nail down the goals and the changes and get to work.

 

To contact me, use our Contact form or call, use the website’s Online Chat on the bottom right, use my Twitter or Facebook account messaging, but let’s get started so your new website can collect some new customers.

 

Sally Erickson is always quick to grasp what we need and get it done. We can count on her to make our ideas and changes work every time.

Tina Billings, Twinkle Glitter Products  - http://www.twinkleglitter.com

Sally & Gene: THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERT ADVICE! I truly appreciate your wonderful assistance, and I appreciate Gene’s help, too! What would I do without you two?

Leah Davies, Kelly Bear Press  - http://www.kellybear.com

Sally and Gene are indispensable behind-the-scenes players, creating all our technology solutions (and troubleshooting) and our graphic design “face.”

Greg & Jane Custer, Destination Ventures
 - http://www.magicofmexico.com