How Can A Website Benefit Your
Business

by:
Vignesh Rajendran
1. Why should
you have a website?
In order to succeed in today's world, you must have an Internet presence. More and more people log on to the
internet everyday; there are billions of users world-wide and there are several reasons why one needs a web site. A
website is a powerful first impression. Placing your business on the World Wide Web, gives your business the
potential for global exposure, no matter the size of your business – be it large or small; singular or
multi-national. To have your own website gives your business invaluable advantages, which is illustrated in the
answer to the next question, viz-a-viz:
2. How can a website be useful?
Website help you leverage web services for streamlining data transfer to and from your organization.
There are myriad reasons for - How a website can be useful and why you should bring your business online? Some of
them are, briefly, mentioned below:
a. Enhanced customer convenience
Your business concern can be more easily and quickly reached, every time a potential or an existing client searches
for relevant businesses, products and services over the Internet. Your customers can always keep in touch with you
and your business, just by knowing your web site address.
b. Greater reachability of your business profile:
Your business profile can be accessible from anywhere in the world. No other ad medium provides such global
coverage. You need not depend on phone book entry or restricted yellow pages and newspaper ad presentations, any
longer.
c. Greater possibilities for promoting your business portfolio:
People will not buy your products or services unless they know that they actually exist. You can tell your
potential audience much more through a WEBSITE, than you could possibly do via any print advertisements, Yellow
Pages listings, or TV/radio commercials. There are no limitations as far as space, time, nationality and residency
are concerned. You can say as many things as you want, to as many people as you wish. And your business
representation can be as resourceful as is the Internet itself.
d. Efficient low-cost advertising:
Your customers will always be able to obtain thorough up-to-date information about your services or products.
Instead of having to rely on randomly aired TV or radio commercials, they can simply browse through your website
whenever they like.
e. 24/7 availability:
Website is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It will be your hardest working
employee, never getting sick, or taking a holiday. And you can rest assured that your website is always there for
you – to answer your customers’ questions or to collect their feedback on your behalf.
f. Time-saving:
Prospective clients can learn about you and your business at any time of the day simply by visiting your website,
so you won’t have to be present or involved with the process in any way. Your precious time can be saved and
invested in other activities that can increase your profits and further enhance the scope of your business.
g. Cost -cutting:
You can save a lot of money cutting your costs on print ads, brochures, coupons, flyers, specials, newsletters or
mailings. What’s more! Its always quick easy and extremely efficient to update real time information on your
website; whereas regular renewals of printed materials turn out to be very expensive and time consuming. The fact
optimized productivity at minimal cost is more valued in any business and it is possible only through world wide
web.
Web services provide a standard way to implement a business function that can also be managed remotely. It employs
an effective exchange of information and data-feeds between B2B and B2C portals, information warehouses, news
providers, shopping portals like e bay and search engines like Google, MSN, yahoo etc.
Your website must work hard in today's competitive online environment — attracting visitors, providing a rich user
experience and converting them into loyal customers.
3. What makes a site work successfully?
Its a hotly debated question – “What makes a website work well that will genuinely help your business and attract
more customers?”
A well designed website can certainly lead to increased business. By following simple guide-lines, it is possible
to create a good-looking website that will really give your business the best chance of being noticed.
For your online presence to really count, your brand needs to exude credibility, confidence and efficiency through
your website. A well designed website can certainly leverage your business processes. One can achieve this by
blending strong design and content, with seamless functionality, and expert support throughout - with time tested
processes.
Web Designing is “a process of conceptualization, planning, modeling, and execution of electronic media delivery
via Internet in the form of Markup language suitable for interpretation by Web browser and display as Graphical
user interface” (ref- Wikipedia)
Web Design can have a powerful affect. Web Design is important and it must be right! The right design kindles in a
website visitor the right perception of your business. It engenders confidence and trust in your business. Success
online is vital to the overall strength of your business.
It’s essential that –
In an arena saturated with billions of web pages, it requires innovation and expertise, to represent your brand
effectively.
Your site must be easy to navigate and simple to use. If your users and potential customers can’t find what they
want, this will undermine your site’s performance, in relation to your business goals.
Your web site should, clearly and concisely, reflect your business, values and products, since your web site is now
the first point of contact for a new user or potential customer.
A good and innovative design ensures that the site is memorable and encourages the viewer to explore beyond the
home page.
The web functionality and programming should use only standard, compliant, valid coding and also provide an
alternative programming, to ensure that your site is viewable in any Browser and at any Screen Resolution.
Most Web design and development companies possess skills in one or the other – rarely both. This is where ImagiNET
Ventures web solutions differ, as we understand how to design a website that will most effectively present you,
your business or organization, with your products and services.
4. What are the common mistakes of a website?
Lets face it! If visitors get lost or become confused while attempting to surf your website, they might hit the
back button, and look for a more user- friendly website. People do not like to think, when it comes to finding
their way around websites. Don’t make them tick. You need to plan your website from stage to stage, and make a
difference between between a very poor website and a very good website.
Let us now see – what are the pitfalls inherent in designing and setting up a website? You may know some of them
already, but by avoiding and correcting them, you can be sure to keep constant flow of visitors entering and
re-entering into your portal! The list of most common errors is unending but invaluable for new designers, web
developers and content writers – who need a list for their website spot check.
1.Site best viewed:
New designers usually use this “site best viewed” with a disclaimer statement regarding which web browser or screen
resolution they designed their site, for best viewing. It does not impress the visitor. Instead, invest in
skilfully designed website that renders well in multiple browsers, and in any screen resolution.
2.Shabby lay-out and glaring design:
Some sites are totally unbalanced in their lay-out and overloaded design. The designs do not match the page content
and appears misplaced and misfit in the entire scene. Give your pages a pleasing appearance, with just the
necessary facts and place your design out-lay with a professional touch. Always take screen shots of designs in
different resolutions, before uploading the appropriate one.
3.Horizontal scrolling:
The horizontal scroll makes it extremely difficult to read the content on your site, and often your visitors will
lose patience and leave. Check your website in a site resolution viewer. A professional website can be viewed
without horizontal scrolling in, both, a smaller and larger screen resolution. User's find scrolling from the top
to the bottom of your pages, more clear to view and easy to read.
4.Free Web Hosting:
This is a common web page mistake you definitely need to avoid. Often business owners claim that the business is
"just starting”, and that is why they have not yet moved their site to a domain host. Do not use free web hosting
if you want your business to be taken seriously. It reflects on your image and credibility.
To resolve this issue, you must choose and purchase a domain name if you, already, do not have one. You also need
to choose a professional domain host. There is no getting around this one. If you want to run a successful online
business, you absolutely must have a reliable domain host.
5.Appalling Images
Don’t allow your visitor view badly shaped or terribly cropped images and missing graphics files. Optimize your
images, using the best height and width. Keep your files in the best formats - j peg for Photographs and gif for
artwork.
6.Blaring and ghastly color schemes:
Avoid using ghastly and loud colors that does not match your website concept and mission. Although your text may be
easy to read, overly-bright colors distracts and repels the reader away from your site's purpose. Your designs must
reflect class and designer quality, with state-of-the-art designs and pleasantly eye-catching color schemes for
your web pages.
7.Slow loading:
If your page does not download rapidly, visitors will quickly move on to find another site. Take action now to
reduce the "weight" of your pages . Each image on your site must be correctly sized and optimized for web use. Keep
your pages lean and fast for the visitor to move on quickly, with interest.
8.Spell check:
Always spell check the text , keeping it free of grammatical error, punctuations and spelling mistakes. Without
spell check, the site looks amateurish and shabby.
9.Ineffective Text Content:
A major mistake is to fill the pages with long text, without any headings and sub-headings. Do not cram your web
pages with loaded decorative words and hi-funda text. Readers do not have time to fill their heads with all
details.
Make your text more effective. Keep your text simple, crisp and to-the-point. Use decorative words in the right
context. Your language should spell clarity, consistency and coherence in content, style, structure and font. The
pages should be easy to read and simple to understand, with a smooth flow. The fonts should be rightly used, with
appropriate side-headings and the text need to be phrased in short paragraphs, giving a pleasing feel to the
reader.
Your website must provide a clear message with a goal-oriented direction, setting you apart from your competitors.
Your content should easily answer his question - “what's in it for me?” The reader must be able to identify with
your write-up and find you as his 'partner' for addressing his solutions.
10. Absence of an Email Subscription Form:
This critical aspect is often neglected by most website owners. It is very important to have a lead generation for
your website via Email subscription form, for optimal business returns. Having a mailing list gives you several
advantages like maintaining a visitors list who allow you to contact them, build a relationship, and establish
yourself as an expert for solving their problems.
11.Using a weak message 'join my newsletter':
Your content , design layout and solutions should be so user-friendly such that it compels the reader to subscribe
your mailing list. Do not use a weak message like – “join my free newsletter”. The reader would wonder “Why?” and
“If I subscribe, will you give me a bonus, or a free gift instantly, as soon as I join?” If your design and text
work impresses the reader for availing your services, you would automatically get email subscriptions for a
membership, from your visitors. It speaks on your credibility.
12.No Contact Information - Just giving your email id and the web address is not sufficient for your readers – who
may be prospective clients. Keep your detailed contact information easy to find and easy to read. Inclusion of a
site-map works wonders for your business.
13.Advertising – Advertisements provide huge revenue but it should be placed skilfully and with reference to the
current times. Appropriate advertisements should be placed - reflecting the different verticals of your business.
Do not overload your page with ads, especially the big flashy banners. Well placed, well designed ads are okay, if
you don’t overload the page.
14. Prices –. Don’t waste your time, hoping you will get email inquiries on your prices. The moment a visitor sees
your product or services, his prime question will be “what is the price of this item?” Do not keep the visitor
guessing the price; it will give him an opportunity to jump into another website where the price is mentioned and
you may end up losing a prospective customer. You need to include a price with the item description, if you sell
something.
15.Under Construction - Avoid having a “closed – under construction” or “yet to open” website. Give your visitors
atleast a single page of content, with a notice - when the whole site will be open.
16.Music: Include a soft and soothing music or that which is relevant to the content. Do not include music, if it
is not needed. Music should not be out-of-control and keep the control buttons easy-to-use. Music can turn one's
mind on but at the same time put your mood off, if it is not rightly timed, controlled and soft.
The list of common mistakes are innumerable. The above general tips gives you an idea of what to avoid and how to
resolve. By keeping your website design in good shape and ensuring your web content writing is in good taste, you
will find more people visiting and enjoying your website!
|