Is your website alluring enough?
"Attract your visitors with a slick, well designed and effective website. Don't slap them in the face with a wet kipper."
There are millions of websites out there, all shouting to be heard and fighting to be top-of-the-heap. Each of them trying to push something in your face, even if it is only an idea, or a picture of their cat. So, why should you try to compete?
The fact that millions of websites already exist does not mean that you should stick your head in the sand and try to ignore it. Everyone can benefit from a website as long as it leaves a good impression on visitors.
Visitors are a promiscuous lot. They will only stay on your site for as long as it continues to please them. Once they have lost interest they will ditch you for another, more attractive and useful site. You only have a few seconds from the first click onto your home page to grab their attention and lure them into your domain.
Dress to Impress
Like an attractive, and scantily clad female (sorry to be sexist, but I am using analogies here), a good promotional website will get straight to the point and not try to hide anything. It will present just enough information to satisfy you that this is the site you have been looking for, and leave you gasping for more.
Ok, enough with the analogy, but you can see where I am going. Stuffing your home page with too much information will just give information overload, and your visitor will be lost, and probably gone forever.
Best Dressed Websites
A good website presents a clear opening message, making it obvious what they are selling. The visitor's eyes are focused on the message and not distracted by irritating pulsating icons or moving text. They are now assured that they have found what they were looking for, and the clear navigation provides a doorway to more information, presented in bite sized chunks. The site is clear, intuitive and informative. A joy to behold.
Bad Dressers
The worst websites are those that try to cram everything on their home page like dozens of salespeople shouting at a visitor all at once to listen to their pitch. This is confusing to the visitor as they try to focus on anything and everything. Too much too soon. The site is slow to load and slow to read.
