Secrets to Website Success

That old saying that you only have one chance to make a first impression is especially true when it comes to a website. With a website you have approximately 8 seconds in which to grab and hold your potential client’s attention. If you miss the mark, they’ll click away and likely will never return. Follow these tips, along with last week’s 10 cardinal rules for looking good in print and on the web, and you’ll skyrocket the likelihood of creating a top-notch first impression.

1. Never, ever underline. Underlining is instantly perceived as amateurish and will cause your website to be disregarded faster than almost any other goof. Website address and email addresses may be underlined – but nothing else.

2. Use short line lengths when creating web pages. Long lines of type that stretch from the left side of the screen all the way to the right side of the screen are almost impossible for the average reader to grasp and comprehend. When writing for the web, make sure your lines don’t cover more than approximately two thirds of the screen width – or even less.

3. Break up text. Use bullets and numbered paragraphs to break up the monotony of a page of plain type and to highlight and emphasize points. Numbered lists are used when priority matters, and bullets indicate that each point is of equal weight.

4. Leave animations to the kids. Don’t add cute and “clever” animations to your web pages. Animations district the viewer and make it virtually impossible for your potential customer to concentrate on your message.

5. Keep images small. Large images on web pages can take a long time to load and are an irritant to many viewers, especially those with dial-up access. The last thing you want to do is to alienate your customers.

6. Double-check all web page links. There is nothing more unprofessional than a link on a business website that goes nowhere. If your links go nowhere, it’s likely your sales will, too.

Want help growing your business through low cost, high impact Guerrilla Marketing tactics? Check out our Fast Track to Marketing Mastery program at
www.boostyourbottomline.com and sign up for a fr*ee Marketing Mastery Success Kit at www.boostyourbottomline.com.

© 2007 BoostYourBottomLine.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Certified Marketing Spitfires Holly George and Leslie Hamp are creators of the Fast Track to Marketing Mastery program. To learn more about the step-by-step program, and to sign up for their *FREE* Marketing Mastery Success Kit, visit www.boostyourbottomline.com