Ideate

The missing link in web development and design

by Mike Saunders on 03/02/10 at 9:00 am
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The internet is becoming one of the most competitive environments to market yourself in. Search engine optimisation has become mandatory in all web development projects and we now see the world turning to social media in the search for internet users. Now more than ever we need to differentiate ourselves online. We need to stand out and we need to be clear in our offering to our customers.

The missing link in most website is focus. Without focus we simply confuse our audience and alienate ourselves from their desicion making process.

Finding our focus online can be tough because we are afraid that if we don’t offer everything we may lose out on potential business. The truth is that if we offer everything we sell nothing. Focus enables clear communication and clear communication invokes action.

Here are three questions that are simple but effective in helping you to establish a focused online presence.

1) What are we doing on the internet?

Ask yourself this simple question:

” In six months from now, what will have changed in my business because of the impact of my website? “

It is important to be very clear about your objectives when taking your company online. Clarity on what you wish to achieve will provide a platform designed for success.

• Do you need more business leads?
• Are you selling products online?
• What are you offering the user of your website?

2) What should I look like online?

Once you know what you ambitions and dreams are with your online presence we need to consider what this will look like.

Design will help in branding and creating a professional image for your company. More importantly, we need to decide what the essential components of your website will be in order to achieve your goals.

A few examples of key components are:

• A user-friendly e-commerce system is essential if your want to increase product sales.
• Blog, forum and social networking platforms are necessary to create interactive communities.
• Database collection tools are important for expanding a client base.

3) How much weight should I lose?

This is one of the biggest mistakes companies make when building their online presence. They say too much!

A good sales person knows when to keep quiet and wait for the customers response. If you don’t need it to get the response you are looking for then leave it off the website. You need to be brutal here because these are hard decisions.

At the end of the day though you will benefit from a website that has a crisp, clean and clear message that is easy to understand and will achieve your goals.

Mike is the CEO of DigitLab, a digital marketing and social media agency, as well as Keynote Speaker and Social Media Coach at TomorrowToday. An internet strategy consultant by day, and blogger by night on www.mikesaunders.co.za, Mike is the guru on all things digital and provides training, presentations, and consulting on strategy, social media, social business, internet marketing, and the new world of work. View more articles by Mike Saunders.

Tags: business social media, mike saunders, Online social networking, social media, social media for business, Social Media optimization, website development

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