| Web site design has been around now for almost two | | | | every page. For reasons unknown, many web |
| decades. While of course the designs themselves | | | | developers skip this important step every time. It is to |
| have gotten a lot more sophisticated-looking over time, | | | | their detriment. |
| what is even more significant in terms of advances in | | | | 2. Optimize each page of site for a different target |
| web site design that of our collective knowledge about | | | | keyword: |
| how people behave on web sites. This body of | | | | Each page of your site should be content-optimized |
| knowledge - which we could call the psychology of | | | | for at least one target keyword. Of course, this |
| the Internet - is growing every day. | | | | keyword might be the so-called long tail keyword |
| These days, we have software that can track actions | | | | consisting of multiple words. Whenever keywords you |
| on a given web page, down to the eye movements of | | | | choose for each page of your site, that keyword |
| visitors. We also know a lot more than we ever did | | | | should be very well-represented on the page. |
| about how to get people on a web page to do will we | | | | 3. Make sure the meta title matches each page's |
| want them to do. Does this sound manipulative? | | | | target keyword: |
| Maybe so. But, it is no more manipulative than a | | | | Another optimization related-tip: make sure that the |
| department store placing mannequins in a window or a | | | | meta title tag on each page is specifically optimized for |
| hotel leaving a mint on your pillow before bedtime. | | | | that same keyword. |
| They do this to garner your business. | | | | 4. Make it clear to visitors what they should do: |
| At the end of the day, we build websites because we | | | | Okay, so now we've gotten someone to your site and |
| want our visitors to do something when they get there. | | | | they know what you do. What's next? You need to |
| And the more of them, the better. Nowadays, good | | | | immediately get them moving toward your ultimate |
| web site design is not just about using a cool widget or | | | | objective. If that objective is to sell them something, |
| a neat Flash presentation. Rather, is about the | | | | then of course direct them to your sales page. If on |
| psychology of buying. | | | | the other hand your objective is to get them to |
| And at another level of analysis, good site design must | | | | download your latest white paper, direct them there. |
| also take into account the world of search engines. | | | | This may sound obvious, but countless websites are |
| That is: your website needs to be designed in such a | | | | so cluttered with buttons and links that it is almost |
| way that it can be found by someone who is | | | | impossible for a visitor to tell where they should go |
| searching for whatever product, service, or information | | | | next. This will kill your sales. |
| that you provide there. | | | | 5. Minimize number of steps from landing to sale: |
| If you are looking for Internet marketing web site | | | | Finally, think of every step and action that a site visitor |
| design tips, here are 5 tips for designing a site that | | | | takes from the moment they land on your home page |
| makes you more money: | | | | to the moment they taking that desired action (such as |
| 1. Clearly label your site: | | | | making a purchase) as a link in a chain. The longer the |
| The first rule of good design is this: make sure that | | | | chain, the better the chance they believe your site |
| you make it abundantly clear to your site's first-time | | | | without ever taking that action. Keep the chain - the |
| visitors what your site is about and to whom it is | | | | number of steps - as short as possible. |
| targeted. The simplest way to do this is to place a | | | | Follow these 5 tips for designing a web site that |
| clear label or description of your site across the top of | | | | makes you more money. |