"The real power of the internet is in its ability to market directly to individuals, by giving them the information that they need, when they need it. The websites that achieve this will grow exponentially while the sites that don’t will ultimately fail to those who do."

Just because your website isn't working doesn't necessarily mean you need a new one.  Let's face it, you already bought a website and some of the elements are okay.  Sometimes, it is possible to improve your website's performance without having to start over.

In some cases, we can give you a website makeover without starting from scratch.  A Website Redesign can dramatically improve your site's performance, deliver the results you expect in less time, for less money and with less hassle. 

If you are considering a Website Redesign you might ask yourself (or an objective customer) the following questions.

1. Does Your Website Look Professional?

Is the information current? Is the quality of your graphics and photographs professional and optimized for the internet? Compare your website to that of your competitors.

2. Is Your Website Growing and Improving Your Business?

You may be using your site as a brochure to show existing customers, but are new potential buyers finding your website when they are searching for products and services such as yours?

3. Is Your Website in Front of New Customers When They are Looking for Your Products or Services?

If you do a relevant search, for the product or service you sell, where is your company listed? Is it on the first page of search engine results? Is it in the first three pages? If not, you are losing business. Studies have shown that search engine users rarely look past the first three pages of search engine results before moving on to a new search.

4. Does Your Website Speak to Your Customers' Needs?

Think about all the questions your customers ask you before they decide to buy. Think about all of their concerns.  Do you answer those questions in your website? Do you address those concerns? If you don't, you are losing potential customers.

5. Is Your Website Easy to Use?

Consider the flow of information in your website. Is it easily navigated by a site user? Does it deliver relevance with every link? If you are using custom applications in your website, do they function correctly? Are they easily used by all visitors, regardless of connectivity speed or processor speed? If you've answered "no" to any of these questions, your website is losing potential customers. 

6. Does Your Website Convert Visitors?

Do you know the percentage of people that visit your site compared to the number that visit and take a desired action?  (Call you, email you, download something, etc.) You should.

7. Does Your Website Allow You to Stay in Contact with Prospects and Existing Customers?

Are you collecting information about the people that visit your site?  They need you.  Otherwise they wouldn't have found you.  It is important to keep in contact. If you are not collecting information on your visitors, specifically their email addresses, phone numbers and names, than how are you going to follow up with them to discuss ways in which you can assist them?

At SYNERGe-marketing we will help you evaluate your current website to determine whether you would be best served with a website upgrade, adjustment or a website Re-Design.  Some of the elements we consider: 

The Clarity of Your Overall Message:

• Is your site delivering your message in an appealing, professional format? Are your website graphics and images optimized and theme appropriate? Is your information current and up-to-date?
• Do visitors immediately understand who you are and what you do when they enter your site?
  • You have less then a few seconds to make a first impression
  • You are potentially one click away from a sale or new client
  • You are one click away from someone leaving your site and going to your competitors.
• Is it clear what you are offering?
  • What is your "Unique Selling Proposition" and is it a focus of your site.
  • What sets you apart from the competition?

Market Segments

Segment Your Products and Services
Segment Your Customers By Need

The main purpose of your home page should be to identify and categorize your prospects and funnel them through the section of the website that has information which is most relevant to them.  We create a "Customer Profile" for each type of visitor and provide them with "information on demand."  The easier they can access the information they need to make a decision, the more likely they are to consider your company and make a purchase.

How Well Does Your Site Convert?  Do You Know?

Does your site make it easy to decide and take action? Does your site follow the "Customer Profile" to "Sales Conversion" path? Your site's conversion rate is the number of people that visit divided by the number of people that take a desired action (call you, make a purchase, email you, download info, etc)

Internet Marketing

We'll look at whether your site has been designed to be found in Search Engines and Directories.  We'll also consider marketing your site on paid Search Engine listings if it's right for you.  No matter how good your site looks and works, if people can't find it, it is not making your business any money.

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Top 10  WAYS TO IMPROVE A WEBSITE DESIGN

1. Balance your page

When users enter a website, their focus first starts at the top left of the page, and hovers there before slowly tracking to the right. Contrary to what many think, the web user is focused more on the text of the page, than on images or graphics. This is where balance comes into place.

2. Keep it simple

Less is more. Clean your website up by removing all the unnecessary visual elements. This will allow important items to stand out. Leave some white space on the page. The illusion of space is visually pleasing, as well as easier to navigate. Otherwise, your visitor will get whiplash by darting their head from left to right in an attempt to look at all the information crammed on your screen. Or worse, they'll clíck on out of there in a hurry.

3. Fix your fonts

The size and type of font you select will have an effect on how your reader takes in your information. What font should you use? San-serif fonts such as Arial and Verdana are popular choices for on-screen reading. And keep the size in mind too. The font size should be no smaller than 10 points and no largër than 14 points. You don't want the reader to be able to read the information from across the room, but you don't want them squinting and leaning closer to the monitor either.

4. Clean backgrounds

Go subtle. The background textures and colors you choose have the ability to gauge the overall appeal of the website. Lots of texture and graphics in the background can be distracting, and the more texture you add to the background, the less noticeable your text and images become.

If you're going to use a color on the background, make sure there is a significant contrast between the background color and the text. Strike a good balance, or you may compromise the readability of the text. Make good choices. You will rarely go wrong with black text on a white background. It's crisp, clean, and easy to read. Be cautious when using darker and brighter colors such as red or yellow. They cause visual fatigue and the reader will löse their focus on the text.

5. Graphics

Graphics are often overused on web pages. We often clutter the pages with objects that look cool but serve no purpose Here are some instances where you can use graphics to enhance your pages:

• Logo – Your logo is your brand recognition and it adds visual appeal to your web pages.
• Title bars – The title bar lets your visitors know which page they are on.
• Horizontal rules – Graphic lines are often used to separate categories or sections of a webpage.
• Background images – Are used to add visual appeal or make a web site easier to navigate.
• Photos – Personalize a website and make it inviting.
• Navigation icons, such as `home' and 'back' enhance a page because they are familiar and users anticipate seeing them.

6. Easy navigation

Create a toolbar with links that are easy to navigate. Position the toolbar in an area that makes sense. Web users often look for the toolbar across the top or down the left hand side of the page. Going with the norm will create a sense of familiarity and facilitate the ease of navigation. And don't forget a link to your homepage. It's often forgotten but very important to point your users to your home page. Chëck out www.pocruises.com  for an example of easy and well structured website navigation.

7. Text readability

You have great copy, but are you displaying it effectively? Make your pages easy to read. Break up blocks of text and create short paragraphs.

• Consider the key points on each page and create headings and subheadings.
• Only use one or two fonts. Select one font for your headings and subheadings and another for the body text.
• Highlight key words and phrases by bolding or using a different color. Be careful when selecting colors, and don't use every color in the rainbow. Many, such as yellow and pink, don't stand out well if you've selected a white or black background.

8. Scrolling

Horizontal scrolling? Yikes. That needs to go, now! Users hate, hate, hate to scroll left to right. It's disorienting and annoying, so if you've got it, lose it. Vertical scrolling is ok if you have to have it, but consider moving larger blocks of information to another page and providing links. There's also the danger of missing vital information that falls below the screen if a user decides not to scroll down to view it. So if you've got to have a scrolling page, try to keep all your important information above the fold.

9. Make it quick

We all get impatient when it takes more than 5 seconds to connect to a website. Users want to make contact, and make it quick. Ensure that your pages load as quickly as possible. Eliminate unnecessary graphics, especially flash graphics...they can be time hogs. You need to make an immediate impression, and the only impression you're leaving as your page slowly grinds in to view is "this page sucks"...if they're still there to see it at all.

10. Don’t Make Them Think

Don’t Make Them Think … Make Them React

Viewers in general have come to a site because of an issue weather it be a product, information they have a need. The trick is to help guide to the area of interest as fast as possible