Planning Your Website

One of the biggest mistakes made before a new website even hits the web, is in the planning and content writing.

It's vital that when planning your website, that you identify who your site is targeted at.

Many businesses utilise terms and jargon that are very specific to their industry. If you are selling a specialist product or service to companies or individuals who may not be very knowledgeable about what you do or sell, its essential to ensure that your website does not baffle people with jargon they won't understand. Try to present your content in a simple to follow manner, while ensuring you don't patronise your potential customer.

If you do need to use jargon, always try to provide a very obvious link to a glossary, hyperlinking the first instance of such words to the glossary.

Also, think about what someone looking for information about your product may want to see. A common mistake is to publish pages and pages of technical information or data, which to web users is very offputting, as they simply will not read it. The key to a successful website is identifying key unique selling points, or features and benefits, along with a link that encourages the visitor to enquire further or contact you.

In short, keep it brief and to the point. If you must provide detailed information, make it downloadable in the form of a PDF. This way the user can download, print and read at their leisure offline.

An FAQ (frequently asked questions) section can be a helpful way to answer common questions asked by customers, but be careful not to include so much detail that it will enable your potential prospect to make the decision not to enquire further. Always leave them wanting to know more!

When you believe you have completed writing your content, why not get a few friends who may not be familiar with your business to proof read it. This is a particularly useful way to obtain feedback before the content is published.