Articles: How to Avoid Common Small Business Web Design Mistakes (part 3)

Articles: How to Avoid Common Small Business Web Design Mistakes (part 3)

Date Added: 13/05/2013 @ 11:55am

Uh-OhIn part 1 and 2 we discussed taking your time, flashy elements, calls to action, paying too much or too little and the importance of staying up to date. In the third and final instalment of our 'How to Avoid Common Small Business Web Design Mistakes' article, we discuss targeting your customers and doing it yourself.

6. Don't target everyone

Who are your target users, who is most likely to be using your website? If you are aiming at a young market, why waste time and effort trying to also produce content for older people. After all, the way a young person uses (and even accesses) the Internet can be worlds apart.

So think about how your ideal customer will use your website and tailor it to suit them. If you struggle to think like your target customer, try to find someone else who might. Someone with the same goals, or experience of the Internet.

'But, I want to accept all groups of customer?', I hear you cry. Start with one target group and concentrate on them at first. Of course, you want to accept all business that comes your way, but as with the 'call to action' you can customise different pages to different users. Not everyone will access your website via your home page. You can create a "landing page" for different kinds of user - but get one working before moving on to another.

7. DIY

If you have some knowledge of web design or programming, you might be tempted to make your own website. While for some this is definitely the best option (and there are some good tutorials out there), it's not for everyone.

Do you have the experience and design skill needed to create a website that will content with your competitors? I've seen some really good 'home made' websites in my time, but I've also seen some really bad examples.

Remember that your website is effectively a shop window or a catalogue for customers and if they even think for a second that you may not be for real, they will simply leave. You may have as little as 5 second before the customer leaves - so first impressions are everything in web design.

Of course, you can always hire a developer to simply check over your website once you have completed it and to make suggestions as to how you can improve it - but in many cases it may be quicker and cheaper to simply hire a web developer in the first place.

Want to know more?

If you're considering setting up a website for your business or already have one, give us a call on 07817 851856 to discuss your needs. Alternatively if you'd just like more advice about anything raised in this article, you can email us at: info@doivedesigns.co.uk.

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