tip of the month--improving your web site

web presence is as critical as a business card for establishing your credibility and visibility. but a website can also market your product or company, provide valuable information, and drive sales. is your website working for you? here’s how to find out.

  1 visit sites of other companies to find out what  you like and dislike: do some sites seem to "work" while others don't? 

  2 decide what objectives you want your site to meet: do you want it to be fun, funny, educational, trendy or all of those things? what customer behavior do you want to result, such as a phone call, e-mail, or other query? is your current site resulting in the desired behavior?

       3 consider your company image. does your site reflect this image?

4 hire a consulting firm to suggest a design or re-design of your site.

  5 get feedback from customers: customers are a great, and often-overlooked resource. if you have a site up, offer your favorite customers a reward for their feedback, and make it easy for them to submit their response online. this works better than a focus group because customers need time to click through and see what their natural behavior is with your site. they can report any awkward areas or flaws, as well as the outcome.

       adapted from score "counselors to america's small business."

networking opportunities Diversified Business Professionals, BNI tuesdays . 7:3o-9:oo am . old country buffet, coon rapids, mn  http://www.bni-mn.com . visitors welcome anytime. WBW, women Doing Business with Women 1st tuesday of the month . 5:15-7:oo pm . bellas, blaine, mn business women welcome