Web surfers, or "users", make decisions about whether they will browse a page after very short periods of time -- often in as little as a few seconds. Regardless of how "HTML Enhanced" your site may be, your objective should be to keep your visitors at your site for as long as possible . . . and to inspire them to "bookmark" your page for future return visits. Many web sites fall short of this objective due to their lack of attention to the following six critical steps to building a first class web site:

• Set clear goals and objectives. Making the site "look good" is important. However, research shows that web site content is more important to users than looks. In fact, the most significant user response to color is found in the text links -- not the buttons, bar lines and banners.



• Assign webmaster tasks to as few people as possible. Assigning webmaster duties to different company divisions can result in a string of ambiguous and uncoordinated page links . . . and a frustrating experience for your site visitors.



• Build a site that meets your users needs. Many web sites simply mirror the corporate structure. A web site will generate superior returns if it focuses on the user's needs for obtaining information and conducting transactions . . . rather than providing a virtual mirror of the company organizational chart.



• Spend time on well crafted search engine registration. Over 80% of the search engine market is attributed to the top five sites. (Yahoo!, a publically traded company, is credited with over 30% of the entire market.) The majority of the remaining hundreds of search engines comprise of either: 1) specialty subject search engines; or 2) search sites that simply draw their data from the top five search engines! Further, the top five search engines all have unique registration parameters that you need to address if you want maximum exposure. Many web sites are 'best kept secrets" because of inadequate search engine registration.



• Avoid graphics-rich pages and applets. Research shows the average person will not wait more than 15 - 20 seconds for a site to upload. Many people won't wait more than a few seconds. High file size graphics and software "applets" downloaded and launched in real time are the main reason for slow site access. To achieve the highest possible repeat traffic, you are better off keeping these web page elements to a minimum. When it comes to internet download time, "less is more". Read more about how to create a fast loading web site!



• Conduct objective usability tests. The usability of a web site should be tested with the web site designers watching how the individual negotiates their way through the site. The designers' desire to "show and tell" misses a critical opportunity to see how the site serves the end-users needs . . . irrespective of the amount of time invested and/or the designers' technical ingenuity.

Creating web sites that satisfy these issues is fundamental to our service. We help you establish a clear plan with realistic short-, medium- and long-range goals and objectives. We help you set those objectives with realistic pro-forma budgets, strategies and measurement mechanisms based on what has been proven to work. Through our Total Web Marketing service, we then provide you with the technical and creative resources to get the job done at or under budget.

Take a moment to read more helpful Web Site Design Tips. As well, we would be happy to talk with personally about how you can build a profitable web presence for your business. Send us an e-mail for more information or call us now at 818.883.5601. Either way, we promise a timely response.