Most web sites are more like stage sets than real buildings; they make a good impression and they look substantial at first, but when you open a door, you end up back stage in
dark. They don't generate large numbers of leads, help build relationships with prospects or generate desired volume of sales.Is your web site helping you get attention for your business?
Does it prompt prospects to contact you?
Is it helping you build long-term relationships?
Does it generate volume of sales you want?
Building a web site that works should be more like building your dream home than constructing a stage set. You want to build a solid structure to support growth of your business, not a flashy facade. First, you'd talk with your partner about what kind of house you want and how it fits into your long-term plans. You'd discuss your budget and location, style and size of house, as well as functions of rooms and flow between them. When you were in agreement, you'd seek out an architect to help you plan your home.
The architect would consider your ideas and objectives, create a coherent plan to meet your objectives. You'd review these and then she'd produce drawings and blueprints to guide construction. You'd need a contractor to build your house, and contractor would hire specialists to complete job; carpenters, electricians, masons, roofers, etc. Once your home was completed, you'd need to maintain it; even a brand new house needs periodic attention.
Building or Renovating Your Dream Web Site Can you imagine building your dream home without careful planning, or a clear sense of how rooms would work together, or a blueprint?
Before you build your web site, did you define how it would function, how it would get attention, and how it would generate leads and build profitable relationships?
Did you have a web marketing blueprint?
A web designer is like your building contractor. They will assemble your web site, but they can't tell you what site is supposed to accomplish or how it fits into your overall marketing plan. Before you use a web designer you first need to understand what you want your site to do and how to structure it to convert prospects to clients.
Diane Varner, a successful web designer in El Granada, California, asks prospective clients a series of questions about their marketing before she starts work for them. She wants to find out what their overall marketing strategy is and how their web site fits into it. Her expertise is web design; if a prospect needs help defining their web-marketing plan, she refers them to me.
