What Kind Of Website Is Considered A Good Website?
Date: 15/03/2006
There are billions of websites on the Internet and the total number jumps up every second. How does your website stand out from the overly crowded pack? What makes your website a good one? This issue can be addressed from 3 broad aspects, namely Design, Content and Marketing
- Design: Same as we dress up everyday and present ourselves nicely to others, a website also needs to look good. I believe there is no argument on this point. Other than that, your website must be easy to navigate. Don't expect the visitors to big around for things that they need. It's not like a treasure hunt game, unless that's what your website is about. Ideally visitors only need 2, 3 clicks to find what they need. Otherwise, they are gone, like the wind.
Additionally, you need to strike a balance between text and media with your website. By media, I'm referring to pictures, animation, audio and video. Under most circumstances, visitors do not come to your website just to enjoy the media. For that purpose, they could have easily tuned in to their favourite radio station, switch on the TV, whip out their iPod or grab a copy of the latest fashion magazine. Remember, those media stuff are only decorations. Use them wisely.
When Flash was first introduced, a lot of people rushed to revamp their websites and squeeze in a Flash introduction, a Flash banner and some Flash buttons. Some went to the extremes and developed the whole website using Flash. End of the day, they indeed got what they wanted, a website that is flashy. Visitors to such websites can easily get distracted and confused. Also, bear in mind that not everyone has the luxury of surfing the Internet over a broadband connection.
Unless your website promises a guaranteed million-dollar opportunity, do not expect them to wait 30 seconds for your website to load. So, when you design your website, make sure it's user friendly. bearIf you want your website to attract genuine visitors, think clearly what the purpose of the website is and design it with that purpose in mind.
- Content: Visitors like fresh content. They are at your website because there is something not available elsewhere. However, if your website's content is ripped off from other websites, sooner or later they will find out. When they do, your website is immediately off their list and becomes the river of no return. Other than its freshness, your website's content also need to be updated regularly. If every time they visit, only to see the same old stuff, they'll simply stop coming back.
What kinds of content can be updated regularly? Well, there are a few. It could be your latest offers and promotions, your company's news, new development in your market sector, or, like what we are doing now, articles for the visitors' benefits.
- Marketing: Just like when you launch a product, you tell potetial customers about it, make it known. You need to do the same thing with your website. For more details on this aspect, you can refer to the previous article on "How to make your website known?"
To summarize, a good website is user-friendly in design, full of fresh content and updated regularly and coupled with a consistent marketing plan.
