According to a study by Forrester Research, the top 3 things visitors look for in websites are:
High-quality information -- content is the biggest influence on a visitor's decision to return to a Website.
Ease of use -- the site architecture should be simple and intuitive.
Quick to download -- users don't tolerate lag time. They get frustrated if they have to wait more than a second for a page to download, and abandon it after 5 seconds.
Source: Internet Marketing Report, 11/15/06, p. 7
Whether you're building your first site or you already have one up and running, these points are worth keeping in mind.
Always remember that visitors are coming to your website because they want information. And they want to be able to find it without a lot of time and effort. In today's world, nearly everyone is 'stressed for time' so it's imperative that you design your website with this in mind.
It's unfortunate that many website owners place more attention on traffic generation than they do on the quality of their website. Although there's no arguing that a high ranking in search engine results has a direct bearing on the number of visitors you receive, consider this -- you may be getting the 'numbers,' but if you don't have a website that meets the above criteria, you're probably not going to get the sales.
Keep your pages clean and clear of unnecessary clutter (e.g., too many Google ads), ensure your navigation is easy to understand, and stay away from the elements that slow down load time. Do this and it's a 'given' you'll enjoy more sales.
Nan Yielding has nearly 10 years experience as an online business owner. She is the owner of Writing-Etc.com and offers internet marketing services and assistance to help website owners attract more customers and increase sales.
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