Web Site Success
What’s Happening with Yours?
People spend a lot of time, effort and money creating a website. You are nobody without one these days. Everyone that creates (or pays to have created) a website or Blog hopes for three (at least) things:
1.) People will find it.
2.) They will respond to it.
3.) They will return to it.
As I write this post I am reminded of something that Spencer Johnson, author of Who Moved My Cheese and many other great books taught me while I was writing Success Made Easy. He said, “You need to write what the reader wants to read, not what the writer wants to write.” He admonished me to, “Talk to the reader, not myself.” I mention this because what I am about to write is aimed at myself as much (or more) as it is to those reading it. I am not an authority on website success, and am explaining why I use the word, “You” as compared to, “We” and “Us” in this posting.
If you have a website (or Blog) and are not getting the results you want, ask yourself some questions about it.
“Is it compelling?”
“Is it too glitzy?”
“Is it too complicated?”
“Does it say who you are?”
“Does it say what you do?”
“Does it say what the reader will get from it?”
“Could it have become stale?”
“What do you do to keep it fresh?”
“What do you do to measure its success or failure?”
I wish that I had the answers to all of those questions about my own web site as well as this Blog. I am not writing this as the guy with the answers, but know that when we ask ourselves questions we get answers. Maybe there’s a pro out there somewhere that can shed some light on this subject for us all.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Aloha Ron,
I believe your “questions” are part of the equation that helps to gauge results, but to summarize it in one question is: “what need does the site fulfill?” It isn’t just about having a website because it is the thing to do. In the least (as far as business goes) it would be equivalent to having your phone number in the phone book. It should also be a good representation of your organization as well, so as you would dress for a professional meeting, dress your site appropriately. Understanding your customers (audience, client, whatever you want to call them), what they expect from you and what they need are important things to have in mind when you “dress” your site. Pretty common sense, but take a look at many websites out there… doesn’t always do the company justice. I wouldn’t go into a business convention with shorts and a t-shirt… unless maybe it was a surf convention.
All this goes along the lines of “writing what the reader wants to read.” Then again it is your blog and your insight and could be just done as an outlet for your thoughts. There is really no right or wrong way of building a website. What works for one site may not work for another. Utilizing technology is a constant learning and creative (and innovative) process. Though there are some good practices… you also don’t want to build the technological Taj Mahal of websites and have no one visit it.
Anyway, I could go on forever on this topic… but in a nutshell… it really comes down to who you want your site to serve, knowing what to serve and serving it well. That is why webpages are uploaded to servers!
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:59 am
I am not a pro however: R2A2. They Recognize, Relate, Assimilate and Apply!
Websites can inform, inspire, motivate, or just be a creative outlet. By having a website available: It can describe who you are, what you like and hopefully continue to express to others something of value. For my generation, it is keeping up with the times. It makes “me” learn how to recognize different ways of looking at things, other websites force me to get better at designing and blogging, it keeps me goal oriented and it is fun. By linking different sites, it connects you with others, sometimes I just go on bobthecameranman, for the music and his photos to relax.Besides “if they can do it, I can do it.” Like anything when you start and where you finish are two different places….Char….
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I’m reminded of what the great Zig Ziglar said… “if you give enough people what they want… you will get what you want”… simple, yet profound
February 10th, 2009 at 2:58 am
maui jeff….dude Ziglar said “if you help enough people get what they want, then you can’t help but get what you want….”
interesting he is quoted as saying helping people GET…instead of “giving enough people what they want.”
Truly, both are about SERVING DA PEOPLES!
There was an 85% sellout in the Blaisdell arena today where Mr. Zig spoke.
All of Hawaii’s sales people it seems where there…so who’s selling today?
I’m selling tomorrow….
and the next day…
and the next
and the
and…..
zzzzz