Website basics include limiting the use of FLASH
11/16/09 11:41 AM Filed in: Internet
Trends
When it comes to consumer product or branded websites please remember that consumers usually don't like a site that takes too long to load. Here are some guidelines to ensure a great experience for your audience;
-Test and validate your site. This means that you test that every link is working and that it loads in under 5 seconds. Also test any forms you have to ensure that they work well.
-Do not use video on your site that automatically plays, consumers don't like that.
-Skip the FLASH if it doesn't load in under 3-5 seconds.
-Don't use a homepage for show. Have clearly identified calls to action on your homepage that are in line with your search engine marketing and consumer needs.
-Content is king but today that content needs to be more a more personal voice.
-Acknowledge that visitors to your website are probably going to your competitors sites.
-Contact information means eMail, phone as well as address.
-Don't use sound on your site. A lot of people surf the Internet at work and sound can be annoying in a cube city.
-When it comes to graphics show people using your product.
-Make the URL easy to get to and remember
-Segment your audience online. You CAN have more than one homepage with different calls to action for each segment and you should have different home pages by your keyword marketing.
-Optimize as you learn how your audience is using your site.
Stay away from the big agencies that constantly like to produce eye candy including FLASH. The creative people are creative but usually there is a huge disconnect between their recommendations and users needs.
