Tips for developing a successful site

Make your site easy to use

While it might be tempting to have a cutting edge website with all the bells and whistles - don't forget the basics. You will fail if the visitor can't navigate successfully through your site. Provide clear, easy to understand navigation tools on each page of your site.

Provide useful content

Don't just sell! These days, it's not enough to have a website that lists your products and providing shopping cart for purchases. If you want your visitors to return, you'll want to provide meaningful content. If you sell fashion items, your site could post articles about the latest fashion trends, reviews on fashion items or any other information that would give visitors a reason to want to return for more. A CPA's site could publish tax tips and offer links to IRS forms. A catering service could offer articles on how to host a successful party.

Encourage customer feedback via online forms and email

Ask your customers what they want. Did they find what they were looking for? How could your site be more useful or easier to use? Listen to your customers' frustrations and gripes. They'll tell you what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong.

Develop a Mailing List

Most consumers hate getting junk email, also called "spam". A far more appealing strategy is to develop a mailing list. Invite your customers to "opt in" to receive a newsletter or notices of specials running at your business. Make this information relevant and useful for your customer. Provide a "coupon" that will give them a discount on their next purchase. And, always give the recipient an easy means to "opt out" of receiving future emails.