Articles
11 May 2009: Standing out from the competition...
One of the great things about the internet is how quick and easy it is to find a product or service you need. In just a few seconds you can pull up a whole range of websites, all competing for your business.
Turning this around the other way, what does your website do to stand out from all the others that your prospective clients and customers are looking at?
A bit of self-critique is always a good thing so here are four simple questions for you to consider to help you get that edge over your competition.
Does the visual presentation of your website give the right impression?
A professional and appropriate visual design is vitally important to making that great first impression. If your website has a poor quality or amateurish appearance this will cast doubt on the quality of product or service you are offering. This doesn’t mean your website has to be particularly flashy or sophisticated but it does need to be well presented with a clear layout and structure.
Do you have a clear purpose for your website?
What do you want your website visitors to do? How do you want them to respond to the site? It might be to give you a call, complete an enquiry form, place an order, or something else entirely.
Either way, you must be clear on what your website is trying to achieve so you can focus on that goal. Don’t be passive with your content, include clear calls to action where appropriate.
Is your content all up to date?
Far too many websites out there contain out of date content. The internet is a dynamic and fast moving environment and your website visitors will expect everything to be current and correct.
Have there been any changes to your contact details? Any changes to your products and services?
Make it a priority to read through your own website regularly to make sure everything is bang up to date.
How are you adding value?
A great way to stand out from the competition is to provide genuine added value. What useful information could you provide to your potential customers? Guides, articles, downloadable documents etc. can all encourage your website visitors to stick around for longer and increase the likelihood that they will come back again.
By adding value in this way you will stand out from the competition, most of whom are just saying who they are and what they do.
So there you go! Four simple questions to ask yourself. If you can answer yes to all four then give yourself a pat on the back! If not then there is room for improvement and if you’d like any help with that simply contact our client services team
