Great Web Design

You've seen those pages...the ones where you get lost in countless links, with no discernible way back. You're looking for some kind of navigation, but are stuck using your "back" button to find out where you were.

Or the ones that are so unclear you are unsure what the point of the site -- or worse yet, sites apparently abandoned by their creators way back in 97...full of dead links and outdated banners. It's important to keep improving and updating your website regularly. I would recommend you review and revamp your website at least quarterly.

Easy Navigation
It is important to let your visitors easily navigate your site. If you use left side navigation, duplicate the links at the top or bottom of each page. If you use graphical or Java links, be sure to duplicate the links in text. Some people surf with graphics or java turned off.

You want your visitors to be able to quickly find any page they're interested in. Make it simple to navigate to any area of your site, so when they return, they can find the page they want!

Use Colors for Effect
Bright Colors should be used in small doses. (Don't make your entire background bright orange, for example!) Most of us respond to varying colors in pretty much predictable ways. Much of this is culturally learned, but as our world becomes ever smaller through technology and entertainment, our color preferences tend to homogenize.

We usually associate authority with blues, grays (police and military colors). Greens usually represent abundance - springtime or big bucks. Banks and other sites about money often use shades of green.

Reds and yellows tend to generate excitement if used in small does, but can also trigger annoyance in people if used too much. Use them sparingly.

It is most pleasing to the eye to contrast your background and foreground colors. Of course, your color choices may also be influenced by your primary geographical market. People in North America respond to the following colors in the following ways:

People from tropical cultures respond well to warm colors (think aloha shirts!), while people from northern climates tend to enjoy cooler colors.

If you're trying to encourage buying, studies have shown that impulse shoppers respond to red-orange, black, and royal blue, while shoppers on budgets stick to pink, teal, light blue, and navy. Gentle souls and traditionalists respond to pastels- pink, rose, sky blue.

Minimize Advertisements
Oh dear, there's one of those obnoxious gigantic flashing banners across the top of the page of this site. And, it's taking so long to load...why? Oh, there's a few more large animated banners in the body of the page. What incentive do I have to spend my time looking at at one big commercial? If this were television, I'd turn it off. Click. Your visitor is gone.

Use banners and ads with discretion. Properly placed Google Ads are great, but do remember that they lead your visitor off your page - keep this in mind when placing them. Minimally place ads where they make sense, and please use an artistic eye. Nothing shouts out "newbie" than gigantic banners centered all down your page.

Each of Your Web Pages Should Have a Headline
Even though one of our specialties is logo creation, you may notice that Startunz Productions doesn't have a huge logo at the top of each page. That's because we know that our visitors aren't interested in us or our logo - visitors want to know what we can do for THEM. Most readers are scanning quickly through your site to see if you have something worthwhile to offer them. Show them clearly by the use of a headline - and offer them good content. Your visitors and clients will stay on your pages if you give them a good reason!

Here's How I Can Help You
Your headline should immediately let visitors know what you can do for them. ('m repeating myself on purpose, because I know you're skimming, rather than reading, this article:-))

Don't tell visitors how wonderful your business is. Tell them how you can help them out. Focus on the benefits you provide to them. Your visitors do not care about your company, products, or services. Tell them what you can do for THEM. For example, here's what not to say:

StarTunz Productions excels at creative web site design. We're experts at both the artistic and the coding end of webdesign. We have years of experience in custom audio and graphics.

Who cares? We don't grab your interest by bragging about our talents.

Instead, Take a look at this approach:

Do you see the difference? The first example discusses how wonderful StarTunz is. The second discusses what YOU get from us.

Conversely, if you go that extra step for your clients, they'll be back. I try to personally respond to all my clients..and it does take some amount of effort! I make sure every client is happy with their site, and advise them with their promotion. I make sure I'm available by email, on site chat, and telephone. I've discovered that I get a lot of word-of-mouth recommendation this way - and it feels great to know my clients are happy.

Reliable Recommendations
Visitors can come to Startunz.com and get valuable information - stuff they can actually learn from, and apply to improve their own business. They can get involved in affiliate programs that I myself am involved in...and not just a bunch of junk advertisements. They know I'm not steering them into a wasteland. Keep this in mind when adding affiliate programs and advertisements to your site. Can your visitors trust your judgment? If so, they'll be back!

Provide Good Content
You and your web site must establish credibility. Why should people whom you have never met trust you? Who are you and what do you know that can help them?

One of the first elements that establishes credibility is a good cleanly designed site. (Remember what we said earlier about ad banners and flashing screaming text?) Now, beyond the graphic design, you must provide information that backs up your promises. Make sure your site is of service to your visitors, and they'll be more likely to refer to you when they are ready to purchase.

Be Easy To Contact
Provide your visitors with an easy way to contact you; email links and physical mailing addresses are important. Let them have a telephone number, or consider installing an on site live help. Don't be hesitant to talk to your clients! I've designed sites for people who actually expected their site to sell their product without them providing the human touch...and I've had to bring these people back to earth a bit. We humans like to know who we're dealing with. We like to know somebody's listening, not just sending an autoresponder! (Yes, autoresponders are great, but that's another article.)

Testimonials are one Fabulous Key to Credibility.
Don't be shy about asking your clients for testimonials. Most of the time, they'll provide you with one gladly. And give a link back to their site from their comments, to send some traffic their way. (See a few of our sample testimonials, here).

Make sure to keep on file every testimonial you get...and ask your clients' permission to quote them. You can use them on your site, in letters, email, whatever. People like to know that someone else has had a good experience with you, and that you are for real!

Guarantees are Great
Nothing is as powerful as a "full money back guarantee" for credibility. In cases where you are selling a physical product that can be replaced, in most cases, you can indeed offer a full guarantee. If someone is unhappy with your product, let them return it and get their money back. You'll get more clients who see this guarantee than you will lose money for the few who actually want to return their product.

PS.Use a P.S.Even if you didn't read much of this article, I'll bet you read this part! People naturally tend to read the P.S. portion of your letter, email or webpage. In fact, many people read only the headline and the PS -- So use it! Emphasize your key statements and offers at the bottom of your page.