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Yeah I know, every one on the planet thinks he or she has a definitive list of what a website needs, this list isn’t definitive, just mine…so here goes.
OK, you’ve put together a spectacular website, and you’re ready to go live on the Internet for the whole world to see. But hang on a second there Bucko! In case you didn’t know, there are a few essential requirements that every site needs to include in order to be successful.
Let’s review what they are shall we:
1) Privacy Policy. Now, I’m not a Lawyer and don’t claim to be one, but this document should be standard issue for every site you have. People want to know how you’re going to use their personal information, and a “privacy policy” does just that.
Privacy document Generator
http://www.freeprivacypolicy.com/
2) Disclaimer. In today’s litigious society you’ll also need to include a disclaimer/terms of use page. This protects you and spells out to your visitors what they’re agreeing to by using your website.
Free site disclaimer
http://www.easyriver.com/free_disclaimer.htm
NB. This is not legal advice, and if you need help in this department, consult with a local solicitor/lawyer.
3) Contact Us Information: I can’t tell you how many sites I’ve been to that fail to include a way to contact the owner. If you can’t include a phone number, at the very least have an email address or a “contact us” form. By providing this information, you’ll make your visitors feel more comfortable knowing there’s a way to reach you should the need arise.
4) Google Analytics/Tracking System: Once your site is up and running you’ll want to keep your eye on traffic. Who’s visiting your website, what pages are the most popular, where is the traffic coming from. All of these questions and more can be answered by using a good analytics program.
5) Newsletter Sign Up: There’s an old saying that people won’t buy from you the very first time they come to your website, so you need a way to stay in touch with them to bring them back again and again. By offering a newsletter, you’ll be building a list of possible prospects which is invaluable to any site owner. You’ll find a multitude of free and low cost newsletter services online. It’s up to you, depending on your needs and what you can afford.
6) Consistent Navigation: This might sound like a no brainer, but many folks get it wrong. No matter what type of menu system you decide upon, make sure it stays the same across the board on all pages of your site. Your job is to guide your visitors through your website, making sure they always know where they are and how to get to where they need to go.
7) Search Engine Optimized Copy: At first glance you might not think this is so important, but trust me it is. You want your pages to rank well with the search engines and there are a few steps you can take to ensure this happens. Each page of your website should be optimized for 2, or at the most 3 keywords/phrases. Weave the keywords into your titles and into the body of each page. You can also include them in your image titles, alt tags, even in the names you give your pages. Look at each page individually and decide what it’s about, then optimize accordingly.
8) Social Media Share Button: With the popularity of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, you’d be foolish not to include an easy way for your content to be shared with others.
9) Copyright Notice: Sounds simple but forgotten by many. All pages should include a copyright notice.
10) Trust Seals/Testimonials: I grouped these two items together as they both instil trust and confidence in your visitors. Remember, when someone comes to your website, they don’t know who you are and if you’re selling something, they may not feel comfortable giving out their credit card information. To help them feel more “warm and fuzzy”, include trust seals for any organizations you belong to: Also, if you have testimonials from happy customers, weave them into your site copy. People always love to hear that others have had a happy experience with your products/services. Make sure you get permission first from the testimonial writers before placing them on your website.
Guess what, all of our websites come with all of these features as Standard, not extras, not add ons, just Standard.
So what are you waiting for, visit www.litesites.net where we don’t compromise on the quality and there are no hidden costs and no nasty extras.
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