Making Your Websites More Compelling

The Internet is a remarkable publishing medium. With just a little effort, you can make your web pages visually irresistible by playing with color, shapes and text. Whether your websites are already launched or you're ready to create your first few, use the 3 simple steps below to kick things up a notch and make your sites professional and appealing.

Step 1: Grab People's Attention with a Photo or Graphic.

Without a logo or visual image to represent the central offering on your web page, you are asking potential clients to immediately take a big leap and dive into your text. Why risk the possibility of them not reading your important message? People browsing the web are notoriously impatient. Capture their attention with a photo/graphic before they click off your site.

Choose the perfect image from Photodisc, ClipArt or Corbis for as little as $9 to $90 per image. Human beings are visual creatures. Consider your favorite magazine for a moment. Would it still be your favorite if it used only text on its cover this month?

Step 2: Boost the credibility of your service or product by using a professional color scheme.

Using the image you selected in step one, it's easy to go the next step and pull together a professional looking color scheme. ColorSchemer is a small, inexpensive software (US$25) that helps you choose a color scheme that's eye-catching and unexpected, even if you're color-challenged. When picking colors, don't be afraid to let your personality show through. Check out http://www.colorschemer.com/.

Step 3: Use graphical "signposts" throughout your material to help readers absorb your message.

As you browse the web, start making mental notes about sites you enjoy visiting. I'm willing to bet it's the ones that break up text with colored bullets, numbers and other signposts that mentally engage you the most. I'll even go so far as to say that a website that does not use graphical signposts shows a disregard for the needs of the reader, intentionally or not.

Think of these mini-graphics as a way of showing consideration to your reader. They want to read your material and you help them make it easy by providing mental white space and places to rest their eyes.

Just a few No-No's:

Don't overdo.

The power of visual communication can be diluted if too many images are used on each page. There is both art and science to finding the right balance since too many images on a website can be just as ineffective as too few. The key is to work at finding this balance by studying other websites.

Don't use Flash or other animation.

More often than not, flash/animation comes across as cheap rather than professional and has only been shown to be effective in very specific circumstances. Moreover, web pages created with Flash don't rank well with search engines. If you must use it, do so very sparingly and be sure to have it professionally designed.

Whatever you do, don't be bland.

With millions of websites published every day, you must stand out in order to be noticed. Graphics that reflect you, your offering and your personality will help you become more attractive to clients -- quickly, affordably and with style.

One of the challenges of working online is to alleviate your client's natural reservations in a new and unfamiliar environment - the virtual world. Making things more comfortable for them is your number one priority and graphics will help you achieve that. By going the extra mile to make your websites look 100% professional, you become more credible in your own eyes as well.

Andrea J. Lee coaches entrepreneurs and online business owners. As Thomas J.Leonard's General Manager, she helped build and manage the largest network and trainer of personal and business coaches in the world. Now the CEO of Andrea J. Lee Group of Companies, she writes, speaks and consults on Marketing, Internet and Business systems. For more helpful tips, visit www.39lessons.com

---

Unlocking the Power of Your Website!

Why do some web sites reap huge benefits while others... Read More

Warning: The Truth About Having a Web Site!

If you don't have a web site yet, are thinking... Read More

9 Simple Steps to Create a Background Tiled Image Branded with Your Name

You have seen those web pages where they have the... Read More

Your Future Profit Is In The Stars

You don't believe in astrology but you check your horoscope... Read More

Content Management ? The New Standard in Web Design

The evolution of web development parallels the model of technology... Read More

7 Tips to Make Your Order Page Work Harder

So your prospect, Mary, is sitting at the computer reading... Read More

Web Success Secret - Keep Your Visitors Interested

Visitors to your site come looking for information or solutions... Read More

How One Word Or Even One Letter Can Boost Conversion Rates By Over 400%!

Recently I was reviewing the keyword specific conversion rate data... Read More

You Need To Treat Your Website Like An Employee - Heres 5 Ways To Do It

People often come to me in a state of crisis... Read More

Tips to Protect Your Downloads or Products

1. Upload robots.txt file in to your root directory and... Read More

Build a Web Site that Works...Even for a Safari Hobby!

My life's greatest passion is a safari hobby. And what... Read More

How Disabled Users Access The Internet

In 1995 a new era of accessibility for disabled people... Read More

Where?s Your Web Site?

This simple question can take on several different forms, but... Read More

Linking Out is Good

Many websites I come across don't have a single link... Read More

Are Web Graphics Stealing Your Money?

They might not be wearing a mask and carrying a... Read More

What is The Google Toolbar?

No matter what browser you may want to use, you... Read More

How to Create Sizzling Sales online

"Don't Sell the Steak, Sell the Sizzle."Have you heard of... Read More

What Does An Ex-Basketball Coach Know About Pulling Web Metrics?

In my previous life.....Actually, my previous JOB life, I was... Read More

The Number 1 Reason Most Websites Fail

Failure, just like success, is measured differently by each and... Read More

Effective Webdesign

D.zigns dzignerwebs The Basics Before starting on... Read More

Improve Conversion Rates ? Load Times

Your site is getting traffic, but conversion rates are horrible.... Read More

How to Create a Professional Web Site in 24 Hours

While creating a Web site may seem like... Read More

Flash Deadly Sins (That Can Kill Your Web Business)

Looks like every client wants a Flash site these days... Read More

The Dos and Donts of Launching a Small Business Website

Launching a new small business website is often a long... Read More

Get to Know People through Websites

Web sites are not just places to sell things; they... Read More

Web Sites ? Should I Learn or not?

A common dilemma most small and medium businesses face when... Read More

Why to Have a Website for Your Company

After having decided to start a business, the next thing... Read More

Web Content Strategy 101

Your content is what gets you in search engines, speaks... Read More

What is Blogger.com?

In the late 1990's three San Francisco based web developers... Read More

HTML Editors 101 - Smaller Is Better

SiteSpinnerSiteSpinner is a user-friendly web site development tool that includes... Read More

Content Management

More and more businesses are recognizing the importance of content... Read More

Your Website Reflects Your Business

Some left shoes are in isle 5, while the right... Read More

7 Killer Ways To Increase Your Online Sales

Every online entrepreneur I talk to is asking the same... Read More