HELP WITH CONTENT
I think I want a website but I am not sure of what to put on it?
Having a website is one thing filling it with good, interesting, relevant and professional content is quite another.
Having 15 blank pages to fill is a daunting prospect for anyone. On this page we will help you decide what to put on your website and just as importantly what not to put on your website.
Before we get into specifics here are some guidelines to remember when writing copy for your website
- Write your website content for the visitors to your website do not wirte website content for the Seach Engines - ask yourself what would you want to know about a company when you visited their website
- Avoid "Keyword Stuffing" this is where Search Engine Optimisers, bad ones, advise you to pack as many Keywords (Likely search phrases) into a website as possible even of it makes sense to visitor when reading or not, the Search Engines got wise to this trick a long time ago and it certainly won't help your Search Engine Ranking.
- Beware of breaching copywright laws they apply to websites equally as they apply to printed matreial or music piracy.
HOME PAGE
The home page is the first page visitors to your website will see. It is the companies introduction to a potential customer. Be careful about information overload here, a brief introduction of who you are, what you do and where you are based is all you really need - A good place to put membership of professional bodies or organisations and perhaps a photo of your premises or some of your products. You could try a video here - have the managing director show visitors around the premises and describing the company or simply welcoming the visitor to the site.
ABOUT US
The About Us page is where you should describe your company in more detail, when you started the business, where you are based, what areas you work in, key personnel and areas of expertise, what they do, areas of speciality, membership of professional/governing bodies, any licences that key personnel or the company holds. Let your customers know why they should consider doing business with you - what your basically saying to potential customers is here are all the facts about our business now you can make your decision
SERVICES or PRODUCTS
What you do and what you sell! Use some pictures here to help describe your products and services - you may need 2, 3 or more pages especially if you have more than one product or service. If you interested in selling your goods or services it will most probably be on these pages
PREVIOUS PROJECTS
Perhaps use a photo album to show your portfolio of previous projects or of previous orders you have received - You are telling the customer this is the standard of work and the type of projects or the type of goods we can provide and we have experience on doing so
TESTIMONIALS
If you have statements from saitisfied customers then use them include picutres of them and the project as well if you can get them. Alot of websites use these with good reason, they instil confidence in your business and combine these with photos, perhaps using our photo album feature and you will really help your business gain trust of customers.
NEWS/UPDATES
What events are happening in your company, are you going into new markets, opening a new branch, stocking new products, having a sale, employing new staff, offering additional services. Customers will often read this page as they think there may be a sale or a discount to be had even if this isn't the case try and get some interesting information on here it can only help. Take advantage of your monthly updates and give visitors something different to read every month.
FAQ's
When you speak to customers on the phone what do they usually ask you? Try and answer the most common questions it won't stop them calling you it will just mean you have given potential customers alot more information and knowledge about your business and increase their confidence in your business.
LINKS
If you have governing bodies/profesional standards or licensing authorities then link to their websites here. Also, if you are want to join any Affiliate Schemes then the links should go here. You can also link to other websites that will compliment your site for example if you sell conservatories why not link to a conservatory furniture company or a house plant supplier and have them link to your website (This is called reciprocal Linking and it is becoming more popular as, done responsibly, it can help with Search Engine optimisation)
CONTACT US
Every method of contacting you should be listed here: Postal Address, Registered Office Address, Telephone Number(s), Fax Numbers, DX Numbers, Email Address, Website Address - You could also use a contact form here as well. Depending on the size of your company you could give out individual details for each department e.g Sales Dept, Accounts Dept, Personnel this can save your receptionist time of passing phone calls around the company.
