and
check the tags that go with my banners.
3. If you're considering using frames when designing your
site, be sure to offer a "no-frames version". Frames divide
web page content into sections, and look really slick. But the
fact is, they load slower than non-frame pages, and many older
browsers simply cannot handle frames. As more people utilize
current browsers, this won't be an issue. Remember, when you're
designing a site with the intention of selling something, you
need all the visitors you can get. Marketing will forever be
a numbers game.
4. Make sure every page in your site has a link to your home
page and every other area of interest. Remember, many visitors
will enter your site at a page other than your home page. You
need to make navigation as simple as possible. A lost surfer
is a lost customer.
5. At the top of any product/service page, give the option of
retrieving the information via email from an autoresponder.
Not only does this show that you respect your visitors time
restraints, it will allow you to email a follow-up message
in a week or two.
6. Use simple fill-out forms to ease customer participation,
such as surveys, questionnaires and other feedback forms.
A basic CGI "forms to email" application will do the trick.
CGI stands for the "Common Gateway Interface," which is a
standard for interfacing external applications with
information servers, such as HTTP or Web servers. This
allows visitors to fill out a form, click submit, and have
the info delivered to you by email.
If you're looking to add a fill-out form to your site
without going through the CGI learning curve, visit David
Beroff's forms to email generator at the following URL:
There you can have a form generated for you automatically.
You just fill out the form at their site and their server
creates the code for you to use on your web site. It also
handles the submissions when someone fills out the form a
your site and automatically sends it to the email address
you specify in a neatly formatted message. This resource
is simple to use and it's free.
7. Spice up your pages with a few animated GIFS.
These graphics keep your audience interested. When using
animated GIFS, use no more than four on any single page if
possible. Some older browsers have been known to crash
when encountering five or more animated GIFS on a single
web page.
8. Offer as many methods of ordering as possible.
Visitors to your pages should have the a minimum of the
following options:
(a) Printing an order form. (Preferably a separate web page
that formats easily onto one printed page.)
(b) Copy/pasting an order form into their email program and
emailing their order.
(c) Faxing the order form to your fax number.
(d) Ordering immediately on the web. (See item 9 below)
These options may sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how
many web sites offer limited ordering methods.
9. Offer the option of ordering via secure server.
Is this really necessary? I didn't know HOW necessary it
really was until I added it to my site. Now over 75% of
my orders come via my secure server. If you do not offer
this option, you're shooting yourself in the foot!
Not only does secure web ordering allow impulse buyers to
act right away, it shows your customers that you respect
and care about their business.
10. Keep your site content fresh.
This gets overlooked far too often. If someone visits your
web site and finds that nothing has changed since the last
time they visited, chances are they will never return.
Avoid this scenario by updating your content weekly or
monthly at the bare minimum.
That about does it for "marketing friendly" site guidelines.
If you follow these recommendations closely, you'll increase
the likelihood of your web site making money!
* Article courtesy of JDD Publishing, Home of "The BizWeb E-Gazette!"
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