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Effective Web Design
D.zigns dzignerwebs
The Basics
Before starting on how to design a website effectively, how about clearing some basic web design concepts?
Designing Effectively
Now that you know what web design and related terms mean, lets get down...
Free Website Templates - Top 10 Things You Need to Know
When building your website you might not have a large budget to devote to website design or a designer, so the best option for you might simply be to use free website templates. However, consider the following benefits as well as drawbacks before...
Graphics for the Web: Plug-Ins
You've probably noticed that just about any application of any real significance these days has the capability to be expanded in some way. Usually these are called "plug-ins", although they are also called snap-ins (Windows 2000), add-ons, add-ins...
How To Create A Website In Less Than A Week
Here's a really simple way... any novice can create a fully functional website in less than a week.
Websites are the wave of the future. Although many companies are using an online presence to drive business to their brick and mortar stores,...
Now you have a Web site. Have you ever heard of accessibility?
An accessible Web site is easily approached, easily understood, and useable for all. There are accessibility standards set forth by the World Wide Web Consortium, which all sites should adhere to as much as possible.
Web site owners should be...
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Want A Sticky Website That Sells? Forget Content!
An interesting debate is raging among copywriters, web designers
and content providers about the key differences, if any, between
writing copy for the web versus writing content.
According to prolific copywriter Nick Usborne, a survey conducted
among the readers of his email newsletter "Excess Voice," which
is available at nickusborne.com, offers some interesting results.
They seem to be split almost three ways: one-third consists of
copywriters, another content writers and the final third both.
This is an important debate, I believe, since all online copy is
content but not all content is copy. And that's a real problem.
Most designers, webmasters and writers develop content for their
websites in a way to educate their visitors. They also write it
with the notion that "content is king," "content raises search
engine rankings," "content makes a website sticky" and so on.
That's all fine and good. But in my estimation, web content fails
when it strives only at informing the reader, and lacks important
elements that take the reader "by the hand" and compels them to
do something -- anything, including the simple act of reading.
In other words, while some may compel our attention, many sites
fail to propel our actions, too. And their owners often scream,
"Why is my site not producing any sales," "why is it so heavily
trafficked but getting such a poor response" or "why are people
leaving so quickly (or after they got what they came for)?"
Well, if content was king, copy should be the castle.
The Internet is not a traditional medium in the broadcast sense.
It is intimate, dynamic and interactive. People are more involved
when reading the content of a website than reading a conventional
print publication or watching a TV commercial. With the Internet,
people also have a powerful weapon, and they usually never think
twice about using it when the need confronts them: their mouse.
So, the idea is this: forget about writing content, at least in
the traditional sense. Think copy. Think content that compels the
reader to do something, even if it's just to continue reading.
According to Atomica.com, "copy" is defined
as "the words to be
printed or spoken in an advertisement." (And "advertisement" is
defined as "a notice or announcement designed to attract public
patronage." It's selling something, in other words.)
But the word "content," on the other hand, is defined as "the
subject matter of a written work, such as a book or magazine."
And keep in mind that there's no mention of the Internet, here.
Nevertheless, this is why I submit that, with its multitude of
links and hypertexts, the web transforms the passive reader into
an active, responsive participant. (Make that "response-able.")
A book or magazine is limited by its front and back covers. The
web, however, is not. If your content does not strive at getting
the reader to do something, whether it's to buy, join, subscribe,
call, email, fill out a form, download, click or whatever, then
you need to seriously rethink your content and the words you use.
Here's my explanation of the difference between content and copy.
Content informs. Copy invites. Even if content invites readers to
keep reading, it's still selling an idea. It's still calling for
some kind of action. And it's still copy, in my opinion.
If your web page is only meant to inform people, like some kind
of book, it's content. (And like the closing of a book once it's
read, the only action left is to close the browser window.) But
if it contains links to other parts of your website, then it's
copy. And you need to write your content with that mindset.
Ultimately, write your content by incorporating a direct response
formula that compels and propels your readers to act. Don't leave
them hanging. Take them by the hand. In your content, integrate a
call for some kind of action, in other words. Ask your reader to
"buy now," "join today," "get this" or "download that ..."
... Or better yet, at least ask them to simply "click here."
About the Author
Michel Fortin is a copywriter, author and consultant dedicated
to turning businesses into powerful magnets. His specialty are
long copy, email and web sales letters. Subscribe to his FREE
monthly email newsletter by visiting http://SuccessDoctor.com/.
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