Most entrepreneurs are constantly upgrading and changing web
site content and design. But how accurate and professional is
the content as a whole? A great way to find out is to apply for
a site award. .No Kidding! You'll be amazed at the information
you may not have. This includes a broad range of items
consistent with site design. I started my home business eight
months ago and finally tried for an award about two months ago.
I was rejected of course and the reason was lack of contact
information and a lottery link, plus an affiliate program not
consistent with their idea of a professional, quality web site.
I did not reapply for this particular award again. I continued
to upgrade and change my site content and design until a couple
days ago when I noticed an award of excellence on a web site and
decided to try again. This time,I was rejected again, but for a
new reason, in addition to no contact information or hours of
operation,I had NO PRIVACY POLICY! This time I took things a
little more seriously.I went to their qualifications site and
read them.I do not know how I went this long without a policy.
The contact information was in my newsletter for eight months
and yet I failed to put it on my web site because I was
skeptical about viewers seeing my personal information! I
immediately went to my site and added the required information
and then reapplied...My site now carries a banner for the Award
of Excellence for a Pennsylvania business!
Now if indeed I have held your interest to this point, hold on
for some very important information that will give you the
prestige and your visitors will feel confident at your site.Take
this list the next time you update or do any changes to your
site.
1] Be sure your contact information is on your main web
page.[Company name, your name, address, telephone and /or fax,
and e-mail address.
2] Add your hours of operation.If you are a home-based business,
set the hours to the time you are available. I set mine from
9am-3pm.EST. [Include the time difference.]
3] Compose a Privacy Policy.I will share mine as a sample to
view. http://www.homebizandmore.homestead.com/privacy.html
Include your sincere promise to protect your potential customers
from SPAM. Keep their information confidential!
4] Always proofread and edit your content for common errors:
spelling, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, etc.
5] Check to be sure all links work.Links sometimes need
upgrading or a mistake may be made when they are entered.
6] Background and font design are as important as the content
itself. Be sure the background is compatible with the font
color. Never use fluorescent or brilliant font color, or
background. These shades of color often blind the eyes and make
reading difficult.
7] Although banners are becoming the "IN" thing on the Internet,
they have their down side.Load time of a page is considerably
slower if the page has many banners. Visitors will leave the
site if load time is slow..thus losing potential customers.Sites
are often rejected for having a "Banner Farm." Instead, try
writing an interesting paragraph or two about the link and then
link to the site.More often, than not,a short description will
prompt the visitor to click. Overload of graphics, and clip art
are also related.
8] A vital part of any web site are the meta tags, title
description and key words. the search engines will never find
your site, unless you put in these key words. Take a look at
each page and identify these words. You will need many of them,
take your time to assemble the list of up to 150 words, or
related words that are used most often.
9] Be careful of the content on the site, such a lottery games,
adult content only, if you wish to apply for an award. It might
come to getting rid of this type of content.
10] Free hosting can often be a downfall as well. You should
have your own domain available at minimal cost if you are well
established. I am still using free hosting, but will upgrade in
the near future.
This list of ten qualities is by no means all that some ask for
when you apply for an award. Some of the tips are not required,
but are necessary for a quality web site.
About the author:
Donna Sweat donna@sosbbs.com Publisher/Editor Dee's Helpful
Info.Newsletter http://www.homebiz.pa.32668.com New
Albany,Pa.18833
