There are MANY different ways to improve a website, but based on sheer percentage improvement measured against time to implement, here are 5 improvements you could make in an hour or less:
1. Make sure every page on your website has a call to action. Effective calls to action are valuable, easy to use, prominent, and action oriented. If you use a ‘Submit’ button, ditch the text and replace it by finishing this sentence “I want to…” As an example, ‘Save 15% on Vitamins.’
2. Include your address and phone number on every page. This will help with local SEO, and many customers want to contact you by phone. Don’t hide this key information. You can even include it in your title, which will make it appear in search results.
3. Web forms (where visitors request or submit information) must be “above the fold.” This is a carryover from the world of print marketing, where you want key information above the point where paper is folded to increase the visibility. Eye tracking studies of what visitors look at show that the likelihood of visitors viewing anything requiring them to scroll down is minimal, so put web forms and key information up top.
4. Rewrite your headline. Headlines are critical on your webpage, but they’re never given proper attention. Headlines should tell the visitor that they’re in the right place. In testing, 20pt red Tahoma bold was the most effective style for headlines. It’s also worth split testing headlines to see what works best for you.
5. If you use testimonials or customer reviews, add headlines to them. Headlines that address customer objections are most effective. Also, avoid calling a testimonial a testimonial. Try ‘Customer Reviews’ or something similar.
If you need any further help to improve your website contact: Berry Burgess at Armadillo Creative on 0191 257 8380 or visit www.armadillo-creative.com
