Fifteen ways to keep your website in business
Thursday, 16 July 2009 06:13
JOHN GUSHUE - The Telegram: "...You should plan on redesigns at least every two or three years, and to take advantage of new applications as they become available. At the very least, you should be on guard to prevent clutter and maintain a clean, welcoming presentation...
8. Going mobile: More and more people are getting more and more of their information over their phones. With the rapid improvement in cell technologies and platforms, your clients now expect to find your site on their phone.
Talk with your designer or developer to ensure that your site is optimized for phone users
9. Got FAQ? If your switchboard is frequently asked the same questions, consider posting a FAQ online, and make it easy to locate. Think of it as an investment in customer service. Also, build your FAQ on what people ask for, not what you think they need to know. Many people create FAQs based on the organization's priorities, not on what the customer is actually seeking.
10. Accessibility check. Many websites are built on the assumption that every reader has A-OK vision (and, where appropriate, hearing). How does your site compare?"
Worth highlighting, but out of order:
"...5. Navigation: One stunning bit of design research I've seen showed how readers often skip right over navigation bars, those (usually vertical, sometimes horizontal) strips that categorize what's inside a site. As depressing as that is, I'm a keen advocate of a so-called nav bar: if users can't quickly find out what they want, the nav bar will provide guidance. Where appropriate, also consider a site map. These are a lot of work to build, but I've never found a site map that didn't point me in a useful direction. (Know, though, that the site map needs updating, every time you add or subtract to your site)..."
Read the entire article and comment at: http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=269745&sc=86
Published by: TheTelegram.com
Date: July 16, 2009
About the author: "John Gushue is a writer in St. John's. Blog: johngushue.typepad.com. Twitter: twitter.com/JohnGushue. "
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