Research makes a purposeful website, and a website with a goal becomes a useful tool for its visitors.
Your website is your primary online presence, the “Internet face” of your business. It’s the trusted website where anyone can go to learn about your offerings. To better serve your prospects and customers, your website must have a purpose and you must have a plan. This simplifies the entire website design and development process. Best of all, your company may reach its website’s goals much faster.
Identify Your Target Audience
Start with your business plan. It names your general your target market and lists your intended marketing strategies. Review your mission statement and consider the reasons why you started your business. Buy in to the perspective that your website is not for you rather it’s to serve your customers. See it as a tool that helps your company reach its objectives identified in your business plan.
Review Website Statistics
Statistics play a huge role in defining or even redefining the main purpose for your website. View your current website’s analytical reports. Look at pages visited and abandonment rates. Learn about your website’s visitors such as their geographical location, gender, age, and occupation. These people have showed interest in finding more about products and services like yours.
Research Customer’s Technical Capability
Some Internet users enjoy using a sophisticated website. Others prefer a simpler one that requires little technical expertise. The equipment they use also plays a role in how they access your website. For instance, some may use a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Screen sizes and resolutions differ based on what they use to view your website. Take time to find out the main preference of your target audience.
Benchmark Your Business’s Website
Look at your top three competitor’s websites and identify commonalities. Many consumers who shop for products and services in your industry expect to see certain things. For example, if you own an auto repair shop, website visitors must know your hours of operation. They need to be able to contact you, set up an appointment, and get an estimate for automobile repair work. Benchmarking, that is, comparing standards, works for any industry. Use it to your advantage. Have what’s expected, but then offer something more or better.
Think like an End-User
Consider why a customer would stop by your website. Determine how you can help them accomplish what they need to when they visit. When in doubt of knowing what they want, send them a questionnaire. Ask what they like most and least about your website. Seek their advice on what you can do to improve their user experience. Listen and make adjustments.
Feedback is ongoing, so realize that your website is a work in progress. After it’s “live,” request comments from new visitors and existing customers on a regular basis. Make it your perpetual goal to always display meaningful content.
To summarize, identify your website’s main purpose by reviewing your business plan’s mission statement and target market information. Check your website’s statistical data to learn about its visitors including technical equipment used. Get feedback. Send out surveys to learn more about your visitors and their preferences. Benchmark your business, think like a customer, and evaluate your website regularly.
We at MAXBURST create memorable and effective websites that have a main purpose. We’ve done this for many businesses in all kinds of industries. Our web experts can help you select the appropriate tools for marketing, managing content, ecommerce and more. Contact us now by filling out our quick Request A Web Project Quote Form. You can also reach us by phone at 888-MAXWEB (888-962-9932). Call today.
