Some web sites receive hundreds or thousands of unique visitors a day, whilst others only get a handful or none. The reason is often because the web designers or Webmaster has built the site in one ‘really bad way’ or other. This can end up hindering the potential success of the web site. If you want to make sure your site is not a ‘traffic flop’ then here are some simple rules to follow.

Bad Move 1: Build the site using a frameset.

Framesets may save designers time but are bad news for search engines. They can struggle to follow links into the web site or read text on the page unless you use a no frames tag effectively. In addition to this, if an engine does keep a cache of a site with frames it will often pick up the individual frames/ pages and not the complete frameset.

The downside of this is that you may lose your navigation for many of your pages, which is likely to turn visitors off. Whilst one or two partial fixes to framesets are out there, it’s still no wonder that many web site promoters still cry “Please No Frames”. For more information on why framesets can cause problems visit http://www.html-faq.com/htmlframes/

Bad Move 2: Build the site purely in flash.

Flash intros and web sites can be visually stunning, but at the same time they can be rather limiting when it comes to search engines. If your main site is all one flash site it will typically play in just one html page. Some search engines simply can’t read Flash and so your web site to them is just one relatively empty HTML page.

If your competitors web site has 15 or 20 pages in HTML talking about their good sand services then they will have a big advantage on you. If you must have a Flash site for graphical reasons then it would be wise to budget for a separate HTML web site to have along side the Flash so your site content can be read and indexed by search engines.

Bad Move 3: Decide that graphics are more important than words

Be careful. As great as some images can be, try not to let designers convince you that you don’t need copy on your web site or that a few lines is enough. Only very occasionally is there ever an excuse to fill your web site with graphics at the expense of text. If the graphics look great, then match them with great copy. Sales copy is important to tell your audience why your goods and services are important.

Search engines also like to index plenty of useful copy too. 250-500 words is a sensible starting guide for most pages or ½ of the amount you would place in a brochure. Text copy is important and will always be so make sure web site has some!

Bad Move 4: Leaving out the Meta tags

This is a bad move as Meta Tags are important to search engines. Clear and concise title tags should be written for every page reflecting what it contains. Avoid writing things like ‘Home’ or ‘welcome’ as it’s fairly meaningless. If you page is selling blue widgets then get ‘blue widgets’ in the title and keep the title to 10 words or less.

In addition to this create a well-written objective Meta description for each page, and list your Meta Keywords. These keywords should also reflect the content on your web page. Leaving these 3 things out, or doing them badly can be disastrous.

The impact of Meta tags on rankings may vary from engine to engine, but without them your pages could be ignored. Most HTML editors allow you to easily insert Meta Tags into your web page and it only takes a few moments to add to a page. So there are no excuses. Make sure you have good Title tags, Meta Description and Meta Keyword tags on your pages today!

Bad Move 5: Use lots of JavaScript

Search engines have a few problems understanding JavaScript in pages. At the best of time they struggle with it, at worst they may even ignore it. On its own, it can be an unreliable way to make web site navigation. If you must use JavaScript for your navigation make sure you have some alternative ways to get to pages by using HTML text links at the bottom of the page. If you have a large amount of JavaScript think about linking to it as a separate JavaScript file.

Bad Move 6: Don’t have sites linking to yours

Unless you want your web site hidden from the outside world you want to be found right? Well search engines ideally find a new web site by following a link from another site. This happens when people link to you and this kind of underpins the Internet. By having sites link to you search engine crawlers will find your web site and you never need to submit your web site to the likes of Google.

It is still the case that web sites that rank highly on Google and Yahoo for relatively competitive key phrases often have scores if not hundreds of web sites linking to them Google help to explain the importance of linking here http://www.google.com/technology/. So “think links” and be sure to get your site listed in some quality web directories as part of the process.

Bad Move 7: Focus on submitting your web site to thousands of search engines and forget the ones that matter

Now and then you will see some companies attempting to promote this idea – often by using Bad Move 8! It is true that there are thousands of search engines but the highest volume of traffic comes from less than 10 major search engines.

The logic of “If I get one hit a day off each of the 1000 mini search engines I’ll get a 1000 visitors a day” unfortunately in practice does not ring true. It is a fact that a huge volume of search engine traffic comes from a small handful of search engine: most notably the Google, Yahoo and Msn.

Bad Move 8: Using unsolicited/ Spam email

This may seem obvious that this is not the best way to promote your business but is always worth stating. If you’re in any doubt simply ask yourself: “Do I like getting Spam emails?” It’s common sense to avoid using techniques that annoy people or damage your brand.

Using unsolicited email campaigns could result in complaints and at worst your ISP could ban you. If you want a successful email campaign it is advisable to target genuine opted in newsletter subscribers and to always offer an opt-out button in every email.

Finally, an easy to use, highly robust, content management system for large and small businesses alike. No, you don’t have to know HTML and as long as you can point and click, you will love this system – XD Web CMS.

If you’re someone who likes to do-it-yourself, this is for you. In doing so, you leave the hassles of the development alone, and focus on what you do best – manage your business and increase productivity.

However, if you’d like us to work with you in creating your site, let us know and we’ll deal with making it pretty – after all, it’s what we do

Check out our new CMS Solution and its features, monthly plans and then don’t hesitate to contact us. Better yet, go ahead and try it FREE first.

We have a proposition for you. We want to give you $50, $100, or more! For over five years, XD Web Solutions has been very grateful to those people who have referred our web design services to others. We recognize that word of mouth recommendations are one of the highest compliments any company can receive. So we’ve developed the XD Five Star Referral Program as another way of extending our thanks to you for sending new clients our way and having confidence in our abilities.

All that needs to happen is this: you send a friend or colleague our way who needs a redesign of an existing site or a completely new site. If we end up taking on the project for them, we owe you a %10 referral fee.

That could be $50, $100, or more for you depending on their project cost.

Example scenario:

Your friend: “My business needs a new website.”
You: “You should hire XD Web Solutions. Those folks can help you get started!”
(He hires us and his project contract agreement is $1,000)
Us: “Here is your $100.”
You: “Thank you.”
Us: “And Thank You!! Send more our way!”

Payment will be made by PayPal or check (or cash if you’re near me) immediately after every project — No need to wait until you accumulate a certain amount, No quota, No work, No time limit, No risk, No website, No fees needed for referring us. Amazingly easy!

• Just make sure they mention your name when they contact us. Obviously!
• No limit. We love building websites as much as you love getting $100. Which means we’d be insane to cut off you and us both.  Why not refer 10 friends at once? One friend per month? 1,000 friends by 2012? Think big!

Please read all the Restrictions and Limitations.

Really, it’s plain and simple. However, I guess I should throw the “rules” out there.

1)     Receive 10% of web design services rendered in referred client’s contract agreement only after we have received full settlement from the clients you referred to us. Payment by referred client must be received in full by XD Web Solutions before referral payout is made.

2)     There is no limit to how many people you can refer.

3)     Referrers cannot refer their own web site.

4)      All payouts are made in the US dollar and are to be paid in the form of XD’s choosing; typically PayPal or check and received by referrer following full payment made by referred client.

5)     You MUST NOT make claims/promises of features we don’t provide, engage in spamming or use any unethical methods in your referral activities. If you are unsure of what we offer, visit our website or call us for more details.

6)     XD Web Solutions reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the program at any time and for any reason during the duration of this referral program promotion.

7)     XD Web Solutions will make the final decision on any questions or conflicts with referrals. If the same referral comes in from different sources, we will resolve the conflict by going with the first person that referred the new client to us.

8)     All information submitted is considered private by XD Web Solutions and this information will not be shared with any other company.

Go back to the Referral Program details.

I spend a lot of time emailing with online business owners. Since that’s my specialty, I find a lot of people asking me questions about my success. What amazes me is that many of those people are asking the wrong questions!

The questions I’m talking about come from site owners who want to know how to make themselves look good online. These site owners want to write copy that is all about *their* company. They want to have a flash home page because *they* like it. They want to use *their* favorite colors in the design. Some of you might be thinking, “So?”

The problem is, it isn’t *their* site! Let me explain…

Think about it a minute. Why do you believe most department stores now willingly offer refunds? Years ago they didn’t. In fact, it was a well-known fact that, if you bought it, you owned it for life. Yet, in just the last 15 years or so, that way of thinking has been completely reversed. The reason? Customer demand.

Retailers recognized a customer need, and they filled it. They understood that customers were the ones who made the purchases and, therefore, the ones who kept their retail stores in business. The smart thing to do? Reverse the refund policy and keep customers happy.

Was it the store’s idea to offer refunds? No. If it were up to the stores, no money would ever be returned. After all, it’s *their* store, isn’t it? They can do what they want. Yeah, right! Not if they want to stay in business.

The same principle applies to your website. Sure, *you* may want to use certain colors on your site, but what would your customer prefer? Your favorite thing in the online world may be flash intros, but your customers might despise them. You may not like the idea of offering a guarantee, but what about your customers? Whose site is it, anyway? Yours? No, not really.

Before you get too entangled in making your site everything you want it to be, consider your customers’ wants and needs.

ACTION STEP 1
Make Your Copy Customer Focused – Go back to your site and read your copy. Does it say anything similar to this? “Welcome to my website. My company does this, that, and the other thing. I am the best company of my type on the Internet. My site has been online since 1999. Buy from me.” If so, you have some work to do.

Focus on your customers. What are their needs/wants? Rather than copy that says, “Me, me, we, us, I, I, I,” you want copy that acknowledges visitors, makes a connection with them, defines their needs, and offers solutions to their problems.

ACTION STEP 2
Turn Your Site Into An Invitation, Not An Eviction – Do you have a flash home page? If you check your stats, I’ll bet you’ll find more people who skip the flash intro of your site than people who actually view it.

Flash is extremely popular with Web designers, but it is extremely unnerving to site visitors. Don’t force flash on your customers.

ACTION STEP 3
Check Your Navigation – Can your visitors find their way around your site easily? How would you know? The best way to find out for sure is to ask a few people who have never seen your site before to surf on over and take a look around. Ask them to spend 10 or 15 minutes browsing. Then ask them to tell you about their experiences.

Paying due attention to your customers and their needs is one of the best things you can do to improve your online business. Put yourself in your customers’ place. When you turn your site into a welcoming environment specifically designed for your visitors, they can’t help but want to return again and again.

Reprinted from Diane Hughes

“I do not have a website” is the last thing on earth any smart business man or woman would say these days especially in this cut throat competitive business world. The absence of a website implies losing significant business. Owing to the dominance of the Internet on modern life, having a professionally designed website to promote and sell products and services is the most cost effective option. The benefit of having an online business is endless since everyone can reap the advantage from the entrepreneur, to customers and even wholesalers.

The Present State of Affairs

Gone are the days when people searched through yellow pages to find products or services. It’s the Internet that acts the best search tool. With 95% online searches being made everyday, it is an undeniable fact that consumers prefer to browse through various web portals before making a decision to buy a product or service. With a website, a business can be accessible twenty four hours a day to millions of potential customers worldwide. If a business does not have an online presence, they are losing out on serious business everyday.

The Returns

Here are some of the rewards an online presence can endow a business:

• The most important advantage of online presence is the reachability to the global audience with a few clicks of a mouse. It enables a business to deal with thousands of customer at the same time. An online presence not only provides the scope to deal with the present customers, but also helps to drive in new customers. In fact you can now educate your present customers about new launches or even your existing products without being present in person. Your website does in all! The end result is great business without much effort.
• Online presence builds up credibility for the company. Since customers are able to view company profiles and more company details, an entrepreneur can easily win over the trust of their customers through an online presence.
• Online presence helps the customers to get endless number of services under a single roof. They can go through the details of a product or a service. An entrepreneur on the other hand doesn’t need to spend money to make a brochure to get in touch with the customers.
• Options like live chat or email queries allow the customer a chance to interact with the company. Contrary to the media advertisement, anonline advertisement easily reaches the target audience who are looking for products or service. An entrepreneur gets a good return on your investment.
• If an entrepreneur wants to alter the price of their products or services, they can do so in no time on the internet. Whereas introducing the new price via media requires a new advertisement strategy which is often quite expensive.
• With passing days, web space is becoming more and more affordable. Promoting a company on web doesn’t cost too much now. Online presence relieves the entrepreneur from the cost of real estate, business rates, insurance, water, maintenance and many more costs.
• Online presence saves time, money and energy of the entrepreneurs.

A website adds value to a brand, promotes its products and services and provides an added medium to communicate with customers. Therefore, it is extremely important for a business to adopt a website. Updating the website with useful information is equally important. After all, it gives the visitor a reason to come back to the website frequently.

Reprinted from Rahul Rungta

Okay, you are ready to join the masses and put up a web site. You’ve put a lot of thought into the design and are ready to go. Perhaps you should give more thought to using a web site template.

For many people, it makes more sense to use a pre-designed web template instead of creating a site from scratch. Using a pre-designed site template allows you to get a professional design at a fraction of the price a custom design would cost. A good template is automated or has HTML tags to show you exactly where to put your text. This saves you precious time. Also, a web page designed by someone just learning HTML is more likely to have mistakes than one designed and tested by professionals. Mistakes in web site code can prevent some users from being able to see a web page or can even cause lower search engine rankings.

There are millions of web sites on the Internet and there are more being born every second. Even though there may be more than one web site using the pre-designed site template you choose, the likelihood of a visitor seeing both sites is not great. Every site is unique in the data it presents. Web templates present data quickly and professionally without the hassle of designing anything.

Being that many web templates are under $50 and many custom site designs are well over $5000, it is easy to see how web templates can save money and time. Web templates are a good way for someone to learn HTML. By becoming familiar with code that has been written professionally, a webmaster can pick up on things along the way. Instead of having an amateur web site at the start, an HTML novice can have a professional site from the beginning with a pre-designed site template.

Search Engines also play a factor in choosing web templates. Sites with HTML mistakes do not fair well in search engines. Particularly in older versions of Netscape, forgetting one “table” tag can mean the whole page won’t show. A good web template has been designed and tested in many environments, to W3C standards, for maximum compatibility. Instead of thrashing your way through mistakes, take advantage of competent template designs.

If you are just starting out, a web site template is almost always the way to go. There are thousands of sites offering them for sale for very low prices. Why waste your time when you can use a template to get off to a quick, professional start?

When creating new design for clients, XD Web Solutions will help you decide if templates are a great way to get started based on your budget, site, and design needs.

Partially reprinted from Solutionfinders

So as a designer, I was curious as to what grade my own site will receive and if I designed my site properly. And, yes, I am not ashamed to say that I did not get an A – at least by the SiteReportCard’s website. Am I shocked? NO.

SiteReportCard is a very useful FREE service that helps you identify broken links, website load time analysis, HTML validation, and much more.

My site, and any site that I create, is already built with web standards in mind and is XHTML and CSS validated.

But I wanted to see what this site had to say about mine. So what were my results?

Well, there were 6 warnings, a high load time, and several possible misspellings. However, here are what the results indicated:

• the warnings were not completely valid/useful so really not much to correct;
• the high load time of 190 seconds is misleading as that’s the reported load time for someone using a 28.8K speed modem;
• and the misspellings included my company name (yes, it’s spelled funny – Xtreme Designz), blog (not sure why their dictionary isn’t updated to include that web 2.0 term by now), the word Skype, and e-commerce (though there are several ways people spell this word, including “eCommerce” with the capital “C”). It did find a legitimate misspelled word for which I am very grateful!

So what do I give myself overall? An A of course!!

Try using this FREE service on one of the URLs on your site and see what results you get. It’s at least a good start to figuring out how to make your site better.

Oh and if you need help in making some of the corrections for your site, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m around!