Article Summary: You’re Doing Your Web Site Wrong: How Microsoft Partners Can Win on the Web
Our CEO, Jennifer Garcia was asked to contribute website development advice to this article for Microsoft Partners, her remarks are suitable not just for Microsoft Partners, but for any business. See the highlights below:
Website Design and Buyer Appeal Matter
For Microsoft partners, the design of their site really depends on who they’re selling to. Just like with their other marketing, if they’re focused on specific target industries, then certain things are important to those target industries. For example, a partner who’s focused in the fashion and retail space should have a different website design than somebody who’s focused in the steel and metals industry. So, it’s important to match the look and the feel of your website to your audience.
Website Homepage Advantage
Another thing we see as a big challenge with a lot of partners is that they don’t say what they do on their homepage. You should be able to understand what a business does without any effort and within seconds of viewing the homepage. It’s very important to have a simple, straight statement that says, ‘This is what we do as a company.’ It should be something very specific that immediately differentiates your business from the competition and sums up your place in the market.
Developing the Right Message for your Website
All effective marketing, including website content, is built on a clear definition of the target market and a clear statement of the value the company delivers to that market. The importance of a focused value proposition comes up again and again when experts talk about websites. What is your key selling point? What is your specific target audience? Ensure you make clear your key selling point and make sure you do it in a way that’s geared toward your specific target audience.
Website and SEO Planning
When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), it’s most important to have an expert set up your foundational SEO the right way. Foundational SEO includes technical setup/fixes, as well as information architecture including title tags, descriptions, etc. If you’re just getting into SEO its highly recommended to hire somebody that’s done it before, and that can get you started. When you’re engaging with an agency for website development or SEO, you should always ask, ‘What is your process? And let me see it.’ Our process starts off with a kickoff where we review these important questions. And while setting up the site correctly is important, ongoing support can be vital when things change, your website should be dynamic, like your business – always evolving.
To read the full article from Redmond Channel Partner click here.