Physical therapists have unique web presence needs. An effective site must:
* Introduce the practitioner, and outline his or her style of treatment;
* Provide straightforward content establishing the practitioner's credibility;
* Review services and common procedures performed by the practitioner;
* Inform the prospective client of the features and value of selecting the practitioner as a service provider;
* Offer immediate contact options, including a web e-mail form;
* Display office locations complete with photos, address, and driving directions.
Style and Navigation
The physical therapist's web site should be clean, professional, and to the point. Avoid loading the site with Flash, Java applets, or other features that go beyond basic programming. Keep the practitioner's target market(s) in mind; potential clients are looking for information, not savvy design.
Of course, this shouldn't take away from the web site's on-screen appeal. Images and text should be easy to review, however this doesn't have to infer plain web design. Let the information stand out; compliment the text with images and basic page graphics.
If a logo, font, or color is already in use on printed marketing materials, incorporate this into the site so that all marketing materials present the practitioner consistently.
Content Elements
Presenting content in a basic, explanatory fashion will ensure the web site appeals to the greatest target market possible. If the site is loaded with concepts or terminology that is beyond traditional understanding, the reader will indirectly lose interest. Again, keep the target market in mind.
If at all possible, be sure to include a photo of the practitioner, as well as a limited biography. Photos of in-office staff are also helpful in developing a relationship between the client-prospect and the practitioner.
Each practitioner has his or her own style of treatment. Highlighting the specific features and/or benefits of the practitioner's services is the most effective way to turn prospects into clients. Increasing the unique value of the practitioner will establish credibility, promote interest, and increase the likelihood of taking a "next action step."
Establishing a next action step is imperative in developing an effective web presence. All areas of the site must lead the prospect to a point of action, whether it be telephone contact, filling out a consultation form, or requesting additional information by mail or e-mail.
Tweaks and Tips
* When developing content, be sure to include plenty of key terms and phrases in the site's general text. Search engines such as Google rely on content text, not meta tags, to determine search placement.
* Include key terms in image description tags and hyperlinks. Describe each image or link using terms and phrases relevant to the image, industry, and practitioner.
* Offer point-to-point driving direction to each office location by linking to a Google or Yahoo! map. This free service is a great way to increase prospect-to-client conversion, as visitors will recall the site provides driving directions.
If you are a practitioner attempting to develop your first web presence, seek the advice and support of a full-service small business web design firm. Professional, affordable web design is available. Creating a "do it yourself" site may appear cost effective, however this can quickly become a complicated and time consuming project. Stay focused in your profession, and recruit the wisdom of a web professional.
Jim Ray is a seasoned web developer and president of Web Presence, a national web design firm serving the small business market sector. To learn more, or for a free quote for your own web site, visit the Web Presence at http://www.web-presence.net
Alexis limo rentals ..By following feng shui guidelines and techniques, you can build... Read More
Why is the quality of your text layout and design... Read More
If you have a web site to which people pay... Read More
What are websites? Are they sales tools for vendors and... Read More
Here are a few programs I can't do without. They're... Read More
Novice and professional graphic designers, we are aware that you... Read More
Creating your own website can be fun and easy, as... Read More
First impressions are extremely important if you hope to do... Read More
If you are reading this, I assume you either have... Read More
Typos, misspellings, hideous grammar, exclamation overkill and run-on sentences all... Read More
I do site reviews. Needless to say, I see a... Read More
If you're not getting a lot of traffic to your... Read More
The problem with designing your site as a graphic, is... Read More
Developing a software application is not easy at all; apart... Read More
1. Use .gifs rather than .jpgs. GIFs are smaller in... Read More
As a webmaster you already know how important it is... Read More
Do your web pages, sales letters or personal presentations include... Read More
First off, I am a designer. Now you're thinking, here's... Read More
CSS is a new option for website designers that have... Read More
Your web site should be-visitor friendly to navigatesearch engine friendly... Read More
Not all links are created equal.While all of your links... Read More
You're almost set. The content of your website, e-book, or... Read More
Think of the people who visit your site as blind... Read More
Nope. You certainly don't need a website.But you don't need... Read More
I ask myself that question about once a month.My website... Read More
car service from Midway Alsip ..Over the course of the last decade, the Internet has... Read More
There are often many mistakes encountered when creating a webpage... Read More
Flash is a powerful technology that can help you create... Read More
Customers will form an opinion of your business as soon... Read More
There are literally thousands of different options, styles and formats... Read More
We've all seen them. Poorly designed web sites that make... Read More
Do you remember playing with the jack-in-the-box toy as a... Read More
I want you to imagine a lemon. In your mind's... Read More
If your are a new web designer, you may face... Read More
CSS is a new option for website designers that have... Read More
A successful website is something that everyone venturing into the... Read More
Internet Explorer, created by microsoft has been the most popular... Read More
Are you serious about get this website done fast and... Read More
Questions to ask when designing a Web Site for your... Read More
It's been said again and again, when it comes to... Read More
Many businesses want a simple website where they tell people... Read More
Congratulations! You've got a brand new site and it's doing... Read More
Never put form over function. Why? Because it's crucial that... Read More
Ever wonder how HTML color codes are put together? For... Read More
In today's world, a web site is virtually mandatory for... Read More
It seems more and more webmasters are using CSS for... Read More
All websites have a homepage. It is the most important... Read More
You've likely heard of the movie, Jerry Maguire, with its... Read More
Audio can provide an added dimension to your site. It... Read More
There are several very good reasons why you should consider... Read More
Web Design |