You've designed your logo, and you're ready to print your business cards and other marketing collateral materials. You want to include your website address (also called a URL) to build your credibility. However, you're not quite ready to write and design a full website. At the same time, you don't think it's a good idea to distribute your new printed materials showing your website URL and to have only a blank web page waiting for your potential client's inquiries. What to do?
Does this sound familiar? Many entrepreneurs who are starting small businesses find themselves in this position. We suggest that you build a one-page website to use in the interim. Elements to design into your one-page website include:
- Your brand identity graphics. Include your logo and visual vocabulary elements on your website for a consistent look and feel across your materials and to build your brand recognition.
- A short description of your business. This description should be between one paragraph and one page in length when typed into a Microsoft Word document, and it should also be concise. You don't want your one-page website to be a scrolling monstrosity, website visitors will read the content of a shorter page. And, the ultimate goal of your page is for people to read it and learn more about you!
- Your contact information. It's very important to include information about how to get in touch with you ? in case someone stumbles upon your website, becomes interested, and wants to hire you! It will also serve as a great reference for any of your current clients or anyone you meet while networking who loses your business card before they have a chance to call you.
- A testimonial from a client, to enhance your business's credibility. An enthusiastic, signed testimonial by a real person ? you provide a link to their website as "proof" of their existence ? will begin to calm any fears that a potential client may have. This makes even a basic one-page website compelling.
You will see that even a one-page website can bring in new clients and help to convert prospects to clients. And, since having a website is a "must" in today's business world, your marketing package will be up to date as well.
You can use a one-page site as a starting point for a much larger site in a step-by- step manner. Writing one or two web pages at a time and developing a five- to six- page (or more!) site over a period of time is a much less daunting task than developing a full site all at once. Even my 330+ page (and counting!) website started as a one-page site.
The most common excuse that people have for not having a website for their business is that they don't know what to include on it. If you have a hard time writing a single page about your business, try recording yourself talking to a friend or client about your business ? it's often easier to tell someone your story than to stare at a blank page.
Another reason to have a one-page website developed would be to get a jumpstart on building search engine rankings. You can include search engine keyword phrases into the text on the page, and then submit the one-page site to the engine's ranking software. You'll get established in the search engines and will be able to begin building your site's search engine profile and history. This is the beginning of excellent search engine optimization and the first step on the path toward great rankings that will drive many visitors to your site.
A great advantage of having a one-page website is that you can include your URL on your printed materials. You won't have to reprint your cards and collateral when you do launch your full site!
About the Author
Erin Ferree, Founder and Lead Designer of elf design, is a brand identity and graphic design expert. She has been helping small businesses grow with bold, clean and effective logo and marketing material designs for over a decade. elf design offers the comprehensive graphic and web design services of a large agency, with the one- on-one, personalized attention of an independent design specialist. Erin works closely in partnership with her clients to create designs that are visible, credible and memorable ? and that tell their unique business stories in a clear and consistent way. For more information about elf design, please visit: logo design at logo design
tidy up service Glenview ..Since I'm a web designer, I have a tendency to... Read More
Projecting a professional image is paramount to your website's success.... Read More
Many websites make the mistake of being all flash and... Read More
Everybody talks about the importance of testing your sales copy... Read More
You've made your website, added a great title and keywords... Read More
Why your site should be developed with CSS and semantic... Read More
If you are designing a web site for which the... Read More
Your home page is the most important page of your... Read More
While few companies can boast as we do that our... Read More
You just created a new web site but want to... Read More
Clutter: Too much noise, too much text, and too little... Read More
A search for "web design" on Google returns more than... Read More
My mother used to take me along when she visited... Read More
A highly effective website will always reflect its highly effective... Read More
Questions to ask when designing a Web Site for your... Read More
You've designed your logo, and you're ready to print your... Read More
In my last article entitled, Maximizing The True Value Of... Read More
If you'd like to create/maintain a website, having some HTML... Read More
The solution lies in creating a 'Database driven website', through... Read More
1. Don't load your web site with a lot of... Read More
Have you seen Jesse James on the... Read More
As a webmaster, you want to keep your visitors content... Read More
There are often many mistakes encountered when creating a webpage... Read More
Ecommerce is just exploding right now on the Net. More... Read More
Web design is a very competitive area and there is... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..The Basics You have a flourishing business ? everything is... Read More
The ability to create simple, attractive and functional web pages... Read More
Here are a few programs I can't do without. They're... Read More
With the advent of the Internet a whole new vista... Read More
The Questions You Should Be Asking ? The Answers You... Read More
Making your site accessible means making it available to be... Read More
I'm sure you've all heard the saying 'Build it and... Read More
Most people will agree there is nothing more annoying than... Read More
Whether you're giving a critical sales presentation to a client,... Read More
Content is the most important part of any website.The Internet... Read More
Does your website make a good first impression? Is the... Read More
When I surf the Net, I often see web sites... Read More
FIRST IMPRESSIONS. First impressions often leave lasting impressions. Impressions... Read More
It is a well-known fact that a successful business depends... Read More
Gone are the days when you had to rely on... Read More
When you design a website how do you start ?Do... Read More
Countdown to Armageddon - at least you'd think so judging... Read More
Almost everything is available on the web? products, services, e-books,... Read More
You have good traffic, but low client sign ups and... Read More
Just because you are a small business with an even... Read More
As search engine marketers, we spend an enormous amount of... Read More
I've written about META tags in the past, and I... Read More
In the of-line marketing world it is all about trying... Read More
Most of us at times need advice on different aspects... Read More
An application is not ready for use unless you have... Read More
Web Design |