Over the next few posts we’ll be talking about what’s sooo 1998, and what’s the next new thing in web site design.

Hit Counters

Any site created past 2002 should not have a hit counter that shows how many visitors have been to the site at the bottom of the page.

First of all, the number is not accurate. Hit counters count “hits”, not visitors, and not page views. We can go deeply into the differences another day, but suffice it to say that the number of “hits” says almost nothing about the success level of your site. Displaying it on your page screams “I’m a newbie!”

And your site, especially if it’s professional, should Never say that.

The Low Cost Web site Design Secrets series concludes today. You’ll always be able to click the link to the entire series below.

Low Cost Web Site Design Secret Number 29: Keep Testing and Tweaking - Your Site Changes and Grows with Your Company.

While it’s search-engine suicide to have under construction signs on your site, your site is always under construction. When your company grows, or changes, so should your site. When you’re mentioned in the press, there should be a page about this on your site, preferably with a link.

Not only does fresh content help you get better search engine results, it helps the brand image of your site. An updated site ss to your client “we’re keeping up with the times, and are abreast of our industry’s technological changes.” Whether that means showing a client’s home in a real estate video podcast, or using the best reseal bags for your clients to take your cookies home, the update frequency and modernity of your site is a reflection on your company.

Don’t be afraid to explore new technology - but don’t be afriad to know when to draw the line either. Just because you can do Flash doesn’t mean you should make your entire site a Flash presentation. The fact that you can use RSS doesn’t mean you should if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Test everything you can on your site. Study the results and do some market research. The roll out new and improved versions of your site periodically. At bare minimum, add new pages of fresh content as frequently as your web site designer advises.

Nina

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Read the Rest of the Low Cost Web Site Design Secrets Series

The Low Cost Web site Design Secrets series continues. You’ll always be able to click the link to the entire series below.

Low Cost Web Site Design Secret Number 29: Contact Information Builds Trust Faster.

If you expect people to buy from you, you’ll have to let them know you’re a real person. You really don’t have any other choice. If you’d rather they went to your competitor, you could provide them with your webmaster address and let that be the end of it.

That’s a handy tactic if you are completely overwhelmed with new business, and want to build up a wait list while you’re in such hot demand.

But if you’re not, you will want to put up every way that you can for your prospective clients to contact you. At least one email is good, because most folks won’t want to leave their internet experience just to contact you. A physical address is better. It says “We’re a real company and we won’t disappear as soon as you turn your back.” That means no PO Boxes - use real snail mail addresses.

Every new entrepreneur is afraid that some crazy stalker will get the information off their site and camp outside their house.

Well, A, that rarely happens. B, who told you to use your home address? Use your business location.

What can happen, is that you get Christmas cards from clients, and a little bit of junk mail. Fair trade to get more sales.

Nina

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Read the Rest of the Low Cost Web Site Design Secrets Series