50 Things You Should Know About Websites.

Web Hosting Services, Web Site Design

  1. Anything is possible with web design and development. If you can imagine it, it can probably be done.
  2. A website is the easiest marketing component to measure in terms of effectiveness.
  3. A beautiful website is not necessarily an effective one
  4. The term “hits” as a measure of your website’s use and visibility, is completely meaningless.
  5. Many companies can make websites, but very few provide good, responsive service.
  6. A cheap and unprofessional looking website will suck the lifeblood right out of your business and in some cases, end it completely.
  7. There’s no such thing as “Guaranteed 24 hour uptime”
  8. A website is minimally 10x more cost effective than a full page yellow pages advertisement.
  9. Letting your cousin/brother/nephew create your website for free is a mistake for which you will literally pay.
  10. Google do not hide their requirements for search engine optimization. There is no “secret formula”. In fact, they want you to have this information, and you can get it right here.
  11. A Search Engine Optimized website without solid marketing content and persuasive calls to action is like putting more water in a leaky bucket instead of plugging the holes.
  12. If you find a hosting company who doesn’t have multiple internet providers, run from them.
  13. Your web provider should have a passion for getting you a fast ROI on your website, not seeing how much flash your site has
  14. Use and choice of color on your site is as important as the content. The psychology of color can affect and influence buying decisions.
  15. Google ignores Metatag Keywords. They’ve said so. Many times.
  16. Most Search Engine Optimization things you read on the internet are wrong either factually or ethically. Google, Bing and Yahoo post exactly how their search engines work. Question any other source.
  17. The only web development companies we don’t like are those who don’t know what they’re doing, or make crappy websites. Bad websites are bad for everyone.
  18. If you choose a web development company, make sure they use W3C web standards and not “table-based” layouts. Standards-based websites load faster, and are much more search engine optimizable.
  19. If you have Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6, upgrade now. As of July 2010 Microsoft will no longer be supporting it, and it’s literally full of security flaws.
  20. Google Chrome is fantastic.
  21. Don’t let your website go stale. Change its content monthly at least.
  22. A blog on your website is a great way to keep things fresh and keep people coming back. It also allows you to show through your business.
  23. You may be an expert in your field, but a marketing specialist is the best kind of person to write your website content. Structure, conciseness and form are as important as the content itself.
  24. Make use of Social Networking. Now.
  25. Putting up a website, with no other marketing collateral, is like nailing a brochure onto a tree in a forest that no one ever goes into.
  26. An effective website is 90% psychology 10% technology
  27. Over 75% of web users admit to deciding the credibility of a business based on the experience of using their website.
  28. The two most important ingredients of an effective website are usability and human factors.
  29. “website” and “web site” are both gramatically correct.
  30. While your website is down, there will be people who try to hit it, fail, and assume you’re out of business.
  31. No marketing campaign is guaranteed.
  32. Reading a computer screen is more uncomfortable than reading a book or newspaper. Content should be organized accordingly.
  33. When someone hits your home page, you have approximately 5 seconds to get their attention, explain what you do, and persuade them to contact you.
  34. Asking “How much does a website cost?” is like asking a custom home builder “How much does a house cost?”. It all depends on what you want.
  35. Template-based website creation tools leave you very limited. Most of our customers came from that environment and were very dissatisfied.
  36. You should have elements on your site that keep people coming back, such as a blog, news, events, etc. This keeps your business “top of mind”.
  37. The World Wide Web is still in its infancy.
  38. More and more people are browsing the web from smart phones. Make sure your site has a mobile version.
  39. Make sure your host backs up your website to a completely different location. A fire or explosion in a hosting facility could put you in blackout. Computers are machines. Machines break. Preparedness will make you powerful.
  40. Security and stability are vital in hosting. Your website’s server is getting hack attempts 24/7/365 from all over the world.
  41. If you’re on a “shared hosting” service, your website is probably on the same computer as 2000 others, and can be shut down and erased at any time without your approval. Just read the terms and conditions of your host.
  42. People communicate via email much more than the telephone.
  43. Facebook’s pay per click advertising system is the most targeted, effective form of advertising I have ever seen or experienced.
  44. 83% of businesses currently use the Internet to research and find potential vendors.
  45. 43% of all retail sales are expected to be influenced or made on the Internet by the year 2012.
  46. More than half of all internet users are between the ages of 35 and 55.
  47. Most decisions to buy houses and cars are made via the web.
  48. With the ability to pay online and publish newsletters and other content directly for immediate viewing, a website can be a major part of your Green initiative
  49. You never know who could find your website.
  50. Websites have literally saved businesses.