Donāt Make Them Think ā Chapter 5
For the last four weeks, the class content has been on web design and usability. I knew that there were things called that, but it never really occurred to me why things are the way they are, and how you can tell the difference between a good website and a bad website. I think we all know good and bad websites when we see them. Typically, we see a bad website for only a few seconds, then find something else to do (in the industry, thatās known as ābouncingā) on a better site. With at least 4.7 billion pages to choose from (WWWSize 2016), the odds are pretty good of finding something better.
My goal for this four weeks has been to start a process to turn a passable website into a good website (usability). Simultaneously, I learned the basics of how to get users to come to a website (search engine optimization / SEO), find what they need, and keep them coming back (findability). The process of getting my case study company (VisualCue.com) from where they are now, to where they need to be is going to a long road. The good news is, they have some really talented folks and good designers. Many of the website āfixesā will be easy for the company to execute (I just have to hope they take my advice as a relative Internet Marketing novice).
From changing the way the menus look to adding more user input and testimonials, each step in the process should cause the website to be a little more usable and a little more findable on the Internet. Currently, without knowing the name in advance, VisualCue.com is virtually impossible to find through the use of an online search engine (i.e. Google, Bing, Ask, etc.). Under the hood (so to speak), Iām planning to have them make some improvements to not only the content of the website, but how the search engines see and index it (part of the SEO process). Combining these upgrades with active participation in the online community through social media, blogs, etc., VisualCue.com will create more connections to itself from other websites. The more connections, the better the search engines can find them.
So, whatās the bottom line of my continuing mastery adventure these last four weeks you may ask? Make the website findable on the internet and convince people to stay there and use it (aka buy or use your) by making the site āuser friendlyā. If a user canāt find your product, they canāt buy your product (BizFilings 2012).
Business Activity Monitoring Platform | VisualCue. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from http://visualcue.com/
Can't Buy Your Product If They Don't Know It Exists. (2012, May 24). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/sbg/marketing/advertising-pr/marketing-program-planning.aspx
The size of the World Wide Web (The Internet). (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from http://www.worldwidewebsize.com/