Many businesses have websites today, but how many are effective?

How many attract the right kind of clients and convert them to customers?

Lots of people just look - but we want the buyers.

We put together a list of 7 deadly website sins and what you should do to avoid them.

Sin No 1: - Starting with a dud logo

No site will work if your logo is crap. As the saying goes, you cannot make a silk purse out of sow's ear.

Sin No 2: - Not promoting your site enough

Many first time website owners can 'forget' their traditional marketing methods when promoting their new site. 
'Build it and they will come' - is not how it is done.

Remember: -

• Good Banner graphics ( yep that dud logo is really going to drag you down )
• Consistent taglines as part of your brand - you need a hook
• Good SEO practices, including perhaps Google Adwords for key times of the year
• Social Media - Facebook, Twitter and Linked in - tell everyone, in every network
• Blog - you know your stuff, share, create interest, you are an expert in what you do!
• Offline - yes your traditional marketing tools - don't forget them!

Sin No 3: - No WIFM

If a client can't see the 'what's in it for me' - they are gone. Make sure your site is about benefits and not features. Everyone sells widgets, but how will yours benefit your clients?

Sin No 4: No Calls to Action

Your website must be a lead generator. If you are not picking up contact details, then you are not using your investment to its fullest. Make sure you entice viewers to signup to newsletters, click here for more, fill in forms to get more information, give away free tools. Do whatever you need to do to grab a future lead.

Your blog and your social media channels will also help with this - make sure people can subscribe to your news feeds, twitter, facebook and linked in accounts.

Today they are browsers, but tomorrow they might be buyers!

Sin No 5: It's all about me

Actually it's not - it's about your customers. So whilst your vision, mission and values may be vital to you, your customers don't really care. Awards, flash office photos have a place, but it is well in the background. Your site is all about attracting and converting clients.

Sin No 6: Not looking at the numbers

Like any investment, you need to understand your ROI. With your website, you need to track the metrics and regularly be across them. What are your visits, what products are being viewed or searched on, what forms are being filled in, what is your most visited pages?

Sin No 7: Poor Auto Responders

What do you feedback forms say to people when they fill them in? Are they welcoming, professional and in the tone of your business? Or are they very blunt and robotic? Make sure you use your forms like you expect your front line team to answer the phone. Bring your business personality into your site, from every angle.

Remember if your website is an extension of your office, how do you greet, meet and treat your potential clients.

About the Author - Leanne O'Sullivan
	Leanne has been sharing her knowledge and the power of the web, social media and search optimisation with Bosweb clients for well over a decade. An accomplished public speaker, Leanne enjoys empowering people with the skills and knowledge to make their business an online success!