Top Tips for a Successful Website...with the small business/SME in mind

By Nigel Harding

Referon High Wycombe6 March 2013

Agenda● Your website, your shop

window● Understanding your target

audience

1. Your shop window

Check list:● Establish/re-enforce corporate ID● Use consistent, complimentary colours● Use good quality photography

– Good lighting, relaxed professional look, no holiday snaps

● Importance of usability

– Different form factors (smartphones, tablets)

Colours - psychology

● Blue = corporate, business-like● Red = passion/danger● Purple = health, healing, spiritual, counselling,

helping● Green = restful, environmental● Grey = safe, trustworthy● Black: statistically more people will click away.

Colour Wheel

Colour opposites

Colour - analogous

Colour – tertiary

Photography

Which would you choose?

●

●

Responsive Web Design

Some Facts & Figures● The number of smartphone searchers doubles every two

months

● In 2010, Google became a ‘mobile-first’ company (this means they develop their sites and tools on mobiles first)

● Smartphone sales overtook PC sales last year (two years earlier than expected)

● In three years time, tablet sales will be bigger than PC sales

● Smartphone sales will continue to grow – will be 3 times the sales of PCs

● 52% of UK mobile phone users have a smartphone

2. Your target audience

Check list● Understand who you are trying to reach

– Demographics (age, sex, niches)– Suitable colours & style that appeal– Personas

● Tell your audience what you want them to do– i.e. “Call to action”, telephone, complete a form, click on a “buy”

button

Vending machine industry persona

● Vending machine operator company● Facilities Management for SMEs/corporates● Target audience, think about...

● Male? – most likely● Age? - 28-45?● Role? - CEO/COO/MD?● Disposition? - quite analytical

Call To Action – tell your audiencewhat you would like them to do...

● Every page should have a purpose● Tell your visitor what you want them to do...

Great article: 10 techniques for an effective call to action http://boagworld.com/design/10-techniques-for-an-effective-call-to-action/

MailChimp – calls to action

Questions?

Email: nigel@amodeowebdesign.co.uk