Internet Marketing Podcast, Web Usability Blog - Intuitive Websites

  This is a two-part series that covers strategies for driving traffic to your Website that do NOT involve search engine optimization of pay-per click programs, including… RSS Feeds Podcasts Articles and blogs Webinars

In this podcast we focus on two e-commerce sites, amazon.com and victoriassecret.com. Along the way we discover many best practices (amazon) and some usability issues (victoria's secret).   

In this podcast, we look at the strengths and weaknesses of two Websites, npr.org and gazette.com (the local Colorado Springs newspaper) in terms of organization, use of graphics, navigation and paths to conversion.   Key points from our analysis Graphic ads are invisible to users. Don’t put important content on or near a graphic. Sites with many links must have an extremely clear organization and navigation. Be sure that all paths lead users in a desired direction. If you can’t “feel the funnel” when browsing the site, something is wrong. Links to sites reviewed http://www.gazette.com http://www.npr.org  

  How to Make Things Simple on Your Site Clear Navigation: Make sure menu choices don't use jargon and don't have too many choices on one page! Effective Use of Graphics: Make sure graphics serve a purpose. Beware of "banner blindness" – don't place important buttons as graphics. Make sure graphics are top notch – users will create instant impressions regarding quality of the site/company as a whole based on one glance at a photo. Use captions. Users looking at graphics will ALWAYS read the captions. Watch Users: Do formal or informal user testing, use the best analytics packages to note what users do on your site. You will quickly see where they are confused or off-task. Fix those areas of the site. Content: Don't use too much content! Use content to clarifiy the primary message quickly. Bullets, headlines, linking text, and highlighted text get read. Block paragraphs do not. Don't let company departments make a dumping ground of your site, stay focused on the marketing message and use a blog for dynamic, newsy content. Be consistent: Don't put common controls on the page in places people don't expect! We Wholeheartedly Recommend… Don't Make me Think by Steve Krug

Many Websites are "brochure-ware", sites that look good and convey a lot of information but bring little to the bottom line.  This podcast will focus on building sites that build relationships.     Seven tips for sites that convert Draw qualified traffic Have a professional design Have a consistent message and branding Make sure the site is well organized in terms of navigation and usability Content, photos, graphics need to build on why users came to the site in the first place Messaging should move users into a sales process Contact points should be aligned with all the content.  

An effective email marketing program is an essential element of any web presence. In this podcast, we continue with tips and resources for optimizing your email effort.   Good Web-Based Mail Packages: Vertical Response Constant Contact Keys Think of your emails as a series of offers with aligned landing pages that elaborate on offers and contain paths to conversion. Track the data and repeat what works! Don’t ever sell email addresses. And be sure to tell potential subscribers that there is no way this will ever happen. Keep track of how many people join. If the number is low, look at ways to make the email signup more compelling on your Website. Avoid open selling in your emails. Make them educational so people wil want to continue to receive them. Ask your customers what they’d like to read, and how often.

  Keys Start small if you need to, but DO start Be sure to use web based software that manages all the subscribes and unsubscribes and creates a form for instant Website subscriptions. Make it easy for people to subscribe on your Website – signups should be present on ALL pages in a consistent location. Be sure to include a link to your emails in the email signature of all your company’s reps. Start with list on hand and be ready to take unsubscribes! Create great content for your email marketing