With 15 seconds being the average attention span of of a modern internet consumer, perhaps the greatest challenge facing entrepreneurs and business owners today is creating a website that stands out. In an online world where there are one billion active sites on the web, getting your website right is no longer an option. It is an imperative for your business to survive and thrive.
How to make your website stand out:
1. Take the first step right away. If you don’t yet have a website (and perhaps have been putting if off), you need to buy a domain name and hosting ASAP, as it can nip procrastination in the bud.
2. Create a mood board. This is a visual representation for your brand – the feeling you want people to have when they look at your site and everything you do. Use pinterest to create a board with pictures and quotes that capture this mood, and refer back to this board whenever you release anything for your brand.
3. Color is everything. Get very clear on the colors you’re going to use. You should have 1-2 focus colors, which appear most often on your site, and 2-3 complementing colors, which don’t compete for attention but are everywhere as well. White space is equally important, as it can provide visual relief, contrast, and organization.
4. Be consistent. Stick to the same colors and designs as the trademark or signature for your personal brand. This ensures that no matter what you do, people will recognize you easily and come to expect consistency from your service
5. Define your tagline. Feature a short description above the page fold of what you do and how you can help people. When people come to your site, it immediately lets them know if they’re in the right place and weeds out non-customers.
6. Provide value for free. Offer visitors free content that solves one of their problems with no strings attached (no sneaky opt-in buttons). You’re basically letting them know you’re there and giving them a taste of what you do. The better your free content, the more people will desire your paid content, so be generous.
1. Take the first step right away. If you don’t yet have a website (and perhaps have been putting if off), you need to buy a domain name and hosting ASAP, as it can nip procrastination in the bud.
2. Create a mood board. This is a visual representation for your brand – the feeling you want people to have when they look at your site and everything you do. Use pinterest to create a board with pictures and quotes that capture this mood, and refer back to this board whenever you release anything for your brand.
3. Color is everything. Get very clear on the colors you’re going to use. You should have 1-2 focus colors, which appear most often on your site, and 2-3 complementing colors, which don’t compete for attention but are everywhere as well. White space is equally important, as it can provide visual relief, contrast, and organization.
4. Be consistent. Stick to the same colors and designs as the trademark or signature for your personal brand. This ensures that no matter what you do, people will recognize you easily and come to expect consistency from your service
5. Define your tagline. Feature a short description above the page fold of what you do and how you can help people. When people come to your site, it immediately lets them know if they’re in the right place and weeds out non-customers.
6. Provide value for free. Offer visitors free content that solves one of their problems with no strings attached (no sneaky opt-in buttons). You’re basically letting them know you’re there and giving them a taste of what you do. The better your free content, the more people will desire your paid content, so be generous.
