1. Less Is More
   The average user spends just 4.4 seconds on a page, don’t waste it with filler language or beat around the bush. The more clear and concise you can be, the better.
2. Important Information First
   Don’t leave your call to actions or main selling points to the end of the page, bring your visitors in and get them excited. Then add the supporting arguments and details. If you don’t, they may not make it to the important points.
3. Use Headings
   Break up long pages by adding sub-headings, such as the <h2> and <h3> tags. Make them catchy, relevant, and of course describe the content immediately following them.
4. Images
   Attractive images are extremely effective in selling your message (even subliminally), if used correctly. Make sure they are very clean and attractive. Spend a few dollars on professional stock photography to get your message across, my favorite shop is IStockPhoto.com by the way.
5. Establish Trust
   The internet is a low trust environment. Don’t oversell, or be pushy, or your users will surely hit the “Back” button. Take every opportunity to make your site & content more personable, after all this is sales, not promenade. And don’t forget the “About Us” page, they’re looking for it….
6. Be an Authority
   If you want to look up defenestration, you go to the dictionary. Visitors should leave knowing that you are the first stop, should they have a future need. Use action verbs, demonstrate credentials, and give away good great information, customers will thank you with their business.
7. Emphasize Key Terms
   Bold or italicize key terms and concepts. Drawing a user’s eye to a section’s key concept will draw them into the rest of the text surrounding them.
8. Use Lists
   Whenever possible. Which looks better?
   
   Bass, catfish, trout, sharks, stingrays, and tarpon
   – or –
   • Bass
   • Catfish
   • Trout
   • Sharks
   • Stingrays
   • Tarpon
9. Break Long Content into Chunks
   Break long articles, tutorials, or product listings into sub-pages, with a small (but descriptive) navigation menu to help visitors get to their desired location.
10. Highlight Quotes
    Nothing makes the impersonal personal like quotations from valued sources. Whether they take the form of testimonials, or quotes from industry leaders, be sure they stand out. For example: “This is a quote that is inline with other text, is it very noticeable?”

    “Or does this quote grab a little more attention?”

Whether you are looking to contract Rainmaker for your next small business website or somebody else article by Steve McKee should be required reading.

Read  “Make Your Web Site Work for You”

Here are some highlights:

Even in the age of technology there’s nothing more powerful than a first impression, and your Web site increasingly is your introduction. I used to counsel startup companies not to underestimate the need for a professionally designed logo. I stand by that advice, but now I extend it to their Web presence as well. You simply can’t afford to look anything less than first-rate online.

The Flash introduction is a little cheesy, but it does seem to capture the personality of the company. What it doesn’t do is communicate anything about what Health Barn is or does. That’s a big missed opportunity, especially given the short amount of time parents can spare.

Revat, which describes itself on its site as “the leading self-defense program for adults living in an urban environment,” appears to be off to a good start, but it’s missing the drama. The fear of being accosted is powerful, yet the Web site doesn’t capitalize on that. Imagine how compelling a mini-movie dramatizing Revat training would be to its prospective customers.

Translate Your Website with Google Language Tools

1. First, we must get a link to the page we want to translate.  Go to Google Language Tools, about a third of the way down to the “Translate a web page” dialog. Simply enter your web page’s address, and choose the language conversion option at the right. Hit enter, and your page in the chosen language should appear.
2. Next, copy the link and place it in your blog, website, or email.
   
3. Whamo, you’ve just learned Spanish, Greek, or Chinese on the web in 10 minutes…

Hint & Example:

Try linking to the translated page from a flag representing the language…

Click the flag to see RainmakerWebDesign.com in Greek:

But never fear, you can sign up for Google Local and Yahoo Local within 10 minutes! Oh, and it doesn’t cost you a thing.

Google Local Signup
https://www.google.com/local/add/
*you will need a Google account to sign up, but it’s free too.

Yahoo Local Listings
http://listings.local.yahoo.com/