This is an entry in our daily Internet Marketing Advent Calendar series. Each day your favorite marketing elves will focus on a new topic to get your internet marketing in order before the start of the new year.
Happy December! Dubbed “the most wonderful time of the year” it really is a great time for giving, enjoying the company of family and friends, and going crazy. Oh wait, did I say that last part out loud? Some years I find myself much more prepared than others; this is not one of those years. Between gifts, decorating, cards, parties and traveling, my holiday to-do list is looking quite overwhelming! I find that if I focus on one thing at a time, then everything eventually comes together and I make it through in one piece. Now that I think of it, this method also works when applied to you website! Let me explain.
Focus Those Sidebars!
Many visitors that come to your website are on a mission; they are looking for certain information and want to find it fast. You do not want to overwhelm them with clutter on your site. Take a look at your sidebars and really focus on what content is important. If you find that they are bloated, then people may get distracted and confused about what to do. Figure out what is essential and get rid of the rest of the fluff. Include valuable information that will help all users find what they want quickly and easily.
Set a Clear Path
Other visitors to your site will just be browsing around. These are the people that you need to lead down a path that you set out. Think of the one goal that you want users to do for each page (fill out a contact form, download a resource, buy a product, etc.) and include a call to action for it throughout. Make sure it is obvious so that users will know exactly what to do, otherwise they may feel overwhelmed at all the options available (especially if you haven’t cleared out those sidebars!). If you give them a clear path they will take an action that will benefit both of you!
Now if only all websites could focus and show me the one item that I need to buy… wouldn’t that make life easier during the holidays!
Read the rest of the Internet Marketing Advent Calendar
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