Welcome to the final installment of our series on making your small website stand out. In this part, we will discuss the importance of ethical email practices, the power of newsletters, and the necessity of clear navigation. We will also revisit the site we mentioned in the previous part, www.websitesthatsuck.com, which serves as a humorous yet educational resource for website designers.
One of my biggest pet peeves is the misuse of email addresses obtained from a website. If you host a contest or survey on your site, it's crucial not to view the participants' email addresses as an opportunity to bombard them with unsolicited sales letters. This practice, commonly known as SPAM, is not only annoying but also erodes trust.
Instead, consider offering an email newsletter that visitors can voluntarily sign up for. This newsletter can contain brief sales pitches and links to sales sites, which most internet users find acceptable. They understand that the valuable information you provide needs to be funded somehow. However, sending unsolicited sales emails just because someone visited your site is a surefire way to lose their trust.
Newsletters, or ezines as they are often called, are an effective marketing tool when used creatively. They allow you to keep in touch with your site visitors and provide them with valuable content. You can create a free newsletter at www.listbot.com and link it on your site for visitors to sign up.
However, it's essential to ensure your newsletter offers more than just sales pitches. Include clear instructions on how to unsubscribe at the bottom of each issue to avoid frustrating your subscribers. One of my most successful newsletters was a joke list, which included a few sales mentions at the top of each issue. Another successful one was a recipe newsletter. The key is to be creative and interesting, targeting your newsletter to your audience's interests.
Clear navigation is crucial for any website. It's amusing to think about how some sites handle this aspect poorly, leading to what's humorously referred to as "Mystery Meat Navigation" on one of my favorite sites, www.websitesthatsuck.com. You can learn more about this concept here.
In conclusion, thank you for joining me on this journey to make your small website stand out. I hope you've found these tips helpful and wish you great success in your endeavors.
Making Your Small Website Stand Out: Part 5
In this installment of our series, we delve into the importance of creating a unique online presence for your business. We'll discuss how to ensure your website accurately represents your brand, subtly promotes your products or services, and stands out from the competition.
Enhancing Your Website's Appeal: Part 2
In the first part of this series, we delved into the importance of website load speed. Now, we turn our attention to the second crucial aspect of a successful website: its aesthetic appeal. Remember, beauty is subjective, and what you find attractive might not resonate with others. However, constructive criticism from your visitors can be invaluable. In this article, we'll explore some key considerations to help you make informed decisions about your website's design.
Part 3: Making Your Small Website Stand Out
In this third installment of our series, we delve deeper into the intricacies of website optimization and customer service. We'll discuss how to enhance your website's loading speed, improve customer interaction, and provide valuable content.
