"What are your objectives for your website?"  This is the key question you want to ask yourself whether or not you have a website for your business.  Consider the following two main themes.  Remember, it is all about your customers!

What Are Your Prospective Customers Looking For?

When a prospective customer visits your web site, what information are they seeking? What do they want to see before committing to a purchase?

Information about your products and services as a whole.

• Additional information about individual products and services.
• Information about some of your existing customers
• Supplemental Product details such as options, models, ratings, and available features.
• Information pertaining to the types of applications your products and services are typically used for.
• A way for your prospects to easily and reliably contact a representative or your business. Lacking a good pathway of communication can create a feeling of detachment between you and your prospects; potentially symbolizing to some a general unconcern for your customers.

You should strive to place as much relevant information on your site as possible, while taking great care to arrange it in such a way that it is not overwhelming. Fine detail should be available, but not dominant.

What Else Do You Want Your Prospective Customers to Find?

While your potential customers are now well informed about your products and services, you have not really displayed any information that separates you from your competitors. What makes your business superior to others offering similar products and services?

• Comments from some of your customers: In addition to being a potential source of credibility, these can also help to shape your business’ character. Potential customers will value the commentary of fellow consumers far more than that of yourself, as they are aware of your partiality.
• Awards: Aside from offering them another valuable, external opinion of your business, awards give potential customers a method to gauge your standing amongst others in your industry.
• Insights in to your company’s methodology and internal processes: By letting them in on the way your business operates, you establish a level of trust with your prospects that will allow them to feel more comfortable with the concept purchasing from you.
• Any other information that could serve to convince your prospects of your abilities and competences.