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Ask the Master Newsletter Archives
Welcome to the previous editions of the Ask the Master newsletter.
On your left you will find links to tips and the how to’s of
running a Virtual Assistant practice. We hope you enjoy your stay
and if you have a question you’d like answered send it to submission@vatp.ca.
Ask
The Master
March 2006 - Volume 5/Issue 3 |
Creating a Web Site
What’s the best way to put a jigsaw puzzle together? One
piece at a time.
The thought of creating a web site can be an overwhelming project.
However, like most things, when you break it down into smaller pieces
it becomes much easier to manage. In this edition of the Ask the Master
newsletter we are going to explore the steps and tips to creating
a web site. We will assume you have your domain name, a web master,
and your hosting company already in place.
I would like to
acknowledge Max Kalles,
Certified Professional Internet Consultant of WSI
who donated his time and knowledge on a CVAN
networking call and not only confirmed but added to my knowledge
base on the subject.
Warmly,
Mary-Lou Ashton
Master Virtual Assistant
Questions In This Edition
(Click on the links to go to that question.) What can I do
to improve communication with a client?
What is the first thing
I need to do when creating my web site? The first thing
you should do is to decide what the purpose(s) of your web site
is going to be. What do you want it to do? Most have more than one
purpose. Is it lead generation? Capture email addresses? Expand
to an international clientele? Automate processes? Getting clear
on this will help you to focus on the content and functions you
want your web site to perform.
What would be
the next steps? When sitting down to create a web site the
next thing you need to do is gather the content you want on the
site. Pull together and review all of your current company information
and marketing materials. This will give you a good base to start
from. Ideally you would have already established a company image
to create your materials so you will be utilizing what you already
have.
Once you have all your materials gathered you need to decide what
your main navigation items will be. These are generally standard
items such as home, services, company info, contact us. Based on
your materials and your purpose decide what will be the main areas
of your site.
Do I just need to have
a main navigation? When starting out with your web site
the main navigation is likely all you will need. However keep in
mind that ideally your web site will grow and expand with time so
you want to make sure the main navigation supports this. If you
have information you want to highlight but does not warrant being
on the main navigation see where it may be appropriate as a sub-navigation.
A good way to do this is to map out the site. Think of the way
an organization chart looks and use that as a model for your web
site. The more thought and planning that goes into the original
design the easier it becomes down the road.
What
do I need to know about my home page? Your home page should
be entirely focused on potential clients. Be sure that you address
their needs. Do not provide your credentials on this page as you
only have 5 to 7 seconds to grab their attention. If you have an
intro on your home page keep it under 5 seconds. If you have a skip
intro button on it then it is too long. Also be sure to update your
home page frequently to increase traffic to your site.
What
other tips will help me with creating my web site? Include
pictures on your site. Not necessarily pictures of yourself but
pictures that relate to the message being portrayed on the site.
Pictures are worth a thousand words. That said keep in mind that
while Canada has a lot of cable modems other countries still have
dial-up connections so be aware of load time. This is also true
about using flash applications on your site.
Be sure to have a call to action on every page of your site based
on your purpose. Make sure there is lots of white space, don’t
overwhelm with too much information, keep it simple. Ask clients
or potential clients what they would like to see on your web site.
Brought to you by
Virtual Strategies
and the Virtual Assistant Training Program
Making dreams reality!
www.vatp.ca
info@vatp.ca
1-604-483-3740 |
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