Increase Website Usability: Tip #3 of 100
© 2010, Brandon Cornett. All rights reserved.
Real Estate Internet Marketing - 100 Tips in 100 Days
Tip #3 of 100 - Increase Usability
Picture this...
You're standing behind your website, eager and ready to take on a new client. A potential client stands in front of your website, eager and ready to hire a friendly, professional agent just like you.
The only thing is, you don't know the potential client is there. How could you? They haven't contacted you yet. So in order for you to connect with them, they first have to enter your website, navigate through it, like what they find, and then contact you in some fashion.
But what if they can't use your website? What if they find the navigation confusing? Or they can't find your listing information?
That's right ... they'll leave as quickly as they came. After all, there are plenty of other real estate websites to look at and other agents to consider.
Earlier in this Internet marketing series, I talked about the importance of lead capture. Website usability is equally important, because if a person can't use your website, you have no chance to connect with them. You don't have the luxury of personally guiding them through your website. They're on their own.
Usability Hot Spots
Entire books have been written on website usability (like Don't Make Me Think). So for the purposes of this post, let's just cover some usability hot spots. Here are some areas that can always use improvement.
1. Navigation. Label your navigation in a clear way. Don't be cute or clever.
2. Home page. Keep your home page clean, inviting and uncluttered.
3. Action paths. Define the actions you want people to take, and present them in a clear way.
4. Calls to action. People will go where they want on your site, but it helps to offer direction.
5. Interactivity. If you have listing data and searches, be sure to offer clear and ample instructions.
6. Web conventions. Following web conventions (like making your logo a link to the home page) helps visitors get around by using things they're familiar with.
Related Links:
Look for tip #4 tomorrow!
Until then,
-Brandon
Tip #3 of 100 - Increase Usability
Picture this...
You're standing behind your website, eager and ready to take on a new client. A potential client stands in front of your website, eager and ready to hire a friendly, professional agent just like you.
The only thing is, you don't know the potential client is there. How could you? They haven't contacted you yet. So in order for you to connect with them, they first have to enter your website, navigate through it, like what they find, and then contact you in some fashion.
But what if they can't use your website? What if they find the navigation confusing? Or they can't find your listing information?
That's right ... they'll leave as quickly as they came. After all, there are plenty of other real estate websites to look at and other agents to consider.
Earlier in this Internet marketing series, I talked about the importance of lead capture. Website usability is equally important, because if a person can't use your website, you have no chance to connect with them. You don't have the luxury of personally guiding them through your website. They're on their own.
Usability Hot Spots
Entire books have been written on website usability (like Don't Make Me Think). So for the purposes of this post, let's just cover some usability hot spots. Here are some areas that can always use improvement.
1. Navigation. Label your navigation in a clear way. Don't be cute or clever.
2. Home page. Keep your home page clean, inviting and uncluttered.
3. Action paths. Define the actions you want people to take, and present them in a clear way.
4. Calls to action. People will go where they want on your site, but it helps to offer direction.
5. Interactivity. If you have listing data and searches, be sure to offer clear and ample instructions.
6. Web conventions. Following web conventions (like making your logo a link to the home page) helps visitors get around by using things they're familiar with.
Related Links:
Look for tip #4 tomorrow!
Until then,
-Brandon
Labels: Internet Marketing
posted by Brandon at
8:05 AM
