Why Does My Website Suck?

I am fairly certain that we all know that claiming the ability to create website is not a very impressive feat. Compared to most technical skills, a common web page is the equivalent of setting your digital alarm clock. Before you say, "Wait a minute..." I will concede the mystery of 'how' it is done is intact for most but all of you 'designers' know that it is not that taxing. I am not letting any cats out of bags here; you're not obsolescent until you cease to add value. So, with that let's focus on why most efforts suck and how to fix them.

For non-techies, here is the low down. A web page is a collection of links, words, images and objects (media). It is often referred to as HTML by designers (there are plenty of others languages but that fact is superfluous for this point), which are essentially wrappers for your text, images and media to be presented in a browser. The fact is, all the programs you use have an underlying syntax that makes them work but you don't interact with or need to acknowledge its presence. In fact most designers use programs to aid in their web page construction anyway and don't even know how to code in HTML. Once a web page is constructed it is placed on a web server (again there are many types) and assigned an IP address, domain name, service, whatever... Then a registrar like Network Solutions handles the direction of your domain. So when Johnny types in www.supercoolsite.com it knows which web server holds your brilliance. That's basically it. Ok - that's behind us.

So, why do most suck? It probably isn't the look, the menu, the cool flash movie playing in the top right corner. It's the content. When you go to a website how often do you view the 'About Us' page? Done counting? Sure you have to have it, but you better not bet on that for your draw or return visitors. When you search the web for stuff it is the relevance and shelf life. I want to know the important stuff and I want to be the first to know it. So why don't we pay it forward with our own efforts? The designer you hired can make the pretty, but can he/she provide content about what you do better than you?

A website is a commitment as a channel for your business or social network. Your customers are waiting for your gems of your wisdom, special offers, insight into trends - daily. If you got sold on the idea that a designer says, "I will submit your site to all the major search engines and you will be in the top 40 in six months, blah, blah, blah..." then shame on you. You knew better. Why would that work if your site sucks?

Here's how to do it. Set up your website with the following: Newsletter Signups, News Articles, Industry Information, and, if you're really motivated, a blog. Now, contribute. Often. If your site is built on a CMS code base (content management system ) like our Webalect (blatant plug) product it is as easy as email. If not - switch to one.

Look at it this way; if you could spend your time speaking to one person at a time or one hundred, which would you prefer? It doesn't always have to be a sales pitch, but all the stuff that makes you likable already. Done.

Yes, there is a lot of obvious observations in this article but maybe you needed a refresher because the reason you read this is relevance and you bounced off ten other sites to get here...See my point?