In this age that is increasingly defined by online advertising and proper virtual exposure, a product is truly only as effective as the way it is displayed. You may have the most innovative and useful service, but should your Internet presence and specifically your home page not be presented correctly, you can lose out on valuable clientele. In fact, there are studies that have shown that visitors will generally browse a specific home page for no longer than fifteen or twenty seconds. Should they not find what they are looking for, they will most likely go elsewhere. Unfortunately, companies tend to focus more on SEO and organic rankings than the layout of their site. The same can be said for the IFA sector. So, what are some of the best ways to guarantee that your visitors are provided with the most agreeable experience possible?
Simple is Better
No one wishes to encounter a landing page that is comprised of more “filler” than relevant content. Many companies will make the mistake of attempting to inundate the visitor with as much information as possible upon entry. In truth, this will detract from the product at hand. The end result will be a website that appears rather hastily thrown together and even worse, one that is unprofessional. Instead, opt for a simplicity of form and design. As an IFA must make his or her services clear, the site itself should reflect this very same level of alacrity.
Avoid Advertising Banners and Third-Party Links
One of the downfalls of many successful sites is the use of entirely too many advertising banners. While third-party affiliate programmes are certainly useful, their appearance may lend a “tacky” appearance to the page. Furthermore, even if a link may be relevant, the new visitor may be under the impression that he or she is being sold a product. An IFA is more a professional than a salesman. The character of the website needs to reflect this principle. If anything, add a couple of links unobtrusively and instead provide portals to blogs and social media sites that are useful and consistently updated.
Static Sites Are Unsuccessful Sites
One of the first features of a site that astute individuals will take into account is the last time that it was updated. The world is a changing place and what was relevant yesterday may very well be outdated tomorrow. Sites that inform the visitor that they were last updated in 2011 immediately will display a sense of inaction. On the contrary, post regular improvements. Upload the latest videos and keep readers informed with blog posts that are updated at least once every couple of weeks. The site will appear to be proactive and up-to-date.
These three guidelines are some of the easiest to employ and will lead to tangible results in the short- to medium-term. In these days that are highlighted by an increasing amount of competition, such strategies will help ensure that an IFA portal receives the exposure and the success that it deserves.
