Consider the biggest website mistake most people make: they don’t know what they want their visitors to do when viewing the site and if they do know, they don’t know how they’re going to get the visitor to do it.
Most people consider a web site to be one thing. It’s not.
On the contrary, a web site is made up of a collection of pages that live on the same domain and are related to each other.
For each page on your site, you should be able to answer the following three questions with complete clarity:
- Who is coming to the page?
- What do you want them to do?
- How are you going to get them to do it?
Knowing the answer to each of these three questions will ensure that the content on each page of your site is perfectly designed for the type of person who visits the page.
Why? Because you will consider what kind of story you’re going to tell, and how you’re going to tell it, to get your visitor to reach the goal you’ve set for that page.
Content and Structure
The content and structure of your web site includes the information you wish to convey and how you organize and label it for easy navigation.
As you consider your content and structure, your focus should be on your target market. It is especially critical when you’re working with a designer to think like your target audience.
Think like your audience. What do they want? Design to meet their needs.
Your content and structure are key elements in determining whether your web site is effective. The content has to be relevant to your target market and the layout should make it obvious where the visitor needs to go and what the visitor needs to do.
Visitors to your site want information and resources that will assist them in their work and their lives. If they can’t find what they need, they’ll get frustrated with your site and with you. The result is a lost connection.
Make your site easy to navigate and easy to use, and you’ll establish an immediate rapport with your visitors because they will feel that you already know and understand them.
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How to Make Your Website Work…Finally http://t.co/b2jbgIc great ideas from @michaelport
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Finally? RT @neenjames: How to Make Your Website Work…Finally http://t.co/b2jbgIc great ideas from @michaelport
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Absolutely right Michael! I work with clients all the time who have no idea of these principles. I’ve been writing a series of similar posts myself, must be something in the air
RT @michaelport: Today’s post: How to Make Your Website Work…Finally http://t.co/RXnvxR4
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As always Michael, this is Great! Focused. Precise and right to the point. You always push my ‘energy creation’ button.
The three questions are powerful and very timely as I am in the midst of putting together my website. They will lead me as I build.
Thank you!
Michael Feeley – Professional Life Coach
RT @michaelport: Todays post. Get it while it’s hot! http://fb.me/19GqNY9Ok
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How to Make Your Website Work…Finally http://t.co/xaoKcvl via @michaelport
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RT @bookidee: How to Make Your Website Work…Finally http://t.co/xaoKcvl via @michaelport
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RT @bookidee: How to Make Your Website Work…Finally http://t.co/xaoKcvl via @michaelport
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How to Make Your Website Work…Great post from @michaelport http://t.co/b2jbgIc
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How to Make Your Website Work…Finally http://t.co/8LqcTmt @michaelport
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This is great post, Michael…and always timely. You helped me a lot with the last pointers you gave me and made a hell of a difference with my client conversion.
This post could be subtitled “. . . and put your posts to work too!”
Since I’ve read Book Yourself Solid, and I’m still working on it, I’m familiar with the content of the post. So what excited me was your last line.
Instead of ending with a question to spark conversation, you invited us to share. That’s putting a post to work!
Hi Michael,
I agree 100% with you. Maybe, in terms of content, I would add: “Avoid Clutter”.
Thanks for your info.
Salva