Your WordPress Site IS Your Face to the World!
Let me share with you some of my thoughts on 10 critical issues I’ve noticed quite a bit in just the past week or so that impacts how your WordPress Web site, and therefore your business, is perceived.
If you have a Web site where attention to detail is lacking, potential customers will probably choose a company that portrays their products/services in a quality, professional manner.
Don’t pay attention to details and that detail will be a glaring red flag to those who may have considered doing business with you.
Things like:
- An unprofessional design or free WordPress theme with non-related affiliate links in the footer.
The cost of a premium WordPress theme in $30-$100 — minimal cost for the impact provided and the support you will need moving forward. - More advertising than actionable content.
Too many affiliate links or advertising plugins that interfere with your content makes your site not user-friendly. Be very selective and prudent as to what ads you have on your site, how many and where they are inserted. - Typos and poor grammar.
Be sure to use the WordPress spell check on everything you add to your site. Read your posts out loud and be committed to continually improving your writings skills. - Lack of Social Media options.
All business sites should minimally connect with Twitter, LinkedIn and have a Facebook business page. It doesn’t matter what you think of Social Media, your customers are using these sites and you need to be there! - Low quality or improperly sized photos and graphics.
This is a visual medium. Photos and graphics enhance your message, but only when properly formatted and relative to the topic of the content they are embedded within. - Lack of easily found contact information or contact form.
“Contact” should be a visible easy to find tab/link that contains all your contact information and your contact form. - Lack of the basic, standard and customary information site visitors want to know.
You know the info you get asked for by prospective customers — have it on your site. Don’t make them have to e-mail you for the very basics. If you don’t have a FAQ that covers the questions you get asked most — add the creation of a FAQ to your To Do list right now! - Lack of or slow responsiveness to visitor comments.
Speed matters! In a world where customer service is anemic at best you can stand out from the crowd and your perceived competitors by offering prompt and detailed responses to visitor inquiries. - Stale or rarely updated content.
Brochureware is dead. Sites without recent and regularly updated content look neglected and cause site visitors to wonder if anyone is home. Try to post at least once every week — more if possible. - Focus on promotional content instead of providing helpful content that your visitors desire.
Contrary to popular belief your site isn’t all about you. It should be about you offering the content your visitors seek while soft-selling your expertise and knowledge. Too much of a hard sell is a turn off.
The above are just a few of the issues I see on a regular basis that many WordPress site owners disregard or overlook. All of which will contribute to how your business is perceived.
To think you can do what you want or are only willing to do on the issues mentioned here, will speak volumes about your business and what it will be like to work with you. And, I don’t think you’ll like what it’s saying…
At your service,
Judith
Your WordPress Consultant
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Hi Judith
Agree – your face to the world.
Tell that to clients all the time.
That’s why your theme is so important – it must have that WOW factor.
Good graphics help posts stand out.
You still need great content but a few well chosen Flikr photos can turn a good post into a great post.
Hey, Keith:
It’s *all* about perception, right? ;-)