Is Your Site Like a Cheap Suit?
The saying “on it like a cheap suit” refers to the fact the cheap suits are all over the place from fabric to lack of quality.
I see “cheap suit” Web sites all the time. Sites whose owners think they look all dressed up and believe they are actually giving the impression of being a formal business. When in contrast these sites are clearly reflecting the site’s overall lack of believability and trustworthiness.
Now more than ever, looking like a cheap suit is much easier than it used to be. The bar has been raised from visuals to functionality with Web 2.0 and social media. Static HTML brochureware sites just don’t cut it any longer if you are truly serious about competing.
When you are out to impress — you simply don’t take the cheap suit approach. For example:
- Would you wear a cheap suit to that dream job interview? Probably not, the next applicant who spent the bucks to look spiffy will make you barely a memory.
- Would you wear a cheap suit to your wedding? Most likely not. If you did that it would be telling as to what the future would be like being married to you if you didn’t see the importance of wearing a nice suit for your own nuptials.
- Would you wear a cheap suit to court? Say you had to go to court for custody, traffic issues, DUI, whatever. Do you think a cheap suit would help persuade the judge that you take the issue as seriously as you should. Don’t think so.
Then why would you assume that a “cheap suit” Web site will produce? Cheap suits do not lend to the perception of one being a legitimate and credible business. Would you make your own suit to wear out on the town? No — you are not a tailor. Then, it would go without saying that you shouldn’t design your own Web site without the proper training, skills and experience.
Impressions are everything when you are trying to convince someone to spend money with you over the possibly hundreds or thousands of other similar businesses online. Wear a cheap suit and don’t be surprised if customers seek out those competitors who realize the importance of presenting a polished and professional image. That alone gives them the warm fuzzy they need to then consider trusting you with their hard earned dollars.
The good news is you can always learn the skills necessary to do some things yourself; especially with WordPress now being used as a Content Management System. And there are a ton of great premium WordPress themes to allow you to stand out from all the other “cheap suits” online.
The question then becomes if your business will survive until you make that important shift to upgrade to the Web 2.0 playground and WordPress to bring your site into the now form the what used to be good enough.
Probably not… If I were you, I’d get all over that like a cheap suit!
At your service,
Judith
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