Getting Professional with Your Web Site - The Navigation
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On the Internet, nothing says professionalism quite like page navigation. Like it or not, every single visitor who views your site will be judging you on your navigation. It is the thing that holds it all together, so you should focus your best efforts on making sure you have a great navigational framework in place.
Make sure your site’s navigation is straightforward and simple to use -- meaning, have plenty of internal links to pages within your site. You may want to include such elements as frames with links to make exploration easier, a search bar or a links toolbar that appears on every single page. Whatever you do, make sure your site navigation is simple enough for even a child to use, even when your pages are intended for adults.
The Business
What does this site represent? What can traffic do within the pages of this site? You’ll want to make sure the tone and theme of your site are clear to all, not confusing or couched in any way. Make it clear, from the very first page, who and what the site is about and what it offers to the public at large. Make it clear just who and what the site is for, because you don’t want your traffic to be wary or unawares. Always be up front.
The Extras
Adding a few features to your site can help you speak volumes about your professionalism. You’ll want to have some sort of interaction and communication with your users, so offer features with this idea in mind. Include an informative contact page and a forum or form for online comments. If traffic can’t contact you in any way, it will be impossible for you to meet any desired business end. You may also consider adding extras, such as a newsletter traffic can sign up to receive. News feeds can also offer another interesting element to your pages.
Need Help?
Making your pages more professional is no mean feat, and you may come to a point when you realize the whole thing is over your head. Hiring professionals to make your site more so can be a great help if you find that you just can’t achieve the look and tone you’d like to have. Look for qualified graphic Web designers and professional online writers to boost the quality of your pages if you feel that you could stand a little help.
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