Jan
06
Goals for Your Website
ByMany people are setting goals for themselves for the New Year. But I ask you, “What are the goals for your website?”
To have a successful website, you want the site to achieve it’s goals:
- Is the goal to sell a product?
- Is the goal to give out information as in a ‘brochure site’ ?
- Is the goal to get opt-in signups, i.e. email subscribers?
- Is the goal for the visitor to call your company?
- Is the goal to be a private members area?
The reason why I like using WordPress as a platiform to build a site is because WordPress makes it easy to achieve ANY kind of website you want. And you, or your assistants, can do this from ANY computer!
So the sooner you can clarify in your mind the goals of your site, the sooner you can achieve those goals.
Go Here Now for More Info
Loading ...
Hi Christina – these are all good questions for development and advancement of the website. However one question you might want to add is – how does your website support or fit into to your overall communications goals/strategy?
Leanne,
That’s a great addition. A goal of a website is often a means for people to get to know you, and for you to communicate with your audience.
Hi, Christina,
One question I have is – is it possible to have TOO many goals for a single website? I often see people trying to do too many things with their site. This not only confuses visitors, but there is no definite “call to action” for them.
Suzanne Lieurance
When your pen won’t budge, read The Morning Nudge!
http://www.morningnudge.com
Suzanne,
You hit the nail on the head! Yes, many websites have too many goals, and therefore they are not as effective.
If you as the business owner can get clear in your mind what you want your site to do, get clear on that goal, you will have a much more successful site.
Now, not all sites HAVE to be sites that sell something. There are lots of sites that just give out information, or lead people to purchase items on other sites such as Amazon. (Lots of authors do that)
Thanks for the great info, Christina.
I think getting clear on WHAT you want your website to do is the key. It’s also a bit difficult for many business owners and authors.
Thanks for your help!
Suzanne Lieurance
When Your Pen Won’t Budge, Read The Morning Nudge!
http://www.morningnudge.com
Suzanne,
you are most welcome!
A very timely question, Christina. I’m working to revamp my website now to reflect a change in my consulting services and the addition of new training products. I’ll be sure to add your questions to my thought process. Thank you!
It’s a question I always ask myself. Helps keep me focused on my goals!
Thanks Christina for asking those questions. Exactly what I needed to get focus.
Having taken the class twice, I am now in a position to begin to manifest what wants to emerge.
Also I think that websites need to be changed and upgraded as our ability to express our skills online improve.
A year ago I wouldn’t have been able to tell even a webmaster what I wanted.
There is hope for newbies!…
Aline,
Thank you so much for your comment! I’m so happy for you.
Yes, we all change as entrepreneurs and we need to have our websites change with us.
Change with regards to technology, and change with regards to who we are and what are business evolves to.
Make sure you send me your website when it’s done so we can add it to our case studies page:
http://www.websitecreationworkshop.com/blog/case-studies/
Hi Christina,
Good points. Regarding WordPress, i agree. WordPress is, increasingly, becoming a good CMS platform as well. Perhaps 2010 is the year when WordPress is no longer immediately thought of as a blogging platform but rather as an all-round platform. With it’s main rivals in this being Joomla and Drupal.
And i, also, think in regards to the questions you raise, that having a blogging and social media strategy will become – or should become – de rigour for businesses in 2010. For some, 2009 was the year for trying out / experimenting with social media. But this year people will really need to focus on why they are using it, and backed up with a proper social media strategy. Because if not, they will fall behind others who do. I think ..
Ed,
You make really good points here. I think that people are already seeing Wordpress as a CMS (Content Management System). That is how I teach it!
You can use Wordpress as a blog, or as a regular website.
Have you seen my site: http://www.ChristinasResources.com ?
That is a WordPress site, it uses the flexx theme (http://www.flexxqueen.com is my link for that)
AND it’s not a blog!
With regards to Social Media, I believe that it’s important for people to get started. Yes, they need a strategy, but getting started is the first thing to do.
After you use Social Media, you will see how YOU want to use it in your strategy.
And that is different for each person…
Hi Christina,
Thank you for bringing this question to our attention. I seem to remember that WP is capable of addressing ALL our goals using the different pages in a particular theme – ie a blog, landing/optin page, sales pages – all contained within one website theme.
Can you confirm that this is correct?
Thanks so much!
Marilynn,
Yes Wordpress can do all of those things: a blog, a landing page, a sales letter page, a membership site, you name it!
However, you (the business owner) want to get clear on what you want YOUR goals for your website to be.
Then you plan accordingly.
Looking forward to having you back again as an alumni in the next Spring Workshop that starts in March!