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Why Blogrepreneur.com Has a New Look – And Why Your Site Might Need One Too

Blogtrepreneur-logoAs you might have noticed, Blogrepreneur.com has a new look. We’re very excited about it, and the feedback so far has been excellent. Everyone knows a good website or blog when they see it. Just the same, pointing out the terrible ones is just as effortless. Fresh design and the successful execution and integration of recent graphic technologies drastically sets one website or blog apart from thousands on the same topic, in the same field, and those selling the same product as those using basic templates and just plain or even ugly formatting.

The days of simply having that fundamental website loaded with just the basics is no longer good enough. The bar for the minimum standard of a decent website or blog has risen across all industries. Welcome to the age of the web-version of keeping up with the Joneses.

First Impressions

First impressions are absolutely everything in the wide world of the internet. A web surfer may stumble upon your website or blog via a link from a search engine because the content within rates so highly, but within an even quicker fraction of a second hit the back button because you’ve instantly lost credibility.

The aesthetics of a website are arguably just as important as the content and navigability (yes, that’s a real word). Even the most fantastic and informative blog posts go unread if upon clicking the link, the page simply looks, well, boring. Everything from the color scheme, font size and style all the way to whether or not a page is flash enabled has an instant impact on a visitor’s first impression of your site, your business, and even your products and services.

What is Good Design?

The basic roadmap of thriving marketing techniques applies just as they would in other forms of marketing media. People like visual stimulation; they like to see color and pictures along with the valuable information provided within the content. Dynamic web pages allow these marketing essentials to go even further with the ability to upload videos, by creating movement on the page to direct attention and by allowing users to download information more simply than they would be able to through conventional advertising. Well-executed websites and blogs beg users to effortlessly interact and fluidly explore a site by clicking on an interestingly titled video or by responding to an exciting or controversial blog post.

Many entrepreneurs are hesitant when it comes to the web-front of their businesses. It’s only natural for business owners, particularly startups, to look for ways to save here or there. One bit of advice: don’t make the same mistake as countless other businesses. Your website is not one of the places to cut corners! Credibility is key for any small business, and these days, in the age of skepticism and web-dependency, prospective clients, customers, and even vendors will be checking out a company’s web presence to feel-out how dependable they may be and even try to determine how viable a company may be in the future.

Owning a great website and blog commands a two part process:

1. Build from a solid base

Sure, there are ‘value templates’ or other simple out-of-the box type website creation engines that will get your name on the web, somewhere way out there! If cash is seriously strapped, these certainly are better than nothing. But if a business plans on developing a truly impressive web presence, it’s better to invest in a platform that will allow you to evolve with changing technology trends and keep your business looking state-of-the-art.

2. Continue to build

The benefits and drawbacks of technology are one in the same; there’s always the new ‘latest and greatest’ out there, and it’s evolving extremely quickly. Don’t be left behind. After you’ve established that jaw-dropping site in step one of the process, you’ll need to check back every six months or so to be sure you’ve still got what it takes to stand out against the competition. Take an hour to Google your industry. In addition to determining your own page rank, check out the pages and blogs of competitors. How do their sites look? Now visit your page with fresh eyes and see how it stacks up to what else is out there.

Any successful business owner will tell you that a singular onetime investment into a business without any follow-up improvements will mean eventual death to that business. Reinvestment, especially in the marketing budget, will help keep customers rolling in. If you find your website lacking, it may be time to take the plunge into investing in a solid web-marketing firm specializing in making sure your company will blow the minds of any web surfer.

Going through a major re-design, as we have here on Blogtrepreneur.com, is never 100% smooth and easy, but in the end, if it’s done right, it is well worth it. What do you think of the new design here, and what challenges have you faced with your own design? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Matthew Toren
 

Matthew Toren is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor and co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. He is co-author, with his brother Adam, of Kidpreneurs.org, BizWarriors.com and Small Business, BIG Vision: Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did it Right (Wiley).

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