B Y T O M T O R T O R I C I
Here’s a “Bottom 10 List” of things that seemed like a good idea at the time … but may have ended up hurting your site’s effectiveness. So what can we do about these web worst practices? Read on.
1. Don’t ‘welcome’ me to your website.
Hey, I appreciate the sentiment. But you might want to use that first headline, that prime piece of home-page real estate, to tell me instead why your product is awesome. Remember, I’m a Googler on a mission and I have a surprisingly short attention span.
2. Don’t tell me what your company is committed to.
You’re committed to excellence? So are all your competitors. The thing is, I’m the customer here. Learn what I’m committed to, regarding my business or my family. Then explain how your offerings will help me fulfill my commitment better. Okay, now you have my attention.
3. Don’t start every sentence with the word “we.”
Think your website should be all about your company? Think again. As a web visitor, I’m concerned with my own issues, not what the company employees think about themselves. Start some sentences with the word ‘you’ to refocus your message on my favorite person — me.
4. Don’t assume I know what you’re selling.
I’m amused by sites that jump into product features without explicitly telling me what the product is. You could call it insider bias: sellers reckon that I instinctively know what they know. Bad call. Unfortunately, everyone at the company has it, so no one catches the problem.
5. Don’t emphasize how many years you’ve been in business.
Your longevity is worth mentioning somewhere, but it’s not a reason to buy from you. Plus if you got your start in 2007, then you’re suggesting that a competitor who started in 2003 would be a much better choice. Hmm. In an age when brand new startups are changing the world, put your emphasis on what truly separates you from the pack.
6. Don’t include a long page of long testimonials.
Okay, I’ve been guilty of this one too. All those nice words about me, gosh, I’d hate to leave any out. But if I were smarter, I’d pick out the best brief, punchy bits, and add them in a large font size to relevant pages. Where someone might actually read them.
7. Don’t just sit down and just start writing your content.
Oh, no no no. First, make a list of real-world benefits, from the buyer’s point-of-view. Include logical and emotional points of persuasion. Address their general turn-ons and turn-offs. Then start building your content around this categorized, prioritized list, crossing off each item as you go along.
8. Don’t use video for the sake of using video.
Video is hot, right? Well…it depends. Is a smiling CEO going to stand there and tell me how wonderful their company is? If so, warn me so I can hit Mute. Otherwise, use video to teach me something useful, which happens to connect with your company’s superior approach.
9. Don’t forget to tell folks what will happen next.
Simply saying “Contact Us” is so vague that it creates uncertainty, and people who are uncertain don’t take action. If you let visitors know what to expect after they get in touch, as well as the basic steps of working together, they’ll feel more confident about making that first move.
And my personal favorite…
10. Don’t add up the combined years of experience of your employees.
Seriously? What I really want to know is how they’re going to use all that experience to give me an advantage. Otherwise, I’ll assume they haven’t learned anything in those 87 combined years. Oops, jump online and change it to 88 — someone just had a work anniversary.
We’ve all seen these worst practices on the world wide webbernet. And at one time or another, we’ve all contributed to the madness. But as smart people we learn from our mistakes; though if we can learn from the mistakes of others, we save ourselves the trouble.
Why do people in business struggle to tell their story? Because they’re too close to it.
After working with a strategic copywriter, company insiders have a fresh understanding of all they have to offer. Find out more.
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About the Author: Tom Tortorici is an Atlanta copywriter and web content writer who helps companies make a genuine connection with their audience. His classes and conference presentations have focused on how writing, strategy and design can work together to grab attention and interest even among readers with short attention spans. In addition to working directly with businesses, Tom regularly partners with web designers and marketing agencies.
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Tom Tortorici Inc. | Tom@TomTortorici.com | 770-934-7861 | 3101 Rockaway Rd | Atlanta GA 30341
