Defining the Main Purpose of a Website

Just like anything in life, knowing what you want to use your website to accomplish will help you figure out how you want it to look. Nowadays people use the Internet for so many things.  A website for a company is no exception.

You will need to decide if your website’s goal is to promote your bricks-and-mortar store, or is it to sell more products online? Do you want to use it to gather email addresses for your mailing list or to add a lot of new content in order to position yourself as a thought leader in your field?

This will all help with decision-making. If your main goal is to sell more product online, then a lot of your focus is going to be on your online store. If it’s to position yourself as a thought leader then you are going to want a very prominent blog where you can share your ideas and viewpoints.

What your site is supposed to do will also change who your potential audience is. You want to know who is going to be using the site so you can tailor the message to them and market to them. For example, if you decide to go with an online store that is geared toward customers who already know who you are, that is different than trying to win over customers who have never heard of you or your store.

Additionally, all the graphics need to mesh with the site’s purpose. If you are promoting your bricks-and-mortar store, make sure to include pictures of that store, and directions, and a map.

By knowing what your website is supposed to be doing, you can enhance the experience of your visitors, and put your money and efforts into giving them an easy site to navigate.