Incorporating Web 2.0 Concepts to Your website Design

 Web 2.0 elements have become a very important part of the modern day web designing. Web 2.0 involves creating a user driven website. It’s basically allowing the site visitors to interact with your company and/or other visitors. The user generated content is vital; the content could be in the form of forums, blogs, articles, reviews, comments and so on. Web 2.0 concept is essential to further improve the usability of your website and satisfy your visitors. Here are few nice ideas to equip your website with some handy web 2.0 features and stay ahead of the competition as a modern player using latest web 2.0 technologies.

Product Reviews – Many people want to see what the other customers who have actually used the product have to say about it before they decide to buy a certain product. Reviews submitted by other customers is a great interactive medium and it plays a key role in encouraging the new customers to buy products from you. Setup a mechanism to collect reviews from your customers and with their consent publish them in your site, linking them properly with the relevant product. You might get controversial discussions and intense arguments. Let your customers speak their mind about your products, this will not only help other potential customers but it will give you lots of ideas to improve your product offering as well. Besides reviews are a fantastic method of adding lots of new and relevant content to your website that will give you the added advantage of SEOvalue.

 Forums - Forums are a discussion platform for your customers. It’s actually a type of virtual community which allows your customers or visitors to share their ideas and opinions with each other. People can ask questions and get answers from a fellow customer who has a better knowledge or experience on that particular subject. Get some good forum monitors and admins in place to make sure you have an active discussion forum that is running smoothly.

Competitions – Organize competitions and invite your customers or visitors to participate. Your competition may involve posting on your forum or blog. You can even run a contest to select the best photos or videos from your customers. Each individual who posts on your forum or blog would enter into the prize draw, and you can select a winner monthly and award a prize.

 Polls and Surveys – Include a poll or survey feature to your web design, and interact with your customers simply by asking questions relating to your products. It is an effective way to get them involved in the site. You could also conduct a survey about your customers; this gives them an opportunity to convey their opinions and what changes they would like to see. Collecting feedback is important for new developments in your product and your site. The poll or survey data you collect can be gold to your customer feedback system for the future of your business.

Newsletters - Newsletters can be very interactive method, you can use a weekly or a monthly newsletter to announce special promotions or discounts, highlight forum or blog posts, publish poll or survey results, and declare the winners of your competitions and many more. It is a good way to keep in touch with your customer base, so when you are designing the website, make sure you have a separate section for them to subscribe to your newsletter. 

How to make your Website unforgettable for the visitors

Some of the simple principles you follow when designing your high-street store are still valid for your website, your online store. One such important rule valid for both online and offline stores is that first impressions are lasting. How can you create a good first impression with your web site? Here are some great tips to create a lasting first impression for your web site.

First, you need to get a simple template with a professional look, and make sure this template is also appropriate for your industry and market. The main benefit of using a template is that they are easy to work with and allows you to modify images using software such as Photo Shop. And the other benefit is a template can give your web site a professional look by making your webpages consistent.

When your potential customers visit your website they are looking for more information about your products and services. People want to learn everything about a product or service before they actually decide to buy them. Customers are cautious when spending their hard earned money. Make sure you provide all the details your visitors are looking for. Make your website rich with informative content about your product or service.

Simple navigation is essential to make customer’s online experience a pleasant one. You may have experienced situations where you got a new department store and find yourself completely lost without a clue to find what you want. Make sure that doesn’t happen in your web site. Structure your website in a logical way and make your navigation simple as possible, so that the customers will find it easy to find their way around. Complex navigation can irritate your customers and they will not to proceed to make purchase.

Be careful when you use graphics in your website. Although graphics are supposed enhance the appearance of your website, big fancy flash designs can discourage the customers. Always try to keep the graphics at a minimal level and make them look professional. And you’d better not use them at all if they do not significantly improve the presentation of your product or service.  Remember, graphics can considerably slow down your website. Fast loading web pages are essential to keep the customers in your website and now it’s important for SEO as well.

Avoid using extraordinary fonts and bright colors in your web design. Don’t forget you are running a business site, so you need to keep it perfect and professional at all times. Times Roman, Veranda, or Ariel are decent fonts to use. Size 12 font can be read quite easily by the average reader. Do not use colors and effects that can distract the customer from your products and sales message.

Most importantly, ensure your sales copy is compelling. This is crucial to achieve success in your business. Your sales copy must be personal, convincing and accurate. Make your websiteappealing and unforgettable. If your website is attractive enough your visitors will remember and return to your website. Give them a pleasurable online shopping experience, not only they will come back for more but also they will recommend your website to their family members and friends.