Ever at had a Bad First Date?  Or get that excited, nervous feeling when you REALLY want it to work out?  With websites, your first impression may be all you get.  Here’s a guide to knowing you’re making the right first impression.

The first impression.   A crucial point in what could be a life-long committment.  With web design and online media, every first impression is vitally important.  In web terms, the introduction is the Homepage or Frontpage of your website.  Since you never know how a person has stumbled across your website (google, online ads, social media, print material) you need to have a Homepage that will make sense to someone no matter how they found your site.  In the first few seconds, a person should know exactly what your company or promotion is just from the Homepage.  If they can't, then they may just click off your website and move on to their next online endeavor.  A good Homepage should make it clear why the website exists (a big graphic or tagline is one way) with clearly defined options they can click that promote your strengths, features, or relevant news.

So you made a good impression, now what do you talk about?  It's intimidating trying to keep a conversation going with basically a stranger and not sound like an idiot.  Maybe that's why more people fear public speaking over death!  So, now that someone has actually gone to your website and not clicked off within 5 seconds, what are they supposed to do next?  Whether you are promoting a product/service or have an information site or blog, you need to be the one controling the online conversation.  A person will not know what about your website interests them unless they are presented with the opportunity to ask the question.  In other words, your homepage needs to have links and graphics that make a viewer want to know more about that subject/feature.  Something that catches their eye and sparks their interest.  Getting them to the homepage is one thing, but we want a long-term committment, remember?

You're making head-way, now it's time to get personal.  So you've made a good first impression and can carry a conversation.  This is the point where that special someone gets to know the real you.  It's out of your hands now, all you can do is hope you're a good match.  The best thing you can do is be open and honest, and this is true in the in the online world as well.  Your potential customer/subscriber is clicking their way though your site, and if you are trying to make your company something it's not they will find out.  Masking you're true identity will not get you very far, so don't try to disguise what your company truly does.  If you run a lanscaping business, don't get so clever people can't figure out you're a landscaper.  At this point, you only want people looking for landscapers anyway.  The truth is not everyone who will visit your site will like what you have to say, but the point is to make sure the people who do need your site stick around.

You did it, you found the one. Well, when it comes to your web traffic it should definitely be more than one.  When someone proposes (and the other says yes) the purpose is to begin preparations for a lifetime committment to each other.  In sickness and in health.  For better or worse.  To say yes to the "question" brings an understanding of loyalty and committment which the significant other is ready for.  With your website, this means your viewer is ready to make the purchase, subscribe, join your mailing list, send a form, etc.  Don't take this commitmment lightly, because your customer most likely hasn't.  At this point, you don't have to convince this person to like you, they already do.  You're job now is to remind them whythey like you.  This can be achieved by quick delivery, great customer service, timely emails, or consistent updates.  This is your website and company's time to shine.  Don't let them forget why they love you.