Cindy Kelly: Your Online Impression

If you’re like most small business owners you spend a lot of time networking! Getting out in the community, meeting people and establishing relationships is key in the business development process.

In that networking meeting you’re well prepared, well dressed and ready to take on as many leads as you possibly can.  In fact, there’s a great possibility that you could meet your ideal client at this networking event. You want to make the best possible impression.

But what happens if you don’t get the chance to meet that ideal client in person?  Since 80 percent of consumer purchases start with an online search, perhaps your ideal client is searching for you online. Once they find your website, what impression will they get? Will your website be well prepared, well dressed and ready to take on as many leads as it possibly can?

Simply having a website online isn’t everything! If it lacks valuable content, appears homemade and is downright confusing, you could have just lost an important opportunity because of a bad impression.

As technology continues to move forward, our prospect’s expectations grow. They expect a certain level of professionalism and functionality when they visit a website.  If it appears you didn’t invest time, money and thought in your own business, why should they invest in you? Professional credibility is at risk when someone visits your website.

Your product or service can be the best in the world but if the first impression is bad, you may never get the opportunity to show them how great the product is.

Step out of your box and be objective. Think about your own search habits. What impressions have you made about other companies based purely on your online impression of their website?

 Website design plays a critical role in attracting and maintaining clients.