It ‘s almost as common as doing deals at Starbucks. Today’s entrepreneurs are now also digital marketers. They design websites, blog, do some serious Google ad spending and even setup requisite Facebook Pages. In this article we look how to build a better website for business owners that want to know more.But, despite their best efforts, the end result all too frequently translates to little (or no) tangible sales for many would-be digital Mad Men. So, what is exactly is source of the problem? The simple truth: poor website execution. (for the advanced website owner, check out a very good article from Mashable – that takes web 2.0 design a step further to quality user experiences.)

The good news is there are simple, but often-overlooked methodologies that can help boost a site’s performance and improve user experience. They are:

1. Get Strategic.

Think like your prospect and create a clear path to a traceable end goal. Visitors become buyers when they can find your information in 3 clicks (or less.)

2. …and “Action!“

Whether it’s a “Call For A Demo” prompt or “Apply Now” graphic button, your online strategy should incorporate a highly visible, call-to-action.

3. Analyze This.

Regularly pull stats from your hosting company or install Google Analyticsto stay on top of key indicators of traffic and bounces and in e-commerce solutions, pesky abandoned shopping carts.

4. Don’t Be Invisible, Man.

The web is all about the traffic. If your site is even a few years old, it may be incompatible with Search Engines and invisible to searchers of your services. Optimize for correct metadata and for content with keywords that typify prospect searches. For those who want to know more about Search Engines check out Google’s search engine optimization starter guide(opens as a PDF)

5. Social Relevance

Improve site “stickiness” by integrating your social media community into your site and showing off your latest blog posts and tweets to improve engagement with visitors. Implement these top-level strategic recommendations and you’ll be well on your to attracting more prospects and converting them into buyers. Keep your website optimized and don’t leave any money on the table. messageworks©2011

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