does it have what it takes?

[LiviLou]

How can you tell if your site has what it takes? Most of the terms used, I have no idea what they mean or how they relate to a web page. I want my site to do well, but not for my sake. What advice would you give me?

[malcolm]

I'm sure lots of people here would love to help but we'd all need a bit more info:

Have what it takes to do what, what's the objective ?

Defining "doing well". What would success look like to you. Does your site sell something ?

If not for your sake then for who's sake is it ?

Post the url of the site ?

Cheers

Malc

[janeth]

When I come to your web site it is because I need your web site to fill a need. I either need to find some information or purchase a product. Now days it seems the web site designers are more interested in showing the world what they can do than to build a web site design that will make money.

Your web site design should be clean. I would never put any banners to another company on my front page, but if you feel the need, then one banner at the bottom of the home page is OK. You have no idea how many sites I see with banners at the top of the page. I feel like they're trying to get rid of me before I ever get to see their site. The other thing I really dislike in a web site design is when I have to click on five different pages before I find out what the web site is about. I guess they want to see how serious the customer is before they try and sell him anything.
I think you should have at least 250 words of good text about your business on your main page a nice looking logo, easy to use nav bars and I should know what your website is about in less then 5 seconds.

[Brittany]

Most of the terms used, I have no idea what they mean or how they relate to a web page.

Why don't you post some of the terms you're referring to, so that one your fellow members can help answer your questions?

Also, we've started a Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations here at WebProWorld, which might help cure some of the confusion:

http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=2597

[carbonize]

Best way to see if a site has "what it takes" is to give it a month and see what sort of business you get. You can never really tell what the public will think of anything as they are a fickle bunch.

[httpman]

How can you tell if your site has what it takes

[preliminary : you don't have an idea what the terms mean. And I'm french and I'm not sure I understood your question... -> if my answer is out, I apologise just ignore it]

Well, whatever is the purpose of your website its success is probably the right answer to your question. If it brings you back what you expected, things are correct.

Did you think about the "www" link of your profile (http://webpages.charter.net/onepageatatime/) when you wrote this post ? If yes, although this website is very specific its success is easy to measure, via the number of donations and encouragement or support your get.

Does it have what it takes ? You could give a little more to people supporting you. What about pictures of children smiling with a card or letter in hands, or whatever you sent them ? Don't misunderstand me: I do not mean that you should make some kind of "sales" marketing, but if people give you money and support, you should give them back something - samples of the result you (they) reach.

This would loop the loop, and looks like a good way for doing things on the net or in the real world. To sum up : take, give, measure the result and act.


JP

-- just my two cents worth

[carbonize]

You don't use cents in France :op

[Defty]

i think they do now!

[httpman]

You don't use cents in France :op

Hello carbonize. Nice to meet you online.
Yes we do !! Although we can still call them "centimes", the Euro (€ <- this is the symbol for 'euro', I was wondering how it could display in this forum ?) the Euro now ask us to call 1/100th of an euro a "cent". But obviously, it will take a few generations before anybody here say "cent" - at present we say "centimes d'euros = euro cents" instead.

Changing mentalities takes time.
But to answer you : most people here now can use "cent", and moreover now know what it means !

defty. Very nice site indeed ! Very strong design.

JP

[vwebworld]

You know, your question is the one question
we all ask (in one way or another).

What's success? Is my site good? etc...

Most of the posts (reviews) deal with the appearance,
function, and how a website "feels" or how it touches
us.

But to answer your question... I have a question for you:
What do you want from your site? What is it's
purpose? What do you hope for it to "accomplish?
This is the measure by which you can tell if your
site has what it takes.

For example: if all you want from your site is to
be a good source of additional information to your
customers...
...then ask your customers if it does that.



~Roland