How Effective Is Your “Internet” First Impression?	Visited: 465 Not rated Rate: Select 1 - Terrible 2 - Poor 3 - Average 4 - Good 5 - Outstanding
by Bob Cefail December 11, 2007

I want to ask you some questions that you need to answer very carefully. Think about the last time that you searched for some type of product or service on the internet. Do you recall what your first impression was of the web sites that you visited?

Did the web sites make you more or less confident about the company?

Did the web sites give you more or less interest in what you were looking for?

Were you looking for a very specific thing and did you find it quickly when you first arrived at the web sites?

Did the web sites turn you off the minute you reached them.

I now want you to think about one of the top reasons why someone would buy your service or product. Really picture what your potential customer would be trying to solve or get from what you offer. Now go to your web site and just see if it does the following:

Answer quickly what you were looking for.

Give you confidence about your company.

Create additional interest in your prospect’s mind.

Turn you off the minute you reached the site.

Be Honest With Yourself

It is very important for you to understand several things to ensure that your company succeeds and expands over the next two years. There is an old saying that you only get one chance to make a good first impression. If you were going to a business meeting you wouldn’t wear out of date clothing, or have messy hair, or talk in a confusing unclear manner would you? In this internet age the first impression that you make is going to be your web site. Why would you be any less professional with your web site than you would for a business meeting?

Understand that over 50% of all consumer purchases on the internet are now PRECEDED by an internet search. People want to LEARN about your company first by looking at your web site. If you are at all concerned about your web site you can then count on one thing—you are losing a large number of prospects who see your site and decide that you are not for them.

The Internet Is Getting More Powerful

You need to also consider the following facts. Computers are getting cheaper and cheaper. High speed internet access is more and more available and also getting cheaper. Every day more and more people are using search engines and the internet itself. All signs point to the internet being the main way people will find out about your company in the future. The internet is the 21st century Yellow Pages on steroids. You can no longer neglect these facts! Whatever it costs to upgrade your web site presence you must do as a business survival point. There is one thing last thing you need to ask yourself. Are your competitors AHEAD of you in terms of using the internet? The answer to that question could be quite revealing.