15 December 2009
Website Owner’s Manual Winners
Last week we published a review of Paul Boag’s new book “Website Owner’s Manual” and offered readers the opportunity to win one of six free copies courtesy of Manning Publications. To enter all you had to do was leave your best website owner’s tip in the comments. With over 50 tips by the deadline Paul’s job wasn’t easy.
Here in no particular order are the six winning tips for website owner’s chosen by Paul. If you have won please forward your full name and mailing address from the email you gave when entering your comment to thinkvitamin@carsonified.com.
- Jackie
My tip is – sometimes it’s OK to ignore tips :) But first, you have to do your research and know what you want to accomplish and who you are doing it for.Otherwise you won’t know which tips to ignore and which to follow in your particular project.
- Glennette Clark
My number one tip for web site owners is to have a content strategy.Oftentimes, content gets the short stick in lieu of design, when it should really be the other way around.Web site owners should know their audiences, know what they want to read, and know how to present it to them.
Without some kind of upfront discussion about content, the web site becomes a place for pretty pictures and not an effective tool for building brands and building businesses.
- Greg Wolkins
My #1 tip is *Be Responsive*. Be eager to engage with your readers/customers/viewers. If someone leaves a comment, starts a discussion, has a question, etc, be sure to respond quickly. Let them know that you are paying attention and are receptive to their input.Even if it’s just to say “I don’t know, let me look into that and get back to you”. A site that appears to be abandoned will quickly be forgotten.
- Cornelius Bergen
My tip would be to never assume that once the site or a feature goes live it’s done. Your site will require regular attention like a garden.Every feature launched on the site is like a seed and without nurturing, it will die. And sometimes you’ll need to pull out things that are just wasting space.
- Dan Millar
My number one tip for website owners is don’t over complicate your site. Spend time at the start planning your content and functionality. Then sit back, read through, and strip out anything which isn’t absolutely necessary.Once the site is launched keep reviewing your analytics, if features aren’t being used either investigate why and adjust your architecture (if business critical feature) or strip it out.
- Jeff
My Tip is always keep the goal and the purpose of your website in mind, especially when adding features.If you keep your content good, and your site simple and easy to use people will come back again and again.
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rfbellerose
# December 15, 2009 - 4:51 pm
Very good tip #6, wonderful.
Noel Wiggins
# December 16, 2009 - 3:05 pm
Fantastic tips, I am glad that most folks are on the same page in terms of design alone isn’t good enough, the design has to cater to the audience and has to be rich in good content.
I believe that a site that has great content with bad design will out perform a great designed website that has horrible content, or no real “there there”
–
Thanks and Regards
Noel for Nopun.com
professional graphics design
Teri Atkinson
# December 16, 2009 - 6:27 pm
nice tip # 5…dont over complicate Oyeah
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Reva Wood
# December 17, 2009 - 5:53 pm
wew. thanks for this tips
i will apply this
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haler
# December 18, 2009 - 5:03 am
I believe this content having the great information. It is a wonderful i feel happy for see this site. There are so many information in the same page .Its very useful for all the people . Thank you for sharing this tips with you. Nice you have done a very good job.
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Wilson Grand
# December 18, 2009 - 11:13 pm
This is really great information for website hosting.
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# December 20, 2009 - 4:59 pm
Wow! Interesting to know and learn of it.
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# December 20, 2009 - 5:10 pm
Guys, congratz for your excellent achievement.
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# December 20, 2009 - 5:26 pm
When I read this I want enjoy and happy to learn of it. thanks
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# December 20, 2009 - 5:30 pm
When this happen? What Kind of competition is this? Web Designing?
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# December 21, 2009 - 4:24 pm
I am agree with tip # 6.. thanks
woodpellet
# December 21, 2009 - 6:17 pm
Thank’s for this tips it’s really helpful for us web designer.
Nice guy’s
Wood Pellet
biomassgenerator
# December 21, 2009 - 6:32 pm
I like the tip # 2
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loriwinters
# December 23, 2009 - 11:31 am
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Daniel Errante
# December 23, 2009 - 10:32 pm
#2, 3, and 4 are points that resonate with me.
#2 – While cool design creates the WOW effect on first impressions, a lot of times it’s overdone. While you may be mesmerized at first, navigating and using the site may change your mind and first impression about the site and company. If you have user-generated content, the more your design screams at your website visitor and distracts them from your content, the more ego you are throwing out there, and your visitors will recognize this and be turned off by it. Your members who are creating your content will feel like you are trying to overpower their content with your design and they won’t be happy either.
#3 – Being responsive is one of the most important parts of running a business and developing AND keeping relationships, whether it be business or personal. Although all of us may be guilty of ignoring customers, followers or even our own friends, the people who really excel in life and business are the ones who pay attention to their friends and fans. Fans are more likely to tell their friends about you when they feel like you take care of them.
#4 – It’s fun to think that when you add a feature or make a change to your business model, website, design, etc that you will see instant results. This is not usually the case, things usually grow over time, like a garden. The more you put into it, the more you get out. If you only put in 50% of the effort you could be putting into your work, you are only going to see 50% of the results you could be achieving.
Rashmi Menon
# December 25, 2009 - 5:44 pm
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Hannah Pia Valeros
# December 27, 2009 - 3:14 pm
learn French
Jasper Munson
# December 30, 2009 - 8:24 pm
#4 is great advice, I’ve often been tempted to say “It’s done!” and ignore it when it still needs a fair amount of maintenance.
Firma Rehberi
# December 31, 2009 - 12:11 am
Thank you very much nice work
Doming
# January 2, 2010 - 5:11 am
Thanks for the tips
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# January 4, 2010 - 1:15 pm
Great tips. Thank you for sharing!
trina turk
# January 4, 2010 - 1:16 pm
Thanks for the tips.. I like the tip # 5
louisville website designer
# January 4, 2010 - 6:55 pm
Thanks for those wonderful tips, I’m keeping them in mind. Cheers!
Max Acai Boost
# January 5, 2010 - 2:33 pm
Thanks, for writing a beautiful and informative blog.
joscios
# January 8, 2010 - 11:23 am
Great blog, I really enjoyed this post. I will be back and have bookmarked your site.
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Drake
# January 8, 2010 - 12:32 pm
Such a great post. This was surely very informative and I’ll be sure to bookmark this site. Thanks.
Dergi
# January 11, 2010 - 11:44 am
Thanks for this great post