Rethink Your Web Presence
When we go to your website (or blog, or twitter page, or facebook page), what do you want us to do?
Don’t answer that right away, think!. What do you want me to do on your site? How do you want me to feed into your systems?
This is what Chris Brogan wants to give you: a few questions to consider, from the same side of the fence as your prospective customer/visitor/reader.
Remember, these questions are not from your side of the fence. They’re from the other side, the important side.
Answer These Questions for Your Audience:
Who do you want me to be?
– In designing his new website, Chris had this great breakthrough. And he started working on it, and then realized that this design he had in mind would be much more “male” in flavor and wanted women to feel welcome. He also wanted older people 35-60(ish) to come, so he knew his font to be large enough and distinct enough. So, that’s what I thought about for his would-be buyer. Who do you want me to be on your site?
How will I know that I belong?
– Will I be able to see “me” in your site? Will it make sense? When I go to The Quantum Universe, I don’t see me. There aren’t any beginner's guide in there. I don’t feel like I belong there. How will I know that I’m supposed to be on your site?
What do you want to show/tell me?
You’ve dragged me here. Make it easy to find what you’re hoping I consume. This is your main thing. This is where you want me to get really excited.
What do you want me to do?
I’m here. Now what? You want me to buy your something? You want me to hire you? You want me to sign up for your something? Make that really obvious. This is where things go the most wrong!
How will we keep this relationship going?
– You want me here more than once, right? I’m hoping you do. How can we do that? Shall I subscribe to your blog? Do you want me to do a newsletter? What’s next for us?
How shall I talk of you to my friends?
– You don’t want the relationship to end with me, do you? How can we find some of my friends that will also like you? What message do you want me to carry? Is there a way we can do that together?
These are an interesting bunch of questions posted recently by Chris. If you are a blogger/ website owner or plan to become one, please take some time out to answer the above questions for yourself. In the long run, it might just save you a lot of headache!
Don’t answer that right away, think!. What do you want me to do on your site? How do you want me to feed into your systems?
Remember, these questions are not from your side of the fence. They’re from the other side, the important side.
Answer These Questions for Your Audience:
Who do you want me to be?
– In designing his new website, Chris had this great breakthrough. And he started working on it, and then realized that this design he had in mind would be much more “male” in flavor and wanted women to feel welcome. He also wanted older people 35-60(ish) to come, so he knew his font to be large enough and distinct enough. So, that’s what I thought about for his would-be buyer. Who do you want me to be on your site?
How will I know that I belong?
– Will I be able to see “me” in your site? Will it make sense? When I go to The Quantum Universe, I don’t see me. There aren’t any beginner's guide in there. I don’t feel like I belong there. How will I know that I’m supposed to be on your site?
What do you want to show/tell me?
You’ve dragged me here. Make it easy to find what you’re hoping I consume. This is your main thing. This is where you want me to get really excited.
What do you want me to do?
I’m here. Now what? You want me to buy your something? You want me to hire you? You want me to sign up for your something? Make that really obvious. This is where things go the most wrong!
How will we keep this relationship going?
– You want me here more than once, right? I’m hoping you do. How can we do that? Shall I subscribe to your blog? Do you want me to do a newsletter? What’s next for us?
How shall I talk of you to my friends?
– You don’t want the relationship to end with me, do you? How can we find some of my friends that will also like you? What message do you want me to carry? Is there a way we can do that together?
These are an interesting bunch of questions posted recently by Chris. If you are a blogger/ website owner or plan to become one, please take some time out to answer the above questions for yourself. In the long run, it might just save you a lot of headache!
