Masonry Magazine July 2003 Page. 45
QUALITY MASONRY TOOLS
Make it Easy to Use
Easy site navigation is critical to a site's success. It needs to be professional looking, and it's well worth the investment to hire an expert to map the site so it flows properly. People won't spend a lot of time on a web site that confuses them or that makes it hard to zero in on the information they are seeking. They want to get the information they are looking for quickly, and move on.
Don't overcomplicate the design - bigger isn't always better and Flash animation is not necessarily a good thing. You want the web site to load fast and that means keeping large graphics to a minimum. Also, if you have established branding, your web site design should reflect it.
From a PR Viewpoint
Articles written about your company by a third party are powerful and should be used on your web site to entice visitors. Make sure each article has a signature file on the bottom including an e-mail address of where they can contact you for more information. Anything written by the company should also be displayed here the more publications, the higher level of credibility you'll be perceived as having in your industry. Everyone wants the expert - especially when they are spending big bucks. Press releases are a mainstay of a company's communications. Keep your most recent ones highly visible and the past releases archived with a search engine feature.
Some of you are probably wondering, what should we expect to pay to build a web site? The answer lies in how feature rich you need it to be, but a good estimate is somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000 to get a small business online. Isn't that a small price to pay for a tool that can help you build relationships without you even being present? It's your decision.
Cathy Taylor is a marketing and sales consultant with over 20 years experience. She specializes in strategy and plan development as well as management of communications and public relations programs in both the high-tech and small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative communications@cox.net.
KINGBRICK HOO
www.carmeltools.com
4659 Dulin Creek Road House Springs, Me. 63051
Phone: (636) 671-4387 Fax: (636) 375-3625
Toll Free: 1-800-245-3544
CIRCLE 154 ON READER SERVICE CARD
www.kennisonforest.com
Kennison
FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.
>>> Dense Industrial 65 Solid Sawn Scaffold Plank
(Clipping Services
Steel Rodding
Meets OSHA Standards
SPIB Certification
Customer Name Branding
Laminated
Scaffold
Plank also
available!
Sizes Available:
2x8" Lengths
2x10" 4'-20'
2x12"
Call today for delivered
prices to your area!
Toll Free: 888-697-5585
FAX: 337-527-0412
Services Available:
• Rod-Clip-Brand
• End Painting
• Precision End Trimming
• Paper Wrapping
Dick Kennison
Joe Kennison
Jared Kennison
Bob Edens
MEMBER
SIA
Meets and/or exceeds all OSHA/ANSI standards!
CIRCLE 144 ON READER SERVICE CARD
July 2003
Masonry 43