Hello Friends,

Welcome back to those of you who have been here before and greetings to all of you newcomers. We are currently working on ways to better serve our friends/ clients and make sure that we give new possible business a great first impression of Di Interactive.

Everyone knows how important it is to make a good first impression, but do you ever really think just how important this first impression is?

Studies have shown that you have thirty seconds or less to make a first impression. In the time it takes you to heat a slice of left over pizza you have already made a lasting impression on someone. What happens during this time sets the stage for your entire relationship with your new acquaintance.

You don't have to tell the guy at the bar to look at the unattractive lady walking out of the bathroom only to find out that it is his girlfriend, or ask a woman her due date when she's not pregnant to make a bad first impression on someone.

It can be something as simple as a bad hand shake, lack of eye contact, or speaking to quickly or not loud enough. This happens for half a minute and before you know it your potential new friend thinks you are a goon.

These are problems that in the business world may never have the chance to be fixed. Instead the potential client will find someone else who can do the job and who comes across as professional.

Now lets fast forward to the year 2007 and learn why the first impression today is even more critical than it was even three years ago.

First of all, in our time of iPods and wireless internet, we have no where close to 30 seconds to make that important first impression. People want things instantly. If they cannot get it instantly they will go somewhere else.

Keeping this in mind, how are people getting their first impressions of companies today? By going to the store to check things out or meet the workers? Nope- to slow. How about looking up a phone number giving it a call and asking what type of product the company offers, and why it is the best? No chance, that could take up to 5 minutes.

How about hopping on the internet and checking things out. Maybe they try to go directly to the site- www.whateverbusinessiwant.com, or more likely they head to google and search for whatever they want to find. (Search engine optimization is a completely different issue that will be covered in a future post)

Here it is- the first impression of your company and you. They click on your web site and within 5 seconds most people will have made their decision.

5 seconds is all the time you have.

Within those 5 seconds the decision will be made whether or not the potential client wants to learn more about what your company offers or hit that little back button and find a site that looks a little more professional.

The point is a web site doesn't always help business.

Most small businesses realize they should have a web presence. Most have done something about that and do have something online now. Very few are aware that their web site might be losing business.

This is a bit of a surprise because everyone has done it- gone to a web site, instantly didn't like it, hit back and never returned or found anything else about the company.

There are several easy ways to test a web site.

The first test is simply ask the question to yourself- Do I have a bad web site? Answer it as honestly as possible. Keep in mind that the look will be what makes the first impression, but navigation and functionality are also important.

If you are having a hard time answering this question or are finding yourself trying to talk yourself into why you have a nice web site, chances are you don't have a good web site.

Second test- ask a friend, family member, or someone you can trust to have a look at the site and let you know what they think.

It is actually a good idea to have a couple people look at the site. Try to get two people who you would target as potential customers. One person should be computer savvy- someone who knows their way around a web site. The other person someone who doesn't use the internet all that much.

The goal of the test is to have a web site that is interesting and appealing enough for the computer savvy person, yet easy enough for the other person to use and navigate through.

The third test is to ask a professional. I would be happy to look at the web site and let you know exactly what works on the site and what areas could use some work.

After giving you an evaluation you should have a clear cut answer on your web site and whether it is fulfilling the needs it should or whether it is hurting the company.

If you want me to have a look feel free to email me a link the site-

derek@diinteractive.com

Hope everyone has a great weekend and remember to keep on keeping' on,

Derek

Kansas City Web Design