I see a lot of websites. I mean a lot of websites. All day I take calls with potential clients and we look at what they are doing right, and what they could do better.

I just typed "How to create" into the Google search bar. And do you know what the first auto-complete option was? "How to create a website." 

It's really not that surprising. Businesses need a website, but they often don't have a budget for one. PLUS, do-it-yourself website builders have come a long way. More and more business owners are looking at creating the website themselves in order to save the expense of working with a designer.

Starting in August a select group of entrepreneurs, office managers, and small business marketers will band together with a common purpose: To take charge of their online marketing.
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A smart business owner knows 2 things: 1) Their customers can be reached online cheaper than with any other advertising medium. AND 2) The tools to create online marketing are easy and accessible.

​Yet despite these truths many feel online marketing programs are failing.

A study from by Dr. Michael Freeman at the University of California San Francisco found that 49% of those who start a company say they have struggled with some form of mental illness in the past. 72% of entrepreneurs are directly or indirectly affected by mental health conditions.

Two years after I quit corporate America to start my business I found myself driving an hour and half each way to a new job. I got out of bed at 4:30 AM in order to get my workout in before leaving for work by 6:30 AM. I missed walking my little girl to the bus stop, and a million other precious things about self-employment. On top of all that, my new position was not for me. But I was desperate and scared.

Your website has less than 5 seconds to make an impression. If you aren't making the case for visitors to stay and see what you are all about, you can bet your ass they are leaving.

Here's an easy way to tell whether your visitors have a positive impression of you after visiting your site: Do they call you or fill out your contact form after they have been to your website? If not, it's because they aren't staying around long enough to get engaged with your message.

Here are the 2 things your website MUST do for your visitors in the first 5 seconds of a visit.

1. Tell the customer 3 things:
   • Who you are
   • What you do - not the 30 second elevator pitch, but the 5 word signature line. What exactly is it that you want to do for this visitor?
   • Why they should care - How will you make this visitor's life better?
     
     
2. Visually convey professionalism and expertise - Potential customers will judge your business based on the feeling they get when they first look at your website. They will do this before they even read a word. As a matter of fact, if your website is a hot mess they won't even bother to read a word. Your website must look professional, clean, and intentional if you expect it to do anything for you.
   
   This doesn't always mean you have to get a professional web designer or graphic designer involved (although I would recommend it if you can.) Here are some ways to ensure your website looks good even if you don't have a professional helping you:
   • Use a template website builder like Wix or Weebly. Choose a template from their professionally designed selection, and stick to the choices the template designer has made.
   • Keep your homepage super clean and simple. More is NOT better on websites. There is always a temptation to pack a page with information because the space it there. However, overwhelm does not lead to a positive experience.
   • In keeping with the tip above - if you overwhelm your visitor with choices, they will do nothing. Better to give them one or two choices based on what you would like them to do next (example: contact us, or schedule an appointment.) Make those choice clear by putting them in a button or graphic.

Did you notice the website image at the beginning of this article? I created that website in about 15 seconds using a Weebly template. Even though it only took 15 seconds it's a good website. If you needed your eyebrows done, and you saw that website, you would give them a try. And it empowers you to schedule your appointment. This is what you want. Maybe your website doesn't need a flirty lady blowing a kiss, but you get the point.

So clean it up and make it clear. Need help? You know I'm here for you. Schedule a free call with me and let's talk.

Thanks for spending time with me today. Don't forget to like and share this article with other small business owners. It will help them and make you look like a genius!