NMT - Web Sites, Software Development and Graphic Design in Huntsville, Alabama

We  recently had the pleasure of creating what we consider to be a fantastic re-branding and web presence for Huntsville Flight Center.com.

Being a designer, I really enjoy creating a well branded identity for a client and engaging the end user with an effective, enjoyable visual experience.

We are very pleased (and proud) of our latest work for The Huntsville Flight Center - It is a huge leap forward from their previous identity online and our vision was to create an almost Hollywood-esque scene where the user feels like they are flying the night skies.

 When a client has faith in our work and puts their trust in us completely to solve their problem and deliver the best solution possible, we feel our finest work is done. This was the case with The Huntsville Flight Center who let us do what we do best!

Go check out the new site! The Huntsville Flight Center.com

Lately, we've been getting a lot of calls from people who want us to "fix" part of a website or "give them new features." So it made me think: "What are the sure signs that you should scrap your current website and rebuild from scratch"?

This'll be a humorous (but absolutely true) look at what comes through our doors and indicates you will be better off financially and aesthetically if you just yell "Do-Over!"

5. You have a "hit-counter" on your "home page" Um ... it was cool when it was miraculous that someone across the country could actually fire up an internal modem, hear the little beeps and squeels and then finally hit your website, but today the fact that you have had 103 visitors doesn't impress anyone. So ... of course you can remove your embarrasing hit counter but chances are it's just an indication of the way the rest of the site functions. *We, of course, suggest robust statistics/analytics tools you see - not your visitors.

4. You need new functionality and your site was built using FrontPage. This probably means your site was built 6 years ago by someone who swore they were a "Web Master." For any web company to "add" interactive features such as password-protected areas, easy-to-update text etc ... there will have to be a considerable overhaul (read as: deleting all code)

3. You have a "Splash Page" Please, please, please don't make your visitors wait to get into your site. It's honestly like having to wait in a fast-food line. If your wait is too long - you assume it's badly run, and that what's inside is likely subpar as well. Not to mention the fact that most Flash animation "splash pages" are super-horrible to boot.

2. The price you paid to have your original site built was based on "number of pages" Today, you should absolutely be using a content management system if you run a website that has more than a couple "pages" of content. That means you'll be able to add an infinite amount of text, photos and multimedia yourself. No need to be a "Web Master" (see #4). NMT's SmartSites allow you to do just that: keep your site up-to-date with news, changing information - all through an easy text editor.

1 . You have called every web design house in town and they all giggle/ cough/ put you on hold - when you tell them the url of your current site. The lesson here: Use resource sites like these to size up your current website design against what is current. You'll see pretty quickly there is a great divide in new web design & its communication and sales potential vs. the old style of "putting text and pics" on a page.

If any of these hit too close to home, stop counting your "hits", call NMT and start counting your blessings. 256.704.2324

If you answered by saying getting my site ranked number one, you are not alone.
I would be willing to bet that most of us would answer it the same way. Is that wrong?
No, but I think people need to look at the bigger picture.
You want traffic, the more traffic you have the better your chances are at gaining a customer. While being ranked number one will generate traffic, the main thing you should look at is follow through.

What is follow through?
Basically it is the percentage of your traffic that went to another page on your site. If you had 100 hits and only 2% went to another page then you have a problem. That means that 98 people probably went to another site. You need to find out why and correct it.

I like to make things simple, so look at it this way. You have a store and 100 people walk in and then immediately walk out.  The stats show 100 people came in, but what have you gained? Absolutely nothing.
Why do you think people ask if they can help you find something, they do not want you to leave.

SEO is not just about getting your site ranked high, it is about getting people to your site and keeping them there.

We get asked all the time for web entrepreneurial tips and resources. We hear it so often that it seems we should include a section in our newsletter called "Web Entrepreneurial Tips and Resources". Soooooo, we will, be on the look out for them!

Of course there are jillions (technical term for a bunch) of resources on the web, some free and some not so free - some accurate and some not so accurate, where one can research and understand "what's going on". Well as promised to a few folks at lunch today, here is the site I think should be at the very top of your favorites list/bookmarks (how's that for being browser agnostic) - http://www.clickz.com/.

Are you taking advantage of the internet's FREE marketing potential? There are likely vibrant community forums (with large national readerships) for the interest your business serves. Those communities are made up of lively participants WHO YOU NEED AS YOUR CUSTOMERS.

What better way to let them know about your products / website than to post a bit about it on that forum? Well ... here's where a bit of ingenuity comes in:

If you heard how great a business is from the business owner (think: used car salesman in plaid pants yelling into badly-produced local commercial) - you will will likely pay little attention.

However, if you hear from a satisfied customer who posts on the forum you are reading often, well that's another story.

Tips for Guerilla Marketing via Forum sites:

NEVER sign up and post about your site immediately if you want to be believable. Most sites indicate how many posts you have made as a member so ... again with the credibility factor ... if it looks like you are a first time poster and you post a glorious post about your business and include a link to your site - few folks will bite. DO join the group, browse the forum and make some posts about things you know/care about. Then - make your move. Seems like a lot of work, I know but it's marketing via 3rd party testimonial which is powerful stuff. Plus, if you're on a high-traffic forum, you may get 1000s of hits from that one post.

DO use a different name and email address that username "jimswidgetworld" and email jim@jimsbigwidgetworld.com - Common sense, sure, but we see it all the time and it's inneffective and insulting.

OK, now you're off to search google for "insert industry name here - forum" - SJ