What Kind of Digital First Impression Are You Making?
We all know the old saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” We live in an age where first impressions matter more than ever, and our ability to control those first impressions is challenged more and more every day.
There was a time when two people would shake hands, exchange business cards, and they would call one another for a meeting. Today, that process has been turned completely upside down. Shaking hands and exchanging cards still happens, but now that first meeting may happen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or your blog. And even then, before we decide to make the call to set up a meeting, we make a stop at your website to find out if you look like the real deal.
On the flip side, consider a simple Google search. Someone you’ve never met, and potentially never will, tells Google they are interested in the product or service you offer. Google uses their secret algorithms, and in an instant, a list of viable options is presented to this person. Not just one or two options, though. No, there are many options, and if you’re well prepared, your business or organization is one of them.
In both cases, the next thing that happens is this. The person you want to connect with lands on your website. Stop and consider that for a moment. What’s their first impression? In mere seconds, your prospective customer takes all of this in and makes their buying decisions, answering the question, “Should I stay, or should I go?” Now more than ever, remembering “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” matters.
What kind of impression is your website making?
Here are six questions you can ask to help analyze your website’s effectiveness right now:
- Does your messaging immediately tell visitors who you are, what you do, and why they should care, all in a matter of seconds?
- Are you creating a moment where your customer feels like you understand their struggles and aspirations, and then communicates to them how you can help make their lives better?
- Does your website visually feel relevant and fresh, or dusty and dated?
- Is your website easy for users to navigate, or complicated and confusing?
- Are there clear, compelling call-to-action messages on your website asking visitors to make the next move, or are they left wondering what to do next?
- Does your website perform as well on your mobile device as it does on your desktop?
It’s time you make a great first impression!
These are the same questions that guide us as we’re working with clients on their websites, and we hope they’re helpful to you as you work through yours. As always, we’re always here to help answer questions, and we’re thankful you’re part of the OrangeBall tribe!
