When designing a website around specific call-to-actions here are some things to consider:

1. Color - Whether you’re designing a button, a banner or an entire header graphic the colors you choose really need to pop out on the page. For instance, using the color red on a dark website will draw attention straight to the red object.
2. Placement - The position of the object on the page is very important. Typically the object should be located in the top right corner or along the right side of your website.
3. Size Matters - This is especially true when you’re creating buttons. If your call-to-action button is the same size and blends with the rest of the site it won’t stand out as well if you changed some of the coloring or scaled it to be the biggest button on the page.
4. Verbiage - You could have a great graphic, but if the language isn’t effective you probably won’t draw people in. Using something like “Free Info” is dull, but “7 Ways To Boost Low Conversions” is sure to capture the attention of visitors.
5. Make It Visible - Don’t bury your call-to-action inside of text, banner ads or other graphics. What’s the point of a call-to-action if you can’t find it?

These are some of the core elements that go into creating a great call-to-action. If you have a website, bring it up in your browser and asking yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish?”

After the homepage, the most visited page on most websites is the About Us page.  The web is a great equalizer for business and your visitors know a shady company can put up a reputable looking website.  In order to gain trust, you have to answer the biggest question a consumer on the web is asking:  Can I trust you?

To answer that question, your visitors will turn to the About Us page.  You need to convey information about your company, demonstrate why you are trustworthy, and develop a personal connection with your visitor, all in 400-600 words.  This information is expected and delivering the goods boosts your online image.

Elements to consider when crafting an About Us page:

• A physical address – An 800 number and contact form are easy, convenient ways for customers to reach you, but a physical address shows a prospective customer that you are a real business.

• What you do – Most of your site will focus on solutions for your customers.  The About Us page is the corner of your site to talk to visitors about your company.

• Why you do what you do – How did the company begin and what is the driving passion behind it?  This is a great way to demonstrate dedication to your customers.

• Your successes – This page is not for the modest!  If you have received any awards or recognition, tapped into a competitive market, or experienced impressive growth mention them.  These are signals to your potential customers that you will do a good job for them.

• What makes you different– Chances are you are not the only business doing what you do.  A look at what sets you apart gives visitors a reason to choose you.

• Personality – If your company is fun to work with or singularly dedicated to helping customers, make sure visitors know that.  Your company’s culture should shine through in the writing.

• Staff bios – Give your visitors a connection with the people behind the business.  The web is cold and impersonal, but humanizing elements add a friendly face and make the experience more personal.

As much as the web has changed the way businesses relate to their customers, the importance of trust has not diminished.  Potential customers want to know they are dealing with a reputable company in addition to getting a great product.  Build credibility on your site and convert visitors into customers.

I’m sure most of us have come across a site at one time or another where you’ve clicked on a link that takes you to a 404 error page. The Web savvy people out there know what it means and aren’t put off by it, we simply click “back” and find another way to get to the information we were looking for. Now, think about this same situation from the perspective of someone who uses the Internet maybe once a month.

After ten minutes of searching for information they find what they need, but when they click the link in the search results it takes them to a scary looking “404 Not Found” page with big dark letters. The knee jerk reaction would be to click on the “back” button and find another website because, to an unskilled web user, they’ve reached a dead end…and that’s what you want to avoid.

When a visitor has reached a dead end that’s not good, so consider doing something that’s rising in popularity. Customize your 404 page if at all possible by setting up a new rule in your “.htaccess” file.

This is a great way to improve a sites usability. When you’re trying to come up with some design ideas for a 404 page check out some examples that Sitepoint has gathered. Most of them are entertaining but helpful at the same time.

Don’t be afraid to give your custom 404 pages some personality, we are human after all and having a page like this can improve the users experience and keep them on your site for a longer period of time.