Web Sites

Marjorie Wilner, Web site consultant, New York, NY, writing in Accounting Today, explains the difference between effective and ineffective Web sites. 

Bad writing, uninspired design, and poor Web architecture not only give a bad impression, but tell your clients you don’t respect them. 

Distractive images moving across the screen are just that—distractions. They are no substitute for good content. 

Visitors to your site are looking not for glitz, but for:

• A description of your services
• What makes your firm different
• Information and knowledge

Make navigating through the site simple and make it easy to get back to the home page from anywhere on the site. If you have more than 10 pages, provide a search function and a site map. Keep the content brief and straightforward. Don’t use trite graphics such as business people shaking hands, city buildings, or globes. These kinds of images present you as being anything but different. 

Update the site at least every quarter.

Try to obtain a Web address that can be found easily even when not remembered exactly.

For more, see Accounting Today, Dec. 20, 2004-Jan. 9, 2005, p. 22 or http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=9739&;pg=acctoday