Think of Your Web Site As a Buffet

I came across a video produced by Nick Pettit titled "Designing With Focus." It's the best video that I could find on how to optimize a web page. Pettit manages to describe in simple terms that which hard core designers like me already know. Less is More.

Google is the most visited site in the world with just over 200 million hits per day but have you ever paid attention to their landing page? It's practically vacant, and it's vacant by design. Google executives have discussed the importance of maintaining a clean, simple, landing page. When you go to their site all you will see are the Google name and Search Bar. It's very clear that Google's "brand" is their search engine. It dominates their landing page. It's a different story once you click the "send" button, but by that time you do that you've already been hooked. Simple, but deliciously effective.

So back to you, when it comes to your website think of it as a buffet. You may have the knee-jerk reaction to put all of the ingredients on the main page. Resist that temptation. Highlight one or two items that you are well known for and let your customers browse through all of the other things. Assuming of course, that they have been properly hooked. People like to discover things and pick and choose what they want. That's a good thing, so invite them in and let them discover!

With 16 years of Marketing experience behind me I can vouch for Nick Pettit's analysis. Despite your inclination, less really is more, and more makes the money. Keep it simple, invite discovery. Your customers will do the rest!

Joel Nielsen is the founder of MediaShark, LLC in Salt Lake City, Utah. A chronic entreprenuer, Mr. Nielsen has 16 years of experience consulting thousands of businesses in Marketing, Management and Social Media optimization. He has a BS in Business Marketing from the University of Phoenix and a double Master's degree in Business Administration and Sports Administration from Ohio University. Mr. Nielsen is currently completing his Six Sigma Green Belt certification through the University of Utah.

You can visit Mr. Nielsen at [http://www.mediasharkllc.com] or follow him on Twitter under mediasharkllc.