We've audited thousands of websites and have noticed most are devoid of crucial search optimization and necessary structural elements that ignore standard web usability principals.

In our opinion, part of a solid web strategy should identify the gaps in the project that's limiting your conversions. This is why we recommend having an audit done prior to after the web is completed. If you feel you're spending too much money in PPC campaigns or email blasts and your leads are still down, then there may be more serious problems at hand. This is why experienced turnkey and fully managed solutions are not only cost effective but have higher rates of return for our clients.

The "Building Smarter Websites" tag is more than a slogo. It is the mission statement of WEBPRO and why the company was formed. It should be in the forefront of every marketing manager, designer and web development group that ever touched dreamweaver or visual studio.

Unlike the movie, a talented web designer has 40 milliseconds ( not 60 ) to capture the interest of potential customers. This is referred to as the halo effect. In this short time frame, first impressions will influence subsequent judgments of the websites credibility and buying decisions.

Once you have a website up and running you have fought half the battle. However, many webmasters relax once all the pages are on the server because they don't realize the other half of the battle is getting people to come to the website. As more and more website's sprout on the net, it becomes imperative that a coherent marketing plan be in place to make a website successful.

WEBPRO uses a 7 Step Objective Guideline below.

7 Step Objective

1. Motivate repeat visitors and attract new ones.
2. Personalize and develop a one to one web interface that gives the user more control.
3. Gain a truer understanding of your customer’s needs and wants.
4. Strategically build brand recognition and equity on the Web.
5. Create an electronic advantage for your customers.
6. Drive valuable and targeted traffic to your site.
7. Evaluate your Website's worth and learn ways to continually improve it.

Principles Of Effective Web Design
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In order to use the principles properly we first need to understand how users interact with websites, how they think and what are the basic patterns of users’ behavior.

How do users think?
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Typical users’ habits on the Web aren't that different from customers’ habits in a store. Users will glance at each new page or home page, scan some of the text, and click on the first link that catches their eye. Studies have concluded there are large parts of a web page that goes completely unnoticed. This is why over inundating text may work for search engines but won't be absorbed by the user. Make sense?

• Users appreciate quality and credibility. If a page provides users with high-quality content, they will overlook the advertisements unless the ad design is tied to the content. This is the reason why poorly designed websites which hold meaningful relevant content will achieve more qualified traffic. Content is more important than the design which supports it. Jacob Nelson is famous for saying, "the medium is not the message, the message is the message".

• Users don’t read, they scan. Analyzing a web-page, users search for some fixed points or anchors which would guide them through the content of the page.

• Web users are impatient and insist on instant gratification. Very simple principle: If a web-site isn't able to meet users’ expectations, then designer failed to get his job done properly and the company loses money. The higher the cognitive load, the less intuitive the navigation.The result is a user than won't return.

• Users don’t make optimal choices. Users don’t search for the quickest way to find the information they’re looking for. Neither do they scan web-page in a linear fashion, going sequentially from one site section to another one. Instead users satisfied; they choose the first reasonable option. As soon as they find a link that seems like it might lead to the goal, there is a very good chance that it will be immediately clicked. Optimizing is hard, and it takes a long time.

Don't make users think
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According to Krug’s first law of usability, the web-page should be obvious and self-explanatory. When you’re creating a site, your job is to get rid of the question marks — the decisions users need to make consciously, considering pros, cons and alternatives.

If the navigation and site architecture isn't intuitive, the number of question marks grows and makes it harder for users to comprehend how the system works and how to get from point A to point B. A clear structure, moderate visual clues and easily recognizable links can help users to find their path to their aim.