I received a question the other day that went something like this; “Al, I love the new graphics on the site but aren’t you breaking one of the cardinal rules of Direct Marketing? Surely this shiny new ‘Get Online Made Simple’ logo is branding and isn’t branding something we should avoid as a big waste of cash from a direct marketers perspective?”

When I read the question I thought it was awesome so let’s deal with it point by point:

1. What is the Purpose of the Graphics at the Top of any Website?

Well, for me there are two main functions of the graphics and the first is most important. Get Online Made Simple is actually a benefit statement disguised as the name of the site or the business. I am not trying to be tricky or underhanded here at all, the name of the site explains exactly what we do. We show people how to get online and make cash quickly and easily. The benefit for the customer is relayed to them within three seconds of arriving and that what they are looking at is a site that helps them get online easily.

Now ask yourself, would that be a benefit to a bunch of busy people who are frustrated at their lack of cash generation from their attempts to make a bit of cash online? Hell yes! So this is REALLY important, the name of your website (if possible) should explain exactly what you do in your site and convey a clear BENEFIT to the customer of getting involved with you. This is GOLD information because if they know from the word ‘go’ that there is a massive benefit to them of using your site, you are going to massively increase your chances of winning and then selling to that customer.

2. Perception

The second point is to do with perception and it is important to understand. Whether you realise this or not, sub-consciously every time you look at a website your are judging it’s look and feel and using this as an key indicator as to whether this is a professional business you are dealing with or just an enthusiastic amateur. Having a good looking logo rather than some standard WordPress text makes a MASSIVE difference to the customers’ perception of who you are.

For example here is Get Online Made Simple:

And Here Is Gump Blog.com (My Blog that is in the process of being built)

To anyone who has spent two seconds online the plain Green Text at the top of the Gump Blog site is a dead giveaway that this is either new, amateurish or from someone who hasn’t invested in their own online business. And here’s some big questions…

If you were visiting a site with just a plain text graphic at the top,

1. Would you trust it?
2. Would you engage with it?
3. And most importantly Would you buy from it?

The answer to all of these questions is a resounding NO!!!

So there is a very, very good reason why every successful website has a well designed graphics banner at the top and it is all to do with creating an incredibly positive customer perception.

There you go… a graphics banner at the top of your site is critically important for these two main reasons, which is why I spent some time and effort showing you how to go about getting one in the FREE videos explaining how to use 99 designs. Click here to view.

Branding

Okay, now on the subject of branding, I have to say I don’t give two shakes of monkeys backside about building a brand. What I care about is people recognising when they come here they get some awesome content that helps them in their online adventures.

HOWEVER… if over the next five years this site turns into a MEGA-SITE then the brand will have been created by the websites own momentum and if that happens to you and your business AWESOME! But that is not my intention from the start.

My only intention is to find out what troubles you online and show you how to fix the problem. If in 5 years time, one million people recognise the Get Online Made Simple brand, well frankly that is just a happy accident.

So, the next video I am doing is a real doozy, it’s going to show you what changes you need to make to create more cash from your homepage of your website and I am going to show you some specific examples that are working right now.

As usual, it is a joy to talk to you and speak to you again soon.

By the way, if you have any comments throw them up here (keep them clean) and as for your questions, we are putting together some videos to address specific challenges you’ve had so keep the questions coming too by emailing contact@getonlinemadesimple.com

Al