Storefront design

A good storefront design enhances an business identity, provides useful information and encourages return visits. To accomplish this, your storefront's main page should be like a window in a retail store. It should identify the business and briefly describe what the visitors can see or do if they move further into the store. Always have some helpful text on the page. If there are only graphics on a page, visitors who turn their graphic browser off will see only generic icons or boxes.

Organize your storefront logically. The names of departments listed on the home page should be descriptive and evocative enough to induce people to check them out. Break up information into multiple pages so people won't have to scroll. Make it interesting. Encourage return visits by having elements that change frequently.

Since you want people to order from your site, make it as easy and safe as possible. Let people know that credit card information transferred via e-mail or over the net is secure. Offer a no-hassle guarantee. Explain the ordering process. Make your business tangible. Let customers know how long you've been in business, include a short history and brief biographies of your key employees. If a page is under construction, keep that information to yourself. Test the site before premiering it.