It is difficult to effectively promote a book or speaking services today if the author or speaker doesn’t have an effective website, even if sales are typically closed off-line. However, there is still the misconception that having a website is just a matter or purchasing a template or finding someone on Craig’s List.

While your website need not be flashy and complex, there are a number of tests you should put your site through to ensure it makes the grade. With the Internet becoming a global economy and more and more people marketing through websites, competition is rough out there.

First impressions are key on the Internet. And that impression can last less than a minute as click happy page viewers come and go. What would you say in answer to these questions about your website?

Do People Know Where They Are Right Away?

Do you have a logo that can be seen right away and that can visually describe the nature of your business? It is important to grab your viewers attention right away, because before they start reading, they will take in your website visually. Convey the result people will derive from your website through pictures and other attention grabbing graphics.

Words are important as well, though, so make sure your company name is clearly visible immediately and that you have a tagline that tells people what you do. Communicate immediately on every page with a strong title that tells them where they are and what they can expect.

Try to be unique on your website, but never be modest or assume your customer will sell themselves. Make sure your site communicates boldly what you can offer your future customers.

Have you checked out your computer on various viewing platforms and browsers?

A website will not look the same on all computers. What looks great on Firefox might be a mess on Windows Explorer, and even on different versions of each. Don’t take anything for granted. Ask people you know and trust to view your website on at least 5 different monitor sizes, Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems, and on PC as well as MAC computers.

Check a blackberry and iPhone as well if your customers may be using a cell phone to view your site. The differences in the way your site looks between different platforms might surprise you.

How functional is your website?

Slow loading pages are the most annoying thing a potential visitor can experience. In most cases, that potential customer clicks away before even seeing what you have to offer and becomes a former potential customer before you know it.

Pretend you are your ideal customer and take the time to walk through your entire site page by page through their eyes. Is the page load time fast enough? Are your links all working and pointing where they should? Are there any grammatical errors present or spelling errors in any of the content? Can you find the contact us information quickly and easily?

The reason to go through the Website Reality Test is to ensure that your potential customers are not driven away but instead are welcomed into your website. Make it easy for them to get around your site, find what they want (and what you’re selling) and become your customer.

Visit Action’s Store to find many resources to help you optimize your website and your online marketing campaign so your professional speaking career will soar.

Have you visited Amazon.com or Comcast.com lately? What was the first thing that came to mind when you arrived. Most likely, it was something like: “Terrific, now that I’m here, lets get to what I need.”

Next, try to recall a web site that you came across that was “less effective.” Maybe it was clearly done on the cheap, looked like about a hundred other second-rate sites, or just seemed to be thrown together by an amateur. I suspect that what came to mind when you saw that web site wasn’t “what can you sell me?”, but rather “is this a real company?”

Trust is the key to having an effective web site on the Internet. This is particularly critical for authors or speakers whose products and services are, for all intents and purposes, themselves. If a caller to your site doubts your integrity, most likely they will exit your site and will never return. I would like to point out a few of the essential ingredients to forging that belief and developing an effective web site.

Number one is to make sure that your web site clearly identifies you as a real person. Visitors to your web site must know from the first moment they arrive how you stand out from all the others out there. There are numerous ways to achieve that goal. You should make sure your text is well written and speaks to your visitor, and you can get unusual graphics to enhance that message. The core component is to never lose site of how you want to present yourself to your visitors.

Second, your web site must immediately show people that you have a proven track record in your industry. One way to achieve this is through the strategic use of effective copy writing and testimonials. Don’t hide your victories deep in your website, make sure they are well displayed on every page for your site visitors to view.

Lastly, you must convey through your web site that you can resolve your customer’s troubles. Site visitors have plenty to do and would be thrilled if you could offer them a solution to their problem and they could stop hunting for one. Your effective, believable website is your advertisement to make that happen.

Visit Action’s Store to find lots of resources that will help you streamline and outsource your online marketing campaigns.