DeWese on the Do’s and Don’t’s of Website Content.

The young politician, Al, said he would introduce some legislation to help finance this ambitious endeavor. Tim and Bob have gone on to win many awards, and Al almost became President of the United States.

Web Is First Impression

Nowadays, printing companies all over the world use Websites to introduce their companies to potential customers, and to receive and send files to existing clients. I visit a lot of these printing company Websites in my work as an investment banker specializing in the printing industry.

I see a lot of sites that are good. They are enticing, exciting and fun, and make me want to examine all the pages.

Others are atrocious. Some are boring. When I see atrocious or boring, I rarely get past the home page and click off to something else more interesting.

Websites should help you sell print communications—the entire range of services that you offer. A Website is a part of your marketing mix and a form of marketing communications.

Here are some of my basic likes and dislikes about printing company Websites.

• It frustrates (actually riles) me, when I have to search to find the company phone number. The phone and fax numbers should be on every page. If you have an 800 number, it should be on every page. What if some major league buyer just happens to be grazing the Internet for a printer, likes what he sees, wants to call you for some quotes and can’t find your phone number? I know you probably have a tab that says “Contact Us,” where you feature the phone numbers, but I am telling you to make your phone number convenient on every page.

• Every page should also feature your address, city, state and ZIP somewhere. It’s usually best at the bottom in about 10-pt. type.