Happy Times & First Impressions

A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend proposed (yay)! Because we're wanting to get married later this year, I've been busy scouring the internet for beautiful wedding venues. Upon typing "north Florida wedding venue" into the Google search bar, a list of numerous venues appeared (and my eyes widened with delight). As I giddily clicked through the results, I found that many of the websites did not portray the "pretty" or "scenic" atmosphere I was hoping to find for our special day. I was surprised to find that many of the websites not only lacked a sensible design concept and the important information I needed, but many were missing beautiful pictures of the beautiful events they claim to host. It was only after scouring the websites and blogs of photographers that I found the images showcasing the gorgeous settings I had envisioned. Fortunately, I thought to do this and didn't bypass the possible venues altogether. It made me wonder though: how many potential clients were lost because their website didn't adequately tell their story?

It's no secret we live in a visual society. As social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram continue to grow in popularity, it is clear that pictures and images reign supreme! A social media post with an image will garner more feedback and interaction than a post without an image.

In addition to the importance of images (especially in the wedding/event industry), a sensible website design concept that tells the story is crucial. A website is often the first impression a potential client has of you and your business (and we all know the importance of first impressions). If meeting a client in person for the first time, you would arrive dressed appropriately and equipped with the information needed to assist them. A website should do just that. It should be "dressed" appropriately (for your industry) and should offer the pertinent information necessary to assist your potential client.

Take a look at your website. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential client or customer.

• Does your website tell your story?

• Does it convey what you're all about?

• Does it provide the information that potential clients are looking for? Is that information easy to find?

• If appropriate for your industry, does your website feature fantastic images and pictures?

You can also begin to take note of the type of information you look for when visiting other websites. By doing this and answering these questions, you can determine if your website needs a bit of help.