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Offline Web Design Best Practices

by affirmwealth
15 replies
I'm looking for some basic best practices for offline site design.

For instance, if I'm using WordPress, what elements should I make sure I have?

Like maybe,

1. Phone number in header
2. Google Maps widget
3. Opt in form on the upper right


Stuff like that. I have some ideas but I am hoping that someone with a little more experience could list the elements that they feel are most important.

Thanks in advance.
#design #offline #practices #web
  • Profile picture of the author affirmwealth
    Also, I see a lot of sites where they list every city or every zip code in the area in fine print at the bottom of the site.

    Is this considered to be keyword stuffing? Is there any benefit to this practice?
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  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    I read somewhere they try to put a phone number on the home page 5 times. Maybe a bit of overkill but the sentiment is spot on.
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    • Profile picture of the author MarkR
      Yes, that's keyword stuffing, don't even try it. Not on your client's dime for sure.

      I'd start by learning how to do keyword research and on-page SEO.

      The WordPress part is easy.

      That'll get you some results and checks coming in.

      Then get better, faster and make it a repeatable process, and you're off to the races.
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      • Profile picture of the author affirmwealth
        Thanks Mark,

        I know how to do keyword research and I'm very comfortable with WordPress.

        My question is in regard to designing a site in WordPress specifically for an offline business.

        For me it would make sense to have the phone number in the header, and a sidebar widget on the left with the address. Maybe a Google Maps widget.

        I often see people put the address on the right, but when you are looking at the site on a mobile phone, if the site does not have a mobile version (or if their phone does not trigger the mobile plugin to activate), the person would have to scroll all the way over to the right to see the address.

        I think the phone number should be right under the name in the header on the upper-left (maybe where the slogan goes), and then again along with the address in a Google Maps in the sidebar on the LEFT.

        And I think one of the first images on the home page should be a coupon.

        But what the heck do I know? I'm still trying to figure this stuff out.

        I have seen the WordPress Themes that have come out specifically for local marketing, and I find them boring.

        I'm a creative type that would rather design my themes to look how I want them to look, or to be able to use any cool template I find online and customize it for a local business.
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      • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
        Originally Posted by MarkR View Post

        Yes, that's keyword stuffing, don't even try it. Not on your client's dime for sure.

        I'd start by learning how to do keyword research and on-page SEO.

        The WordPress part is easy.

        That'll get you some results and checks coming in.

        Then get better, faster and make it a repeatable process, and you're off to the races.
        A phone number listed 5 times is not keyword stuffing. Neither is putting zipcodes in the bottom of the site. It is pointless, but you can do it. If anything regarding zipcodes, you would want to add a meta tag for that.

        Keyword research and SEO has nothing to do with web design... you don't need to know that in order to start. Especially if the OP isn't relying on traffic from search engines.

        Offline web design, best practices... learn something other than wordpress. Many businesses have gone down this road before, and many are not happy with wordpress, regardless of what internet marketers may say. If you really want to launch a web design company you should know all the major platforms, and coding from scratch.
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  • Profile picture of the author Caragui
    #1 and # 2 would be good if you're making a site for a local business. #3 would depend on the type of product or service their are offering.
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  • Profile picture of the author Hugh
    Adrianne,

    Don't tell anyone. Top secret. My key to success. STEAL IDEAS!
    Let's say you want to create a website for a business in your local area.
    Go to Google. Enter Phoenix Plumber (or whatever business). Google
    will show you the most popular websites for that type of business in
    Phoenix. Then Chicago, St Louis, etc. Keep doing this until one just
    jumps out to you. Then do your own thing using the basic idea and
    format that you found. Check the page source and see what onsite
    SEO they are using. The best one are near the top. Let Google do
    the research for you.

    HTH,

    Hugh
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    "Never make someone a priority in your life who makes you an option in theirs." Anon.
    "Some see private enterprise as a predatory target to be shot, others as a cow to be milked, but few are those who see it as a sturdy horse pulling the wagon." -- Winston Churchill

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  • Profile picture of the author TheAtHomeCouple
    Hey guys,

    Alright, so before I blast out my "best practices" list, I want to make sure everyone understands that the main action on an offline companies website is to get the visitor to dial a phone number, or fill out a form.

    Here's what's always worked for me:

    1 - Phone number with call to action, top right corner. Make it nice and bold.

    2 - Quick call back form at the top of each sidebar, above the fold. Fields typically include name, number, best time to call, interested in... Keep it short and sweet.

    3 - Phone number in the footer.

    4 - Call to action and phone number at the bottom of each internal page.

    5 - On contact page, from top to bottom: company name, mailing address, phone numbers, map and contact form.

    These aren't "design" tips so to speak, but incorporating them into your design will greatly improve the leads your client receives.

    Here is a website I built from the ground up for a client (who gets crazy leads from their site): Toronto Home Theater | Projectors | LCD LED Plasma TV | Systems

    Study the design and layout of that site, because it is the best converting website I've ever built for a client.

    Of course, I'm always tweaking and paying attention to stats and analytics, but the above points should give you a good starting point.

    Hope this helps!

    -Elijah
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    • Profile picture of the author Dexx
      Originally Posted by TheAtHomeCouple View Post


      Here is a website I built from the ground up for a client (who gets crazy leads from their site): Toronto Home Theater | Projectors | LCD LED Plasma TV | Systems

      Study the design and layout of that site, because it is the best converting website I've ever built for a client.

      Of course, I'm always tweaking and paying attention to stats and analytics, but the above points should give you a good starting point.

      Wicked looking site Elijah, I can definitely see how that would convert very well for your clients. Great share!

      Cheers,

      ~Dexx
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    • Profile picture of the author HassanAjmal
      Originally Posted by TheAtHomeCouple View Post

      Hey guys,

      Alright, so before I blast out my "best practices" list, I want to make sure everyone understands that the main action on an offline companies website is to get the visitor to dial a phone number, or fill out a form.

      Here's what's always worked for me:

      1 - Phone number with call to action, top right corner. Make it nice and bold.

      2 - Quick call back form at the top of each sidebar, above the fold. Fields typically include name, number, best time to call, interested in... Keep it short and sweet.

      3 - Phone number in the footer.

      4 - Call to action and phone number at the bottom of each internal page.

      5 - On contact page, from top to bottom: company name, mailing address, phone numbers, map and contact form.

      These aren't "design" tips so to speak, but incorporating them into your design will greatly improve the leads your client receives.

      Here is a website I built from the ground up for a client (who gets crazy leads from their site): Toronto Home Theater | Projectors | LCD LED Plasma TV | Systems

      Study the design and layout of that site, because it is the best converting website I've ever built for a client.

      Of course, I'm always tweaking and paying attention to stats and analytics, but the above points should give you a good starting point.

      Hope this helps!

      -Elijah

      OMG bro, this is freaking AWESOME. Thanks a lot. I really wanted to see a more direct response style website used for local businesses and I definitely got lucky seeing this thread. Thanks again.
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    • Profile picture of the author hommi_16
      Originally Posted by TheAtHomeCouple View Post

      Hey guys,

      Alright, so before I blast out my "best practices" list, I want to make sure everyone understands that the main action on an offline companies website is to get the visitor to dial a phone number, or fill out a form.

      Here's what's always worked for me:

      1 - Phone number with call to action, top right corner. Make it nice and bold.

      2 - Quick call back form at the top of each sidebar, above the fold. Fields typically include name, number, best time to call, interested in... Keep it short and sweet.

      3 - Phone number in the footer.

      4 - Call to action and phone number at the bottom of each internal page.

      5 - On contact page, from top to bottom: company name, mailing address, phone numbers, map and contact form.

      These aren't "design" tips so to speak, but incorporating them into your design will greatly improve the leads your client receives.

      Here is a website I built from the ground up for a client (who gets crazy leads from their site): Toronto Home Theater | Projectors | LCD LED Plasma TV | Systems

      Study the design and layout of that site, because it is the best converting website I've ever built for a client.

      Of course, I'm always tweaking and paying attention to stats and analytics, but the above points should give you a good starting point.

      Hope this helps!

      -Elijah
      Hey Elijah,

      May I ask you what WP theme that is. It`s one of the best I saw.

      Regards,

      Peter
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  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    Yes, putting the number on the page 5 times has nothing to do with keyword stuffing. For a local business what they generally want is a phone call or a visit. A conversion from the visit. Putting the phone number everywhere ensures there will be NO confusion on how to get a hold of the site owner. Local business owners want calls or visits so make it easy for that to happen.
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  • Profile picture of the author aclacy
    I also like a you tube video on the home page, not a slideshow, more like the biz owner, a walk around the business, a how to video to imply authority.

    Even a tour of the business, Q&A's work well as an embedded video.
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