I could use some ideas on how to make my website more interesting, i.e. how to motivate people to keep coming back.
I am trying to come up with ideas that make my website more interactive/dynamic and also try and build an online community which will motivate users to make friends and contribute.
(My website is about Small-Business.)
Current Features:
- Browse Articles
- Create an Account
- Activate an Account
- Log In
- Log Out
- Change Password
- Reset Password
- Upload Photo
* Add Comments (i.e. Posts) to Articles
Potential New Features:
* Create a Profile (Similar to an Account, but with more details, photos, etc.)
- Change User Details (e.g. E-mail, Username, Name, Location, etc.)
- View My Posts
* Send/Receive Private Messages (PM's)
* User Forums
- Create/Manage User Preferences (e.g. Interested in Tax and Legal Articles)
- Add WYSIWYG Editor for adding Comments
- Others??
Is it for small business in your community, state, or are your demographics nation-wide?
I think you might have to narrow it down to a unique demographic ... not making
it too generic. I've thought about creating an LLC for myself, but the process
seems daunting. Maybe you can be a place to find out the steps, and help out in
some way. But it might have to be "area specific". The LLC process in Minnesota
might be different than Arizona.
Maybe you can specialize in small business for women, or for "under 25", something
that gives yourself a niche that people can't really find anywhere else.
Connect small business owners with people interested in starting a small business.
Is it for small business in your community, state, or are your demographics nation-wide?
I think you might have to narrow it down to a unique demographic ... not making
it too generic. I've thought about creating an LLC for myself, but the process
seems daunting. Maybe you can be a place to find out the steps, and help out in
some way. But it might have to be "area specific". The LLC process in Minnesota
might be different than Arizona.
Maybe you can specialize in small business for women, or for "under 25", something
that gives yourself a niche that people can't really find anywhere else.
Connect small business owners with people interested in starting a small business.
Stuff like that.
That's my thoughts anyhow.
Huh?????
What does that have to do with my original post???
(Um, I didn't ask anything about what business to start. I was just asking - generically - what kinds of Features do Users expect on websites these days.)
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Did you happen to notice what you said your website was about? Small Business. Mlseim suggested you put some good content on your website pertaining to Small Business. God forbid you have relevant interesting content for your visitors to enjoy. A WYSIWYG editor won't get people coming back... a website with good content will.
Did you happen to notice what you said your website was about? Small Business. Mlseim suggested you put some good content on your website pertaining to Small Business. God forbid you have relevant interesting content for your visitors to enjoy. A WYSIWYG editor won't get people coming back... a website with good content will.
Going to tell me "water is wet" next??
Good content is not a "Feature" - in this context - so why are we still talking about it??
I am trying to come up with ideas that make my website more interactive/dynamic.....
why not post a link to your current website?
Just saying it is about small business doesn't mean much at all without seeing the site regarding suggesting features to improve it.
Without seeing the site you could say it's about losing weight or whatever else you like, and the suggestions would probaly be the same.
Basically content is still king. You can have all the flashy bells and whistles functionality you like, but if the site is full of rubbish why would anyone want to come back?
Create a whole bunch of animated .gif images.
Make them all move around the page.
Dancing Hamsters might really make people like your website.
The movement will motivate people to browse your site.
.
.
.
.
OMG, nobody cares about features.
They'll visit your site repeatedly and tell others about it if what they read (content) is valuable information.
.
.
.
period.
If you don't have any good information to share,
go with the dancing hamsters.
EDIT:
In all seriousness now ... no more sarcasm, I swear.
This small business site seems to have features you might want to look at: http://www.partnerup.com/
Just saying it is about small business doesn't mean much at all without seeing the site regarding suggesting features to improve it.
I shouldn't have even said what my site was about.
Sure, it might help to see an actual site, but my original question was meant to be *abstract*. That is, "What kinds of features make a website more interactive and interesting and make people want to return and are pretty common among all modern website?"
For example, I think most of use would expect the ability to create an account, log in, log out, etc if the website has the concept of "Membership". In this day and age, I would think having the ability to leave comments is pretty standard too. (That is why I just added all of those to my site!)
For what I am looking for, it shouldn't matter if my website is for plumbers or on small business or on web design.
The over-arching theme is that my website is content-heavy and I want to entice people to keep coming back to my site.
Make sense?
Quote:
Without seeing the site you could say it's about losing weight or whatever else you like, and the suggestions would probaly be the same.
Exactly.
Quote:
Basically content is still king. You can have all the flashy bells and whistles functionality you like, but if the site is full of rubbish why would anyone want to come back?
I agree, but I am also finding out that GREAT CONTENT alone is not enough in 2012.
In 1995, if you had stellar content you'd be a millionaire.
In 2012, people expect your website to be Interactive, have a Social Media Angle, have A/V, and so on.
I have read and heard time and time again where "Content is not enough".
So I am trying to figure out what I need to add to my already great content to make it the next FaceBook or YouTube or Google.
Create a whole bunch of animated .gif images.
Make them all move around the page.
Dancing Hamsters might really make people like your website.
The movement will motivate people to browse your site.
Sarcasm won't help this conversation.
Quote:
OMG, nobody cares about features.
I get the distinct feeling that you don't know what a "feature" is...
Quote:
They'll visit your site repeatedly and tell others about it if what they read (content) is valuable information.
.
.
.
period.
It's not that simple in 2012.
Quote:
If you don't have any good information to share,
go with the dancing hamsters.
See above.
Quote:
EDIT:
In all seriousness now ... no more sarcasm, I swear.
This small business site seems to have features you might want to look at: http://www.partnerup.com/.
How about a list of Features that YOU would like to see or maybe even expect on websites you frequent?
Even if you don't have a domain name registered yet, you can still upload it to a temporary free hosting account.
Without seeing your site, any feature I suggest might be inappropriate for your site but totally appropriate for another site and so I don't see the point in spending time making a suggestion under this circumstance.
I realize I'm not say what I think the features should be,
but I just discovered that small business website, and I'm
already interested in going back to find out more about it.
They have some good features ... in regards to a forum type
system with social interaction. Seems to me like I might find
some good information there (content). If the content is
what I'm looking for, I'll return back many times.
@Debbie ...
I know you don't just want to copy someone else's small business site,
but look at the features other sites use. It's such a personal thing and
what I like may not be what you like. Again, the features they have
will allow me to interact with other small business owners ... yet, I'm
really hoping for some good, accurate content. Without that, no amount
of features will make me want to return.
I realize I'm not say what I think the features should be,
but I just discovered that small business website, and I'm
already interested in going back to find out more about it.
So why that site?
What attracts you to it?
What features do you like?
Quote:
@Debbie ...
I know you don't just want to copy someone else's small business site,
but look at the features other sites use. It's such a personal thing and
what I like may not be what you like. Again, the features they have
will allow me to interact with other small business owners ... yet, I'm
really hoping for some good, accurate content. Without that, no amount
of features will make me want to return.
I looked at your link and wasn't impressed.
The site looks one-dimensional with no clear message of what it does, no features that stand out, and it lacks CONTENT.
Honestly all I see is a bunch of "wannabees" looking for business partners to start up questionable sounding companies like...
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i am in the business of buying and selling foreclosures,Reo, short sales.
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I am not from Boca, Fl., but from the Philippines.
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Experienced Nightclub Owner looking for Partners for a New Gig.
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CUT YOUR PUCHASING COST BY HALF, FOR ANY BUSINESS.
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