Steps to Increase Your Website's ROI

Evaluate all website components (as appropriate) for quality, effectiveness, functionality, marketing value, etc., to help increase your website’s ROI:

1. General "Look & Feel" – What is the overall visual character of the website?
2. User Friendliness – Does the website meet the design needs of the visitor?
3. Visitor Value – Does the website meet the content needs of the visitor?
4. Marketing Message – Is it clear and strategically on target?
5. Graphic Design – Is it clean, crisp and strategically on target?
6. Website Architecture – Is it spiderable and optimal?
7. Technical Construction – Are HTML, XHTML, DHTML, CSS, Includes, JavaScript, Flash, etc. used appropriately?
8. Site Navigation – Is it intuitive, clear and consistent page to page?
9. Page Lay-out – Are pages logical, well organized and consistent?
10. Headlines – Are they used effectively? Keyword focused?
11. Content – Is it fresh, focused, and high quality? Is the quantity correct? Are keywords used effectively?
12. Graphics – Quality? Quantity? Organization? Pixel density? Is hover-over script used and functional? Are thumbnails expandable and functional? Are graphics used as hot-links and are they functional?
13. Page Weight – Is page loading time excessive?
14. Page Links – Are they used properly and fully functional?
15. Keywords – Have keywords been properly selected and are they used effectively throughout the website?
16. Tags – Are all title tags, description tags, etc. used properly?
17. In-bound Links – Are they from relevant, high quality sites? Is the link text optimized?
18. Out-bound Links – Are they excessive, do they point to high quality sites (and how are they posted)?
19. Search Engine Optimization – What is the overall SEO structure, emphasis and effectiveness?
20. Sitemap – Is it current and in the required format?
21. Security – Is the security level appropriate, functional, and clearly communicated?
22. Trust Symbols – Are all available trust symbols effectively used to add credibility to the website? (i.e. SSL Certificate; Hacker Safe certification emblem; Professional certifications, memberships, affiliations; BBB On-Line; Chamber of Commerce membership, etc.)
23. Trust Statements – Are customer focused trust statements prominently displayed? (i.e. Mission Statement, Satisfaction Statement, Quality Service Guarantee, etc.)
24. Privacy Policy – Is it comprehensive and accessible?
25. Contact Information – Is it prominently displayed? If not, why not?
26. Customer Service – Accessibility? Standards? Actual performance?
27. Testimonials – Are they used strategically and in ample number?
28. Evergreen – Is the website free of dates or other time references? Or, if dates are required, are they as up-to-date as possible?
29. Visitor Feedback Mechanisms – Are they available, user friendly and are the promised actions taken?
30. Web Forms – Are they properly designed for the intended use? Is excessive information required? Are confirmation messages sent?
31. Opt-In Name List – If used, is it used effectively?
32. Advertising Tactics – Is online advertising used? Is it used effectively? (i.e. pay-per-click, banner ads, etc.)
33. Marketing Synergy – Is off-line marketing integrated with online marketing? (i.e. creating leverage.)
34. Articles – Role in increasing online presence and ranking? Are they keyword optimized and submitted effectively?
35. Press Releases – Role in increasing online presence and ranking? Are they keyword optimized and submitted effectively?