Give Your Web Site A Spring Cleaning

Want to freshen up your Web site without spending a lot of time or money? There are some low-cost ways to give Web sites a new look and most of the modifications can be made pretty quickly, and without launching a developer-intensive redesign that will consume precious IT resources.

• Colors are the first element that gets noticed on a site so a simple change can liven the pages up. The alteration doesn't have to be dramatic to be noticeable; modifying saturation, hue, or shading can often be enough. Experiment with different colors and the elements you want to change — background, text, links, navigation bars, etc.

• Add a new splash page — provide a new "welcome mat" for visitors with some visually interesting images or important information.

• New photos for products — assess the images on your catalog pages and replace outdated ones with new shots.
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• Text — whether you choose a new font or move the text blocks around, make sure that the site still reads well and information is clear.

• Copy/content — add articles, resources or revamp product descriptions. Update the "About Us" page, FAQs, or "How To" section.

• Create a "See What's New" area for any recently added products or pages.

• Add a guestbook or message board — these sections can be high maintenance since they frequently need moderation. Only set these features up if you have the time to check entries on a regular basis.

• Polls are an easy and fun method for promoting interactivity with customers, while also getting a clearer view of your audience.

Remember to test anything new that you do to your site, both technically and aesthetically. The idea is to enhance an already well-developed site, not to do a complete overhaul.

This story was first published on ecommerce-guide.com, an internet.com site.