We come across examples everyday with our clients or prospective clients where it all got too hard and they just decided to keep doing what they have always done in traditional or off-line marketing.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with any form of marketing if it works. But from a risk management point of view, can you really afford not to spend some time mastering marketing in the on-line world? Definitely not!

Australia has one of the highest internet useage rates globally at 80.6%...what that means is that as at June 2008 an estimated 16.9* million people in Australia used the internet.  With statistics like this, businesses in Australia have no choice, they MUST treat internet marketing as a serious matter or risk leaving huge $'s on the table.

A Google search is where most people start looking these days whenever they want information, a new product or service, a restaurant, anything and this is happening more and more before they ever get on the phone or into the car. This saves time, saves money and gives people...all of us...more time for more important things like family leisure time, lead generation, lead conversion or profit generating activities in their business.

And it is not just Australia you should consider. With Global boundaries easily crossed these days, why not target customers among the 3.36* million internet users in New Zealand or the 251* million in the USA, 393* million in Europe or the more than 650* million in Asia...you should be devising strategies to crack other markets. There is no need to feel constrained about where to do business with the internet.

Of course not all businesses can deal internationally, but you get the idea and there are still those millions in your own backyard anyway.

So, with all this opportunity why are there so many out of date website around? Website design is so easy to get right and our checklist below covers 10 things you can do to improve your website.

1. Brochure - Does your website just provide boring information, like a corporate brochure? YES.....   NO......
2. Compels Interest - Does it provide a compelling reason to read more, want to find out more, click on other pages or provide any form of excitement? YES.......  NO.........
3. Credibility Builders - Surprise surprise, not everyone knows you. Does your website display testimonials, client names and logos, Association memberships or endorsements? Things that help establish your credibility YES........   NO..........
4. Engagement - Does your website have any form of engagement with your visitors? It could be to offer them something to take away or a free ebook or white paper or even a brochure. Maybe a seminar or a demo or a free sample. Do you have any valuable offers on your website? YES......   NO........
5. Calls To Action - Do you clearly state to your website visitors what you want them to do and are there multiple options? Call you, send an email, fill out an interest form, register for a seminar, join your email newsletter list? YES.....   NO.......
6. Database Building - Are you collecting names for a database from your website visitors? YES......   NO......
7. Blog - Do you have one? Do you know what a blog is and how valuable it can be in attracting visitors to your website? YES.......   NO......
8. Look and Feel - Does your website look the same as your other marketing items? Stationery, business cards, advertisement, office branding, logo etc? YES......   NO......
9. Video - Have you got any video on your website? YES.....   NO.....
10. CRM - Have you automated the lead generation process by linking your website to a client relationship management system? YES......   NO.......

There are plenty more ideas, but use this simple checklist to review your website design and ensure you maximise your internet marketing. Have a look and it will be obvious straight away whether you tick all the points or not. If you would like to Pick Our Brains, click on the image above to get your own FREE Digital Performance Assessment.