Why is it that many businesses do not generate traffic online? Is it because of bad web design, cheap hosting, or poor online marketing? Many new webmasters set themselves up to fail from the very beginning without even knowing it. If you’re new to web design and online marketing that’s okay. There are several tips I can give you to help you on your way. Given the opportunity you should consider all of the following web design tips and use them to your advantage. If you don’t have a website, my recommendation is to get a professional web designer to help you design one.

Should you streamline your online website? The answer is yes! Starting a online website should be focused on streamlining new products and offering your services. First, you should design and develop your conent and then worry about designing web pages for your products and services later. Moreover, before you start creating web pages, you should map out your first 100 or so web pages. Organize and structure your website in a way that makes perfect sense to online visitors and search engines. Consider mapping your website on a sheet of paper; use broad keywords for navigation and specific keywords for sub pages.

Why should you design a website around content? Don’t worry, even the professionals can’t get this concept right! When you design a new website your objective is to focus on publishing new content. In my experience, this is by far the best way to design and create a website. Web design is not only about making a website look good but also about creating unique content for visitors. For instance, you should publish between one and five new article each week. Next, you should tell people about your new content using social networks, blogs, or send emails to get the word out. You can also use twitter or article marketing to tell others about your website. Twitter is the best way to keep people up-to-date.

So, how do you generate traffic to your website? Using additional 15 – 20 sources can improve your website traffic 1000% or more depending on what your marketing strategy is. For example, I like to use social networks, blogs, press releases, article marketing, and word of mouth to promote our website. Shouldn’t you be doing the same? I also use Google AdWords, Yahoo, and MSN for paid advertising. Moreover, you may also use offline advertising as well. Placing an ad in your local newspaper can also spark some interest in your company’s products and services.

Are you playing chess, or checkers? If you remember nothing else; remember what I am going to tell you now, web design is not to make your website look amazing. Web design is to be user-friendly and provide a solution to your visitors problems. Stop changing and wasting time on your home page and start creating meaningful content that helps your users. I’m not saying you can’t re-design your home page. However, most of your time should be spent publishing new content. It is far more important to focus on your central message then to try to impress the user with flash and other design stuff. Lastly, it’s a business and not a hobby. If it is a hobby, you should consider making your website a business.

Want to find out more about professional web design, then visit Steve Jocks’s blog on professional web design tips for all your web design needs.