Dating Your Website

No, not putting a date on it or using graphics or logos that date it like the rings on a tree. I'm talking about actually dating your website. Taking it out for dinner and a movie and then deciding whether or not to call it the next day. I know it sounds a bit odd at first, but really, it is what we do. We all visited Facebook or Yahoo! or Google or any of the other thousands of sites on the internet and we make a decision as to whether or not we like the site enough to come back… after waiting 3 days, of course.

The problem with "dating" web sites isn't on the client side. I don't really care if a site I visit isn't attractive enough or smart enough. I just move on. And, unlike dating in the real world, the web site itself is just a bunch of code that somebody put out there. It is incapable of feeling and is therefore not "rejected" and won't devour a ½ gallon of ice cream while wondering why you never called if you never go back. But there is a parallel. Just like the teenage girl out there who is starting to date, the web site has creators (parents). And, just like the teenage girl, the creators of the web site want nothing but the best. A boyfriend (or users) who will call often, use the web site for its intended purposes, and love (maybe even worship) the web site… not only for its great looks but also because it is smart and adds something to that person's life. Of course, as creators of a web site, we are really interested in the dowry.

Much like dating… when you arrive at a web site (or see a potential mate), you must find something very attractive to make you want to stay and find out more about it. Without that initial attraction, you will probably pass right on by without looking any further. Now, once the entity is a bit more well-known you may be inclined to stop by for a visit even if it isn't the prettiest choice out there. For example, you might find out that, while it doesn't look the best, that it is really easy to use and you get a special prize at the end. But, suffice it to say… the old adage holds true, "Looks aren't everything, but they sure do help.".

Again, like dating… after you arrive and decide to stay for a while, you're going to start caring about much more than the looks. How well do we get along? Do they do everything I want to do? Can I live with the things that they don't do? Can I ask to have certain features added? Are they smart? Can I talk, be heard and understood, and get stimulating feedback? Or is it a one-way conversation.

In the world of building websites, this dual-need means that you need a great user interface and some great software that users will find intriguing and useful to back up your good looks. If you can manage this, you'll have plenty of dates… I mean users…

ETJ