Do You Need Two Websites?

The more I write about what manufacturers and their web designers need to understand to help the specifier evaluate and include their products in a specification, the more I see the need for two websites.

Not two domains, rather a targeted website within the main site.

The targeted website should have a simple subdirectory name, something like www.example.com/getspeced or /architect or /specifier

Use this target website address in any professional advertising.

The outer website id designed and intended to suck in all the Google users you can. Play the Google game and keep your web designer happy and the people evaluating metrics happy.

Inside build a 3-ring binder website with all the information links

Last month's newsletter started down that path with the question:

Is Your Website a Glossy Brochure or a 3-ring Binder?

One very simple solution is to develop a page as we did for Wasco, hosted on 4specs. Or, host this on your site to keep maintenance simpler.

https://www.4specs.com/mediakit/Wasco_Products.pdf

This was the premise of the WebFormat proposal I wrote in 2000 and updated in 2009. Make it easy to find and use all of your products in the 20, 30 or 40 specs the full time specifier will write this year.

Here is a laundry list (pdf) of information that should be available for each product on your website. Not every item is applicable for your products. Compare the information available in one of your earlier 3-ring binders to your current website. Which is easier to use?

Questions, comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

Colin

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Colin Gilboy
Publisher - 4specs
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