FTC Requires More Disclosure for Websites

PROVO—Ever vigilant in its mission to “prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them,” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on October 5 clarified interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission Act (read the Law) aimed at persuading website owners and advertisers—at the risk of a potential lawsuit—to provide disclosure about material relationships and to clearly identify non-typical advertised results from using products (see FTC Press Release).

For business owners who manage websites and other advertising mediums, the new guidelines serve as a wake-up call to provide legitimate, quality products and services instead of peddling false hope and ill-founded expectations. Otherwise, they may find themselves facing sanctions or lawsuits.

Bloggers Beware
To explain, if a blogger is given cash or free products in return for writing a blog endorsement, the specifics of that relationship now must be disclosed by the website owner and the blogger. Through this clarification of guidelines, consumers are better protected from falling into traps where they might not expect such a relationship to exist, and would otherwise place unwarranted trust on a claim that is insincere. Traditional journalists have long upheld the standard of returning or otherwise refusing gifts, but web writers or bloggers have not lived up to, or been held liable to, the same standard. These new guidelines help level the playing field.

Product Claims
Additionally, with the new guidelines in place, advertisers who play up unusual or atypical results of using a product—when the majority of people using it wouldn't experience the same result—must now clearly identify what the “norm” is. Thus, consumer expectations cannot be as easily manipulated to facilitate or encourage the sale of a product that will eventually disappoint.

Celebrity Endorsements
Finally, both advertisers and celebrities must now disclose material relationships and both may be liable for false or unsubstantiated claims should a lawsuit materialize. Thus, celebrities now have a duty to disclose relationships when they discuss products on talks shows or other publicly viewed mediums like social networking sites or blogs.

Introducing HIT Counter Advanced

“Going live” with your website is a huge milestone, but it is only the first step in taking your business online. As with any new business venture, regular assessment is critical. By gaging how customers are using your site, you can work out the kinks and optimize your marketing effectiveness.

HIT Counter, a powerful new product offered by HIT Web Design, can become your resource to understanding and adapting to your customers. This feature does not just count how many visits your site has had, it also provides a wealth of statistics and data all about your visitors.

What It Can Do for You
The HIT Counter creates an array of custom reports—such as where visitors are going on your site, where they are located, how they used search engines to find your site—providing it all in a user-friendly, easy-access format.

HIT Counter can be a key tool to capitalize on strengths and evaluate weaknesses on your site. For example, the HIT Counter map shows where each visitor is located, allowing you to determine where best to devote your marketing resources.

You can also find out exactly what key words visitors are typing into search engines to find your site. This can help you adjust your own content to increase your search engine optimization and bring in more traffic. You also have the ability to track movements of users to learn what areas of your site are more popular and if navigation problems exist. You can learn how long visitors stays in one area, giving you an idea of how effectively your content is drawing them in.

Additionally, HIT Counter tells you what Internet browsers your visitors are using and what operating systems they are using. This can be a fruitful source of information to determine how best to maximize functionality and the convenience your visitors experience.

A Tool for the Long Term
Making a website a productive business tool is not an event—it is a process that requires evaluation and adjustments long after the site is created. A website begins as a blunt instrument, and HIT Counter can help you sharpen it until it becomes an effective and profitable business portal.

For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.

Product Release: HIT Ad Space

Selling ad space is simpler than ever

HIT Ad Space makes it a snap for advertisers to place banner ads on a site. HIT Ad Space gives websites the ability to designate up to five specific advertising areas on their site, complete with different price points.

Advertisers wishing to place an ad on a site with HIT Ad Space can easily register, upload, and pay for their advertisement in a few simple steps. All the website owner needs to do is give the final approval and HIT Ad Space will automatically insert the new ad into the site's banner ad rotation. Best of all, HIT Ad Space automatically removes ads once their paid time expires.

For more information, please visit http://hitenhancements.com/hit-adspace.shtml or call 1-866-211-0743.

How to Know if Animation is Right for Your Site!

Using Animation on your website is a great way to get your site to pop! It is extremely important for you to consult with a design professional to ensure that animation is appropriate for your site, and that it is done in a way that adds to your site! Boubacar in Technical Support and Customer Service at HIT Web Design shares a few tips on how to do this!

Tip 1: Is animation appropriate for your site? This is your first step! Make sure that it fits your site, look and industry!

Tip 2: Keep your animation simple! This is key as animation that is too complex can be slow to load and take the momentum away from the rest of your site!

Tip 3: Restrict your animation to only one location on your site! Remember you want the eye to flow down your page, and to your call to action. Animation in more than one location can be distracting and can ruin the effectiveness of your site!

For more information please visit us at hitwebdesign

Let Your Users Be In Control

When designing a website you want your site users to feel like they are in control of their experience.

Boubacar a Technical Support & Customer Service agent at HIT Web Design shares some great tips on how to let your users be in control!

Tip 1: Make sure your site is user friendly. What do your visitors want to see, and what can you do to make their experience as simple as possible!

Tip 2: Interact with your clients. Engage them, let them be able to engage with you.

Tip 3: Give your users options, allow them to make choices, but at the same time do not overwhelm them with too many options! Find the balance!

For more information please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com

Design Tips for Your Website - Direction

Boubacar, a customer service and technical support agent at HIT Web Design, shares some great tips on how to give your website direction to make sure that your site visitors are staying an exploring!

Tip 1: Make sure that your site is visually engaging! Site visitors should instantly know what your website is about and what you are trying to say!

Tip 2: Clear Navigation. When visitors first come to your site your navigation should be clear and easy to understand. Exploring your site should be a no-brainer.

Tip 3: Clean Page Flow. Your site visitors read from left to right. Make sure that the most important information is in the upper left hand corner of your website.

For more information please feel free to visit hit web design at http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call us at 866-211-0743