So often as we surf online, we are presented with many options. Sometimes more than we can process. We create websites and try to pack as many things as we can into each one hoping that a web surfer will come along and click one of our "buy" links.

When we design a website, we need to keep something in mind… "a confused mind won't buy". Quite simply put, make sure your website is focused. When a visitor comes to a website, he should be presented with as few options as possible. Ideally, each step of the site should only offer a yes/no answer.

You start out by first determining the actual purpose of your website. Is it to provide information, grow an email contact list (lead generation), or sell a product or service directly? You need to have a clear picture of what you want your website to do so that you can guide the visitor and make it easy for them to follow the steps.

If you are building a website with the intent of building a list of leads, then just focus on that.
If someone comes to a website that is designed to sell them something then by the time they get to the bottom of the page, they should only have a choice to buy or leave the page. Don't offer too many things at once or the customer won't know what to do.

If you don't know what you want your website to do, how will your visitor know what to do when he gets there?