According to a very popular soft drink commercial, image is nothing and thirst is everything. If you’re thirsty for something to drink, this may be true. If you are thirsty for online sales, this theory will leave you parched!

Online, image is everything. If your website looks homemade, takes ages to load, and doesn't display properly in almost everyone's browser, you're in trouble. Your sales will be slow or non-existent.

On the other hand, if you design a clean site, make it easy to navigate, display your products in an organized manner, and use professional graphics, your site will make you more sales and more profit.

But don't forget content. Content will bring your visitors back again and again. If your site doesn't offer something that your target market needs or wants, your image won't help you. Right now we are assuming that you have a site that offers valuable content. Now let's spice up your image.

Take a look at these simple techniques to improve the image of your website.

1.Consistency

Make sure that each of your pages has a red thread that ties them together. Your red thread can be as simple as using the same template for each page. If each page looks the same, you develop continuity throughout your site.

2. Font Style

Choose a font or fonts that are easy to read. There are some pretty fancy fonts on the market, which may look appealing, but are almost impossible to read. The majority of the surfing population won't stick around to decipher your message if it isn't easy to read.

3. Font Size

On screen, a comfortable font size is 12 pt. If you choose a smaller font size, you risk alienating the segment of your market that requires a bit larger print.

4. Graphic Style

This is the easiest way to create your image. An old-fashioned map and globe in a library setting creates a completely different image than a bikini clad surfer girl on a beach. Your choice of graphics must mirror your content.

5. Layout

A portal style site is an ordered chaos. A lot of information is presented in a minimum amount of space. An e-book sales site, on the other hand, has become a single page mini site that concentrates on one product. Your image can be at either end of the spectrum, but most likely somewhere in between.

6. Color

Your color choices are important to your image. A deep blue gives you a business feel, deep green gives you an executive, money feeling, red gives you a good stop effect, but is irritating to look at for long periods of time. Make sure you put some thought into your color choices before you just pick a random color.

These are just the basics, but they will get you started on your image check. Second only to content, your image is your greatest asset. A clean, clear image that mirrors your content will make you more sales.