As a
small business owner, you know exactly how challenging it is to stand out from the competition. There are countless trends to follow and new marketing practices to learn.
But what about your website? Is it doing for your business what you intended it to do? Does it consistently generate sales and quality leads for your organization?
If your website isn't performing the way you need it to, you might be missing some key elements. In this article, we'll take a look at the essential things every
small business website needs in order to succeed.
Let's take a look.
Easy-To-Remember URL
When you secure the URL for your
small business site, be sure to avoid numbers or dashes at all costs. Your business needs a simple URL that's easy to say and remember.
Your URL will be all over the place, from billboards and marketing materials to posters and
digital correspondence. You'll also be saying it out loud and over the phone. You need an address that's easy to remember and quick for a user to type into a browser.
It's also important to stick with a .com URL. While some unique instances may call for a .org or a .net, a standard .com brings a lot more credibility to your business.
Simple Navigation
A user should be able to easily navigate your site on their very first visit. Remember that when it comes to your
website navigation layout, simpler is always better.
Menus should be clearly labeled without using over-creative, confusing descriptions. You also want users to be able to get back to your main pages with one click, no matter where they are on your
site.
Who You Are
When a first-time user lands on your site, how long does it take them to figure out exactly who you are and what you do? If the answer is more than a second or two, you're missing the
mark.
If a user doesn't immediately know why they landed on your site, the first thing they'll do is click the
back button of your browser.
A good indication that you aren't quickly conveying your unique message to users is if you have a bounce rate of
70% or higher. If this is you, this particular area of your
small business site needs some work.
Easy To Contact
If your
small business site makes it difficult for customers to get in touch with you, it's not doing its job. Getting users in touch with you and your business is one of the most important jobs of your website.
Readily display your
contact information. Include a phone number where you can be reached. A lot of consumers don't trust websites without a telephone number listed. Even if they never plan to call you, they still know that they can if they need to.
Genuine Testimonials
This is another great way to build trust with your site visitors. Real customer testimonials do a lot of the selling for you.
Whenever possible, include pictures of the people that endorse your
products or services. With their permission, you can also link to their
social media profiles to further validate the genuine nature of your website testimonials.
High-Quality Images and Subheadings
People who do a lot of reading online scan everything they come across. Because of this, it's important to break up large chunks of text with
interesting images and important subheadings.
This helps keep the attention of your reader and direct them down your sales funnel.
Tell Your Visitors What To Do
You can't convert a visitor into a sale or lead without telling them what they need to do.
Whether you want them to buy today's special, submit a contact form or give you a call, a clear call-to-action is something every
small business website needs.
Updated Content
Users don't frequent dead websites. If your most recent blog post was from December 2018, it's a clear sign to customers that your website is dated.
They may even suspect that you're out of business.
Keep your site updated every week with business news, informational blog posts and new homepage content. Not only does it keep users coming back, but it helps
SEO.
Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools are free to use. They keep you in the loop on your website's SEO while providing reports and alters on issues that you need to address.
There's no excuse to not use Google Webmaster Tools on your small business website.
Reliable Hosting
A slow or down
website gives a horrible impression of your business. Take the time to find a reliable host that meets your needs and keeps their promises.
small business owner, you know exactly how challenging it is to stand out from the competition. There are countless trends to follow and new marketing practices to learn.
But what about your website? Is it doing for your business what you intended it to do? Does it consistently generate sales and quality leads for your organization?
If your website isn't performing the way you need it to, you might be missing some key elements. In this article, we'll take a look at the essential things every
small business website needs in order to succeed.
Let's take a look.