17/11/2022
10 Things Every Small Business Website Should Have
Ten things that every small-business website should have.
From customer reviews to up-to-date contact information, here are our top 10 things that will help your small business website succeed.
There are a lot of poor websites on the Internet, and we're not just talking about lousy design. Aside from how your website appears, there are plenty of other factors that go into making it user friendly, not to mention something that encourages visitors to do business with you.
Here are the elements that any small business website should include in order to effectively help you do business, ranging from accurate contact information to customer feedback.
1. A clear explanation of who you are and what you do
Someone who comes on your website shouldn't have to perform any detective work to find out exactly what you do. That includes putting your name and a brief description of your products or services right on the homepage.
2. An easy-to-remember web address
Make things as simple as possible. Your domain name is similar to your company's brand. It should be simple to put into a Web browser or as an e-mail address for a user.
Users are conditioned to input certain extensions when entering a web address, thus I always recommend .com and .co.uk domains. I normally prefer a .org domain for non-profits or organisations for branding considerations, but I also advocate having a .com version when possible in case a user writes the .com accidentally.
3. Easy to use navigation
A simple and clear navigation menu to the most relevant pages is essential for directing users to the information they need.
Make sure your navigation is well-organised. I normally suggest adding dropdowns in the navigation menu so that the visitor can see the content under each heading from any page. You want to make it as simple as possible for your visitors to locate what they're looking for.
4. Clear contact information
You don't want to lose a client to a rival just because you made it tough for them to contact you.
Not every visitor has the patience to scroll through your entire website in search of contact information.
The top left or top right corner of the home page is the optimal position for contact information. It's also a good idea to add contact information in the footer or sidebar of every page of your website to make life easier for visitors to find.
You should also offer various ways for people to reach you, such as a phone number, an e-mail address, and a typical contact form.
One of the most common mistakes small business owners make on their website is to limit visitors to only one method of contact. It's all about making it as simple as possible for visitors to connect with you.
5. Customer reviews
Customers that visit you online benefit from honest recommendations from others since they make your products or services.
They encourage potential clients to build confidence in you, especially if you are a new business. They also assist customers in determining if a product or service meets their requirements.
Consumers love hearing real-life stories. They allow people to learn about stuff you haven't covered on your website.
6. An unmistakable call to action
Tell your website visitors exactly what you want them to do.
You might want them to contact you right now for a free quotation, sign up to your newsletter for exclusive online offers, or add specific items to their online shopping cart, for example.
Make your call to action suggestion stand out by using distinctive buttons or highlighting the text, for instance.
7. Understand the fundamentals of SEO
If no one can find your website, it won't be of much use to you. Learn the fundamentals of SEO to make your site more search engine friendly.
This entails using the right keywords throughout your content, including lots of links, appropriately structuring your page titles and URLs, and using the power of pictures and videos.
8. Create high-quality content regularly
For many businesses, your website is their first point of contact with a potential client. You want to provide them with what they're searching for, and possibly even persuade them to return.
The user is on the lookout for something specific. Make sure you deliver it to them and ensure your material is well-written, and useful.
New and unique content is also a gold mine for SEO. By including a frequently updated blog or interacting in your social media feeds, you can avoid your information from becoming stagnant (and offer your firm some personality, too).
9. A reputable and secure hosting provider
Having your online information stolen is a nightmare, and it might lose you clients if hackers manage to infiltrate your website.
To keep the hackers out and your website up and running, you have to have a secure, reputable hosting company at the helm.
10. A user-friendly design
When online users access a new website, they frequently scan it to get a sense of the content. If people believe they are on the correct website, they will take their time to read the entire article. You should organise your information for scanning to improve the user experience on your small business website.
Conclusion
If you're a small business that wants to expand, our web design services can assist. We know how to drive more traffic to your website and then convert those visitors into leads once they're there.
Contact us here or call us directly on 01827 932587 to learn more about how we could help you build and grow your small business website.
Looking for a web designer?
