A good website is not only about the design.
User-friendliness is much more important than anything else. The main goal is to inspire your visitors to move on from the first page of your site. You should opt for a reputed web design company in Los Angeles because their knowledge and experience will help you get a new, fresh look and feel for your business and, simultaneously, give your visitors a feeling of trust.
The following paragraphs discuss ten essentials that you, as a small business owner, need to ensure are part of your website.
1. Introduce yourself clearly
Ease of use is not just about navigation. Readability is just as important. Please ensure visitors to your website are open about where to go next or your offerings. As a small business owner, it’s your utmost responsibility to ensure they do not waste any time on your site. Clear, concise, and on point. Spell out your name, services, and intent. Always remember to include the main point of your business and contact info on every page of your website.
Be sure to use headings above every section and/or paragraph, allowing your visitors to scan the page briefly and get a good idea of what the site is about. If you were to only read the titles and headings, you should have a good understanding of the business’s goal. (Remember, Short & Concise).
2. Easy to find Contact information
Your contact information is a critical section on your website. So, could you make the communication process as user-friendly as possible? Or else, at the end of the day, one of your competitors will stand to gain due to your unprofessional behavior. Moreover, as a small business owner, you simply cannot afford such carelessness.
It’s also important to realize that online visitors often lack the patience and time to click every website page to look for contact data. Therefore, consider the best possible location for your contact information. Consider adding it to the top and bottom. Make it clickable. Having your contact info viewable immediately after the page loads is critical when on a mobile device. Then, if your phone number is clickable, they only need to tap, and their phone will autodial. (User-friendly is always crucial).
It would be wise for you to include various ways to get in touch, such as contact forms, listed emails, and phone numbers. You could also go a bit further by adding your postal address along with a link explaining your location on Google Maps.
3. Include customer testimonials
A few honest sentences from previous clients can easily convince a reader about the success your business has created for others. Testimonials also help to portray your business reputation. Most importantly, it helps to build trust amongst your new customers. At the same time, testimonials help visitors to discover things that should be mentioned in other areas of your website.
4. A well-crafted site map
A good site map and links to all the essential web pages are vital for guiding your potential customers to the data they have been looking for. Also, use dropdowns in your navigation menu. Remember, a little detail like this can go a long way toward creating that everlasting first impression.
5. Keep your web address simple
A domain name often acts like a brand! Therefore, it’s always advisable to keep it simple for the user so there’s no difficulty typing. The preference should always be for a .com domain. This is mainly because most users are habituated to typing this domain extension. Not to mention, Google tends to rank .com higher.
In any case, avoid a dash, as it can cause a serious SEO headache, and a number, as it can cause some confusion among customers.
6. Knowledge of SEO basics
As a small business owner, it becomes essential for you to acquire some SEO knowledge. Ensure that your website has been coded correctly. This means that keywords are appropriately used throughout the text, along with sufficient linking. It would be best to understand how to name URLs and page titles. It will serve as a bonus for you when Google crawls your site.
7. A clear Call-To-Action
Tell your online visitors clearly what you expect from them. For example, if you wish them to sign up for your specially designed online coupons, then say so in clear BIG terms within your website. Now, always highlight your Call-To-Action and use BIG buttons.
8. Protect your website data
Make sure to have a reliable hosting company to protect your website data. As a small business owner, you simply cannot afford to lose customers. Also, take the initiative to keep your website’s content management process updated all the time. This will definitely help you in your fight against hackers. Install an SSL and, even better, a firewall.
9. A user-friendly style and design
Break your website content into brief paragraphs for easy online scanning. Use headers and subheaders whenever necessary. Highlight key phrases and keep the tone of the content simple yet engaging. Also, choose the background color of your web pages wisely. More contrast is needed in the eyes. Too little, and the text will be drowned out.
10. Quality content
Finally, there’s still no substitute for quality, well-written content. Therefore, make your website content fresh and original. Remember, your content should attract customers and give them some reason or motivation to return to you repeatedly. On the other hand, well-written content is also suitable for SEO purposes. Best of luck!