8 Things Every Small Business Website Needs
If you own a small business - regardless of your industry or location - you need a professional website. Small business websites are crucial for boosting online visibility, building brand credibility, and driving sales. But these benefits only come with a high-quality, strategic web design.
To build a high-quality website for your small business, you need to know what core features to include. In this post, we will discuss the essential elements that should be at the forefront of your small business website design.
Whether you’re launching your first website or rebranding your business online, your website has to be perfect. Keep reading to discover exactly how to make that happen.1. Good Domain NameYour web address is just as important as the physical address of your brick-and-mortar location. It should be short and easy to remember, and descriptive enough to give visitors an idea of what you do.
A great domain name is also easy to spell. If your visitors misspell your web address, you risk losing valuable traffic and leads. Registering your domain is one of the first steps in building your business website. Take the time to choose something original and memorable - it's an asset you'll use for the years to come.2. Professional DesignFirst impressions count - especially when potential customers are discovering your business online.
One of the best ways to make a good impression is with a clean, professional-looking website that clearly communicates who you are and what you offer.
Your web design should include visual elements that represent your brand. High-quality images and videos can capture attention and keep visitors engaged throughout their journey on your site.
That being said, it's crucial to balance functionality with visual appeal. However, if you include too many images or videos, you risk slowing your page load times, which leads to higher bounce rates. Fast, visually engaging websites win both attention and conversions.3. Easy NavigationClarity is an underrated aspect of website design, but something that is essential to user experience (UX). When a consumer visits your website, you only have a few seconds to capture their attention. Without simple and effective navigation, you risk losing potential customers to competitors.
To make a user-friendly site, you have to think like the consumer. Most likely, they're on your page because they're looking for products or services that you offer. This information should be easily accessible within just a few clicks.
Your website's structure - menus, landing pages, and internal links - directly impacts how easy it is to navigate. It should be clear and to the point. If your site is confusing or cluttered, it's not just frustrating your visitors - it's costing you business.4. Mobile FriendlinessAround 70% of web traffic these days comes from mobile devices. That means your website must be fully responsive and optimized for smartphones and tablets.
Create a mobile-friendly website by experimenting with things like page size and menu formats. Navigating a mobile site should be simpler and more to the point than a desktop one. A good web designer can help you create a site that looks great and has a seamless mobile experience that engage your users and drive conversions.5. Clear Calls to ActionEach landing page on your site should include a call to action (CTA) that encourages your visitors to take a specific next step. Whether it's filling out a contact form, scheduling a consultation, or subscribing to a newsletter. The call should be a simple and persuasive statement that guides your customer on what to do next.
Create each CTA with intention. A well-written CTA is significant in converting website traffic into qualified leads and revenue. 6. Search-Friendly ContentA strong search engine optimization (SEO) is an important byproduct of having a good website. When your website is optimized for SEO best practices, it has a better chance of ranking higher on Google and other search engines. Ideally, you want to be the business that shows up on the first page of the search engine results page (SERP).
There's a lot that goes into SEO, but one of the most important things has to do with your content. Search-friendly content incorporates the relevant keywords for your niche, but it also has to be engaging, informative, and valuable to your audience.
A consistent flow of compelling content not only improve rankings but also give your visitors a reason to come back. It's an ideal opportunity to include calls to action (CTAs) that guide users to key landing pages and increase conversions.7. Accessible Contact InfoNever make it difficult for people to contact you. Your site should have a separate tab that takes them to a contact page complete with your address, phone number, email, social media accounts, and a lead generation form.
For a better user experience and SEO, link your contact page from other important landing pages. You can also boost visibility and accessibility by placing your contact information in the header, footer, or sidebar throughout your site. Making it easy to connect builds trust and increases conversions.8. TestimonialsDid you know 90% of customers trust online reviews and testimonials more than the company's own marketing? It's important to include a testimonials section on your website so new visitors can see what other customers are saying about you.
Encourage every satisfied customer to leave a positive review that you can feature as a testimonial. Not only does this help establish trust and boost conversions, but it can also significantly improve local SEO rankings and online visibility.Need Help With Your Small Business Website Design?Now that you know what aspects of web design are most crucial for small business websites, it's time to discuss the importance of a professional web designer. A good web design company will ensure your website works for your business - boosting visibility, improving user experience, and driving real results.
At our agency, we create beautiful small business websites that are SEO-optimized, mobile-responsive, and offer real-time traffic stats. Best of all, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Our process is simple. First, we learn a bit about your business, then we start working on your design ASAP. Once you approve the design, we connect your domain and start helping you complete and launch your site.
Contact us today to learn more about our process and how we can bring your small business website to life!