5 Tips for an Effective Small
Business Website
A website is essential to marketing
your business. As customers research your products and services, one of
their first stops will be your website. It is their first introduction to your
business, so naturally you’ll want to do all you can to make their virtual
visit a positive experience.
Here is a five-question checkup to help make sure your
website is in tip-top condition and gives you a competitive edge.
1. Are you using a responsive
website design?
With more people browsing websites using their smartphones,
tablets and other devices, it’s important to create a website that operates
seamlessly on multiple platforms. Google reports that more than half off all
searches begin on a mobile device. You don’t want to miss a sale or a customer
because of a poor website experience.
2. Is your website
optimized for search?
A few simple things that you can do to optimize your site
for search engines are add keywords and title tags to your web pages and create
and regularly post to a blog to help drive traffic to your website. If you are
new to search, look for guides for beginners or tips from reputable resources
like moz.com.
3. Is your site
meeting your customers’ expectations?
First impressions of your website are important to keep
someone engaged. It’s OK to have graphics on your home page, but do not use
complex graphics that may take a long time to download. Be sure your site
explains why your business is the best solution for your customers’ needs. Most
business websites include at least these four pages: home, product and
services, about us and contact us. If you have an interesting business history,
add that to your site, too. You may even want to include bios and pictures of
yourself and your staff. People like to feel personally connected to the
business that they are working with. Check out the infographic from Entrepreneur for more must-have business
website features.
4. Is your web
content clear and up to date with clear calls to action?
Keeping your content current is a smart way to build
awareness, generate sales and maintain customer relationships. It’s also
important for your site to have clear calls to actions. In other words, what do
you want your site visitors to do? Common calls to action are to contact you,
make a purchase, sign up for a service or get a quote. Capturing visitors’
email addresses could also help you stay in touch with them if they are not
ready to buy right away.
5. Is your website (and
your business) listed on search directories?
If your business has a physical address, then you will most
likely have a local listing in Google, Yelp, Bing, Internet Yellow Pages, Yahoo!
Local and other directories. It is important to claim your listing because it can
then lead people to you to find essential details like your business’s address,
phone number and hours. It can also help your business rank in local search
engine results and encourage customers to post reviews about your products or services. Websites like Google and Facebook for Business
let you claim and update the information without a fee, but others will charge you
for the privilege.
As you can see, a well-designed website is an asset and a
necessity for businesses. It’s a way to build relationships and communicate
directly with your customers about the products and services that you offer. An
effective business website also gives you credibility to show that you’re committed
to providing solutions to your clients’ needs. The more you work on your
website, the better your chances for business success.
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