The Internet currently consists of over 1.5 billion websites. So, the question must be asked, in a sea of websites, what can you as a business owner do to make sure that yours is unique and stands out, while also serving its purpose to your target audience?
A website’s focus should always be the same: relaying necessary information to users in a quick and easy fashion. To achieve this, there are certain components that should be present. Let’s take a look at some of the features that make up a good, well-received website.
A Simple, Easy to Navigate Design
Less is more when it comes to websites, so jam packing it with flashy graphics and videos is completely unnecessary. You want your website to be visually appealing, but not overwhelming. It’s also important to make sure that it’s easy to navigate through so that users can find what they’re looking for quickly. When determining a design, formulate a plan for what you envision your site looking like and the goals you seek for it to achieve.
High-Quality Content
Your website’s main goal is to appease the user’s needs by providing them with the information that they’ve come to your site looking for. Ergo, it must be packed with content that will educate and inform consumers on your product and service offerings, as well as other relevant information, like frequently asked questions. This information should also tell your story, as it will help build trust within your brand.
Mobile Responsiveness
Users are accessing websites via mobile at a rapidly expanding pace. In 2017, mobile accounted for 50.3% of all web traffic generated worldwide. In March, Google announced the adoption of its mobile-first indexing, which rewards mobile sites that follow certain best practices. Mobile-friendly sites should feature the following:
- Responsive designs that change depending upon the size of the screen the site is being viewed on
- Easy to use and navigate through
- Fast load speed
If your site isn’t mobile responsive, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity with potential customers who are more than likely accessing your site via this platform. In fact, 57% of users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly-designed mobile site. If you’re unsure of where to start, Google offers a helpful guide for initiating this process.
Call to Action and Social Media Links
For users who come to your site without an end goal in mind, call to actions can help navigate them in the right direction. A sufficient call to action will provide website visitors to complete a specific, immediate action on your site. These actions can include, submitting a form, adding an item to your shopping cart, free trial sign-ups and more. Whatever your goal is for the users visiting your website, your CTAs should reflect that.
Social media and your website should work concurrently with one another to help promote your brand. Including relevant social media links at the top, bottom or side of your website can prove incredibly beneficial. Social channels help build credibility and they are a great way to engage with customers. When you include social share and follow buttons on your small business site, you’re allowing users to share your content, which can subsequently improve the likelihood of your website appearing in search engine results.
