Websites can be powerful business tools. They can build your reputation, create trust and credibility. They can enhance your presence, establish your relevance and grow your business. It’s important to have the best website possible. But what exactly makes a good website?
There are a lot of elements that come together to make a good website. But which ones are really necessary to have a good, powerful website? Here we are going to discuss five essential items your website should have if it’s going to help you do business.
1. Fresh, quality content
They say content is king, and ultimately, it is. For a website to be a successful business tool, it’s got to have relevant and helpful content that allows consumers to make smart informed decisions. Make it clear, concise and easy to read. Break up your content using headlines, lists and visuals so it’s easier to skim and digest. You want to give them what they are looking for and a reason to keep coming back, and fresh quality content will do just that. An easy way to keep your content from becoming stale is with a blog or social media.
2. A call to action
As a business tool, your website should help you get the visitor to do something to generate more business. What that is exactly, is up to you and your business goals, but it’s important to communicate that action to the visitor. It may seem obvious to you what it is you want them to do, but it may not be to them. So, whether you’d like them to request a free quote, call for more information, add something to their shopping cart or sign up for a newsletter, tell them. Use clear, simple calls to action throughout your website to prompt the user to act.
3. Contact information
If you expect website visitors to call you, place an order or request more information, it’s important that they are able to do so. Don’t make them go digging for your contact information. Place your phone number, email, address, business hours and any other important information in an easy to find spot like the top of the page, in your footer or clearly marked contact page.
4. An SEO strategy
SEO, or search engine optimization, is a way of optimizing your website for relevant keywords so you show up in the search engine results, like Google, when visitors search for terms related to your business. Without it, customers won’t be able to find your website. And if your website can’t be found, it won’t be very helpful your to business.
5. A mobile friendly experience
People don’t just use PCs to search the web anymore. More than 50 percent of all website traffic worldwide was generated through mobile phones last year. Not being mobile friendly is no longer an option. In 2015, Google updated its SEO algorithm to include mobile responsiveness. This means that it’s not enough for your website to simply be accessible via mobile devises, but it also has to respond to them, meaning the layout and/or content adapts to automatically fit the size of the screen of the devise it is being viewed on.
There are more things websites can have that can help them be better business tools, but these are five essential ones we recommend. If you interested in learning what we can do to help you get the most out of your website, feel free to send us a message. We work with businesses of all sizes, helping them create effective websites that generate more leads.
