The Internet is full of awful websites, not just in terms of poor design but other elements that are necessary to make your business website a success — not to mention something that inspires potential customers to actually do business with you.
There are different segments and elements that a website should have, some people consider them to be less important while those that may have included them might not be using them properly.
Here are nine important things that will increase engagement with your brand and ensure the success of your business website.
1. AN EASY TO REMEMBER URL
The first thing you need is to secure a good, catchy URL (domain name), your domain name is a huge part of your company’s branding, and it must be done right. It should make sense for your business, be memorable, unique and available on social platforms.
Good domain name adds credibility to your business website and will also have a serious impact on the success of your website’s success in nearly every area, especially click-through rates in ads and search engine optimization (SEO) results.
2. A FANTASTIC USER-FRIENDLY DESIGN
A user-friendly design is critical to the success of any website and should never be overlooked. [ctt template=”4″ link=”8jmM1″ via=”no” nofollow=”yes”]Good usability will improve the performance of your business website and increase the possibility of customers doing business with you.[/ctt]
Some of the best usability tips include:
- Proper use of Taglines
- Logical Flow
- Intuitive Navigation
- Clear and Concise Content
- Strategic Use of Visuals.
- Mobile Compatibility
- Fast Load Times
- Cross-Browser
- Search Bar
You might want to check Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
3. CONSISTENT BRANDING – A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF WHO YOU ARE
Your website should contain a clear description of who are and exactly what you do and should be well-positioned so visitors won’t have a hard time getting this information. This means clearly stating your name and summing up your products or services right on the homepage.
A good and consistent branding across all pages gives you complete control over customer’s impression of your business, you should keep it short, descriptive, catchy and easy to remember. This will grab their attention and encourage them to stay on your website or even make a purchase.
4. EASY-TO-FIND CONTACT INFORMATION
The most crucial business detail is the contact information— visitors shouldn’t have to do investigative work to figure out how they can contact you. Your phone number, email, address and a contact form should be visible and easily accessible. Your phone number should also be clickable so that customers can make calls by clicking on the number.
5. STRONG CALL-TO-ACTION BUTTON
Every business website should have a strong Call-to-Action (CTA), an instruction to the visitor about what you want them to do @joxiacreative[/ctt] – a purchase, subscription, signup, etc. Note that not every visitor knows exactly what they want and need your direction to get what they want (a purchase). A CTA will attract and persuade them to take the necessary action.
A CTA should communicate value, convey urgency, be compelling enough to make them complete an action, and be a big and visible button. It also needs to be at the right position on every page of your website. It is very important to test out different words to see the ones that generate the highest amount of click-through because a change in one word can significantly increase conversions.
6. AN INCREDIBLE LANDING PAGE
Your website should always have a landing page; a standalone page that has been designed to increase conversions or make visitors to take a specific action. Your home page serves as the visual front door of your company. When designing or redesigning your website, you should always consider that your audience are from different geographical locations. Therefore they should all be put into consideration while creating your landing page.
Companies that do not include a landing page end up having fewer leads and lower conversion rates because their visitors will just end up on a homepage instead of a page which is specifically related to a marketing message. “It’s useless driving traffic to your site if you don’t have a way to convert them to known contacts.”
7. POSITIVE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Think about the last time you brought something. If you are like me, you probably began with product/service reviews and comments from happy customers. Potential customers read testimonials to gain confidence in your products and services and are more likely to buy from you after reading or watching other people’s experiences with you.
Customer feedback and testimonials are an extremely important part of the success of your business; they have been proven to strengthen business reputation. Customer feedback is the best way to build your credibility and show potential customers that your company isn’t fictitious, real people patronize you and that you are an expert in your field
8. SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATION
Social Media provide opportunities to spread your business offerings and connect with your target audience better at anytime from anywhere. Professional business websites work seamlessly with Social Media to promote your online brand.
Making your content shareable with social share buttons will provide your visitors the opportunity to share your content easily, boost your website traffic and increase your brand awareness.
Integrating social media into your business website by including social proof widgets and social follow buttons will increase your social media following and make your social media presence more visible.
9. A CUSTOMIZED CONTACT FORM
The Contact Form is one of the most important elements to have on your business website, it provides a clear and easy way for to let potential customers reach you, inquire about your services, and request for quotes. As a business owner, a customized contact form plays an integral part in turning visitors into customers.
Joxia Creative makes it easy for you to get your business online very quickly. If you’re looking for a professional and affordable website designer,
