5 Ways to Better Your Website
A good website will go a loooong way. It can build credibility, help branding, and improve customer engagements, if done correctly. Ensuring SEO keywords are strategically placed and using plug-ins to update your website frequently are just the start.
Make your website user friendly.
People like it easy – Plain and simple. If a user clicks through to your website, from a search, social media, or elsewhere, and they can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they are likely to close out and move on.
Keeping your content fresh, easy to read, and accessible is the best way to attract and keep your customers there. You want them clicking through pages and looking at more than just one thing. “According to Original Box, a website has less than 8 seconds to capture your ideal client and to give a great first impression. Your goal should be to ensure people stay on your website for much longer than a minute.”
Make pages count.
You don’t want to have 8 pages across the top of your website when in reality, you could have 2-4. Group things together that make sense, where you can use a drop down to further direct your customers if needed. Having minimum pages across the top can make your website less overwhelming and when it’s easily scannable and understandable, it will most likely keep the user there longer.
Some examples of page types you can have include Home, About, Contact, Products (if you offer products), Services (if you offer services), and/or a Blog. These pages can be broken down further with landing pages for more information.
Make sure plug-ins work.
There is nothing more annoying to a customer than going to click a link and it doesn’t work. Whether it’s an incorrect plug-in directing them somewhere or a broken link in the backend, these things can and should be easily avoidable. The last thing you want is for paying customers to lose interest and leave just because they weren’t able to add something to their cart or they couldn’t get through to your content.
A great way to easily avoid these things is testing your website and everything you’ve created or added before publishing to the public. If you make changes after publishing, be sure you’ve saved everything correctly and followed the steps to be sure everything works. Sometimes it’s a simple fix but you don’t want to get to the point where it’s not.
Have contact information readily available.
Remember that contact page? Yeah, you’ll need that here. Having a way people can reach out to you is key in closing sales or confirming new customers. The more information and avenues they have to reach you, the better. This way customers can use whatever they feel comfortable with to get in touch.
But please, only put contact information that they can ACTUALLY get in touch through. If you haven’t checked your business email since 2022, I suggest you leave it out (or start checking?). A great place to send your users is to your social media, if you’re active. Now they’re on your Instagram, checking out more of your content and possibly giving you a follow. Win-win.
Bring your best content to the table.
Don’t use photos, videos, or anything else that isn’t the best you can create. Remember, websites have about 8 seconds to leave an impression, and a bad one will most likely turn that customer and many others away.
Put together pages and content that mean something to your business, and give off the vibe that you know what you’re doing. Slapping together something just to have it up will never get you the revenue or return you need. Get professional content done that shows you’re not only serious, but capable.
When in doubt, hire a professional. They can map out everything you’ll need and help ensure you’re putting your best foot forward. A good website is an investment into your business.