Every entrepreneur knows that they must have a website if they expect to survive in the business world of today. However, it’s not enough just to launch a website in order to keep up with the times. Your website should be viewed as a powerful, if not the most powerful, tool within your marketing strategy. If you don’t put enough effort into your online presence, it will be just as bad as not having one at all!
There are certain elements that all business websites should have in order to get the most out of it. Here are some of these essential components of a successful business website.
User-friendly
There is no point in owning a website that your visitors find taxing to navigate. A poorly designed website will look clunky and be frustrating to use. Your visitors are unlikely to return and will form a negative view of your business if you have a bad site. It’s not just the functions (such as a shopping cart) that should be user-friendly. The content should be clear and concise, the font, colors, and images should be easy on the eye and the links should be easily identifiable and clickable.
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Responsive design
The majority of customers will view company websites using their mobile devices. Therefore, it’s vital that your site performs well and looks good on smartphones and tablets too. Unless your company specializes in these services, it’s a good idea to work with a reputable website design business on this, as well as the other aspects of your site.
Consistent
It’s important to communicate your brand in a consistent way throughout your marketing channels. Otherwise, customers will be left feeling confused about your company identity. This means that the style and voice of your website should be the same as that used in your social media channels, newsletters, packaging, etc.
Engaging
A website needs to be exciting and unique to engage visitors. Creative content that is relevant to your industry and that shows your personality is one of the most effective ways of doing this. Interactive elements, like videos, quizzes, and games, will also help to set you apart from your competitors and keep your visitors interested.
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A face
Most visitors feel more comfortable when they can clearly see that there are people behind the website. Make sure you include a friendly “About us” page that describes the history and values of your business. Including pictures of the employees at work is another way to give your website a face. It’s also important that your customers feel that your company is approachable. So, don’t find the contact details, include them on the homepage.
What is clear is that creating a website just because you feel you have to, is not going to lead to success. You have to view it as one of the most important parts of your business and, therefore, afford it significant thought, effort, and finance. We hope you find this information helpful for creating a successful business website.
Featured image credit: ShutterStock
