In today’s digital age, having a website for your small business is essential.
Where do you start?
Here are some do’s and don’ts to remember when creating a website for your small business.
Do: Keep it simple and user-friendly
Your website should be easy to navigate and understand.
Get quickly to the point of answering every customer’s question: What’s In It For Me? (WIIFM).
You might think that wall of text explaining who you are and what you are up to is interesting, but it keeps your customer from doing what they are there to do: buy from you.
Once your customer is on your website, it’s not about you. It’s about them and how you can help solve their problems.
Also, creating a website optimized for all screen sizes is essential as more people access mobile devices.
Responsive design allows your website to automatically adjust its layout when viewed on different devices, providing an optimal viewing experience for any user.
Not coincidentally, making your website user-friendly is one of the key outcomes of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Google and other search engines want to produce useful and easy-to-use results for people searching for answers.
So definitely do focus on SEO.
Don’t: Overcomplicate your design or navigation
While adding flashy graphics or complex menus may be tempting, this can turn off potential customers and make it difficult for them to find what they’re looking for.
Keep your design simple and clean with easy-to-use navigation that guides visitors to the necessary information.
Also, cramming your site with too much information can overwhelm visitors and turn them away, ensuring they will never return.
As a bonus, avoiding flashy graphics and complicated design will prevent your pages from loading slowly.
No one likes to wait for your fancy animation to load. Who has time for that?
Again, page speed load times are a key factor in SEO. Are you seeing a trend here?
Do: Include clear calls-to-action and contact information
One of the main goals of your small business website should be to encourage visitors to take action, whether making a purchase, filling out a contact form, or signing up for your newsletter.
To make this happen, include clear calls to action throughout your site, such as “Buy Now” or “Contact Us.”
Additionally, make it easy for customers to get in touch with you by prominently displaying your contact information, such as your phone number and email address, on every page of your site.
Finally, be sure to include your social media links so customers can also follow you there.
Flashy Animations Are Amazing! Just Kidding.
Don’t: Use too many flashy animations or distracting elements
While adding flashy animations and other attention-grabbing elements to your small business website may be tempting, it’s important to remember that less is often more.
How many times have you shattered the peace at the office by surfing a website with an auto-playing video that caught you by surprise?
It’s a jarring experience and a good way to ensure a customer never returns.
Too many distractions can detract from the user experience and make it harder for visitors to find the necessary information.
Not to mention giving them a heart attack!
Stick to a clean, straightforward design highlighting your products or services and making it easy for customers to navigate your site.
And make sure the auto-play function is turned off, and give your visitor the option to play the video or audio when they want.
Do: Use high-quality images and graphics
High-quality images and graphics can make a big difference in your business website’s look and feel.
Choosing images that are relevant to your business and visually appealing to your target audience is essential.
Avoid generic stock photos that don’t represent your brand or products.
Also, regarding SEO, Google has said that using stock images won’t hurt your ranking but won’t help you either.
Many free or low-cost stock photo websites are available if you don’t have the budget for professional photography.
Read the licensing agreements carefully to ensure you have the right to use the images on your website.
Tips & tricks
- Icons and Visuals
One of the best ways to keep visitors interested and engaged is to give their eyes a break from endless text blocks.
That’s where icons and visuals come in handy.
Integrating eye-catching icons within your copy can break up the monotony and make even the most complex content more inviting to read.
But don’t go overboard with big images that slow your page speed.
Instead, reserve them for when they’re absolutely necessary.
Additionally, utilize specifics, like product photos or featured articles.
- Parallax
Consider incorporating parallax scrolling elements for added wow factor, giving your site a more dynamic, interactive feel.
- SSL Certificate
And the most important tip: ensure your website has an SSL certificate.
An SSL certificate will give your visitors peace of mind when browsing your website, as they know that any sensitive data they enter into forms and submit is encrypted and safe from malicious use.
And Google wants to send people to safe websites, surprise!
Having one can boost your search engine results ranking.
