If you own or manage a business, you know how important marketing is. You may choose to advertise in print, or you may rely on word-of-mouth and social media sites to keep customers coming your way. In any case, most small business owners know they need to have a website in order to be relevant in the marketplace. Depending on what kind of product or service you are selling, a good site offers pertinent information that is easy to read, and encourages customers to follow through and complete a sale.
If your business is young and growing, you may need a few tips on how to maximize your website for best results. Designing a website can be intimidating for novices, which is why most entrepreneurs choose to hire a professional. Whether you choose this route or decide to go it alone, there are a few things you should know about what increases website stickiness to consumers, and what turns them away. Read on for a few tips to get you started.
Keep It Simple
In order to keep users on your page, it needs to load in less than four seconds. One way to do this is to make your homepage simple, with no animation or huge images. The best homepages have one high-quality original image, a white background, and a menu across the top or along the left-hand side. In addition to loading quickly, the simple design has the advantage of making basic information easy to see and absorb. A customer who finds what he or she needs rapidly is more likely to make a purchase.
Make It Clear
You need to make it clear what industry your business operates the second a visitor navigates to your website. You only have a second to grab visitors’ attention and make sure they stay on your website, especially if that visitor is browsing on a large tablet. In order to do this, you need to make sure you are telling them the information they need right away. Make it obvious what your business does. This will help to improve website stickiness for your small business website. It may even be more effective than on site SEO.
Know Your Market
Clearly, if you are marketing to a certain segment of the population, you need to know what they like, want, and need. When creating your website, be sure to include features that will satisfy the group you are marketing to. This will lead to additional free online traffic. For instance, young users want a site that works on their mobile device. Parents want a site that is safe for children to look at, while older adults may appreciate a larger font size.
Do Not Skimp On Price
If you do choose to hire someone to design a small business website and digital content for you, make sure you do not pay too little. A cheap web designer is not going to offer you anything that you could not do yourself for free after a couple free coding classes. Spending more allows you access to features like text animation and more. Dig a little deeper into your pocket for your web design. You will not regret it.
Create Fresh Content
Even the best website will be unappealing if the information found on it is out of date. In order to keep viewers on your page, make sure to update the content regularly. If you had a sale last week, that is old information. Your customers want to know about the sale you are having this week, as well as new products they can anticipate purchasing soon. In addition to product listings, your content may include blog posts that demonstrate how to use your goods or services to the best advantage.
Call to Action
No small business website design is complete without a call to action. After all, the purpose of your page isn’t simply to inform readers. You want to sell your product! Be sure to make it easy for potential customers to either contact you or order directly from your website. Buttons should be easy to see, and prices should be plainly displayed.
Creating a website doesn’t have to be difficult. It also does not need to solely emphasize on site SEO. In fact, as long as it looks professional, a simple site works better than a complex one. By marketing your target group, keeping your content fresh, and giving a clear call to action, your website can stand out from your competition.
Image from https://www.womenwork.org/web-design-tips-for-small-business/