Even though more and more small business owners are realizing the importance of having a quality website, there are still many who don’t really understand what that entails. And unless you have expertise in website design, why would you?
Nonetheless, a poorly-designed website will cause 38% of your visitors to stop engaging, which will harm your ranking on search engines. That’s why it’s so important to invest in a top-notch website for your small business. Along with working with web design experts like Whimsicode, keep these key aspects in mind as you create (or improve) your business website:
Funding
Creating your website may require you to invest. If your budget is tight right now, research your options for funding. Between the various programs and loans offered by both government and non-government agencies, you should be able to secure the financial assistance you need to cover the costs of quality web development and design.
Visuals
As Business 2 Community explains, using good visuals is the most effective way of reaching your audience, no matter what kind of marketing materials you are employing. So when it comes to your website, it’s imperative that it provides visual appeal that will immediately engage visitors and encourage them to stick around. Choose bold-but-tasteful images and colors that will captivate your visitors’ attention and support the message that you want your brand to get across.
Typography and Whitespace
Cleanliness is also essential when it comes to website design. When choosing a font, make sure it is generally easy to read. If your content cannot be read, it would be better for it not to be there. Use an attractive, straight-forward font style that is large enough to be read comfortably. Also, as Medium explains, incorporate plenty of whitespace around your website elements. Otherwise, you risk your site being cluttered, which is a major turnoff to visitors.
Navigation
Navigation is another key element of a great website. If your website is hard to navigate—that is, if it’s not clear how to get to the page or content you are looking for—visitors will quickly lose interest. But if your site structure is intuitive, visitors will be more likely to keep browsing. In other words, people should be able to visit your site and know exactly how to get where they need to go, rather than having to search high and for the contact page or product catalog.
Call to Action
Call-to-action (CTA) refers to any element used on your site intended to direct your audience toward a specific action or destination, whether it’s to purchase a specific product or read a new article. CTAs are crucial to your business website, and there should be at least one of them on each web page. However, It’s important not to have too many CTAs close together, since it can clutter the webpage and cause confusion.
Mobile-Friendliness
Last but not least, your website must be mobile-friendly. More than half of all web traffic occurs on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Not only that, but your search rank will be lower if your website isn’t optimized for mobile use. As you are working with your web designer, make sure they go through the process of making your site look and function as well on a mobile device as it does on a computer.
Having a website that stands out has never been more important, and there’s a lot more to it than spending a few hours on a free web design platform. Find a reputable design agency, and make sure the aspects listed here are covered as your site is being created or improved. And don’t be surprised if you experience immediate business growth as a result!
