Every business needs a website. Online presence is a must regardless of what kind of services or products you offer. Luckily, creating a website is not as complicated as it used to be. Free pre-made templates and tools can help you design a solid webpage.
But just having a website is not enough. It needs to stand out and attract potential customers, as well as collaborators. After all, the competition is tough, regardless of your niche. So what can you do to make your website outstanding?
Here are some of our favorite tips that can help you reach your goals as well as design a website that will push your business forward:
Excellent design
Your website is usually the first thing that potential customers see when they search for your brand. To make that first impression memorable, make sure the website looks professional, clean, and impeccable. Simple layouts work best and remember to keep your website uncluttered.
High-quality photographs and infographics are welcome, but less is more. Only add the information you know will be interesting to your audience. The goal is to maintain an easy-to-navigate webpage that represents you and your brand in the best possible light.
Speaking of navigating the page, the navigation menu should be visible and simple. Create subcategories for a better user experience. Additionally, don’t forget about the maintenance. Often check for broken links or pages that are not working.
High-quality content
Well-written and informational content will make your page memorable. Keep in mind that customers visit your website to learn about the products or services you sell, but some will also want to read your blog and learn something new.
Updating your website with valuable content is an absolute must. Yes, this could be difficult and sometimes expensive, but it will be worth it. Potential and existing customers will see your business as a reliable source of information and come back regularly to catch up on the new content. It can also lead to an increase in sales.
Besides frequent updates, make sure your content doesn’t have any spelling errors. Proofread the content before you upload it to a blog or website. The information you put there should be accurate and supported by credible sources.
Quick loading time
Now let’s talk about the technical side. There is nothing more annoying than a slow-loading website, right? We have all been there and very likely closed the website’s tab. As you might have guessed, slow loading pages lower the conversion rates. According to Portent, the first five seconds are crucial for conversion.
What can you do to make your website run as smoothly as possible? Start with choosing the right hosting that supports your bandwidth. Then update the software you are using. It will not only keep your webpage running but improve overall cybersecurity too.
If your webpage is image and video-heavy, chances are they are the reason for slow loading time. Optimize everything and shorten the download time. It can make a huge difference and speed up your webpage instantly.
Calls to action
Getting your customers to do something on your website could look impossible, but this is where calls to action (or CTA) shine. Your webpage needs to have a clear purpose, and then you will be able to encourage the visitors to interact more.
CTAs could be pretty much anything – from signing up to a newsletter to sharing blog posts on social media or even purchasing a product. The invitation should be noticeable, so don’t put it at the end of a page. Always keep it in a visible spot.
Creating a good CTA can skyrocket your conversion numbers. However, a personalized CTA is even better. Research shows that smart CTAs convert 202% more than the standard ones. Consider this while brainstorming your brand’s next marketing campaign.
Using SEO
You could have the best and most professional-looking website out there, but your brand is not going anywhere if it doesn’t get traffic. Search engine optimization (or SEO) could change all of that. Follow a couple of SEO rules, and the traffic should increase dramatically.
Keywords are incredibly important for SEO. Do thorough research of the keywords used in your brand’s niche and go from there. If you are a small brand, avoid highly competitive keywords on your website, as you might not rank up.
Go for keywords that look like something a user would type into a search bar. Of course, feature these keywords in your content as naturally as possible. Finally, allow visitors to share your content with just a couple of clicks.
