It’s undeniable that every small business needs a website, but that’s only part of the plan.
I’ve built loads of websites for small businesses over the 25 years I’ve been developing and in that time, so much has changed, but the underlying reason has not. Read on to get an idea about some the the general elements that make up a good site.
In today’s digitally-driven world, having a strong online presence is essential for the success of any small business.
Your website serves as the virtual front door to your business and this is where we begin to build a picture of your brand.
It’s not just a platform to showcase your products or services; it’s a reflection of your brand identity, values, and professionalism.
It used to be that we had to convince customers that they needed a website, branding etc. but nowadays they’re more than aware how important is is to be online.
Understanding Your Audience
As we begin the journey with you, we’ll start off by looking at your target audience and any sub layers of clients you may be looking to target.
When I’m asking about you clients we need to dig deep and see who they are, what they do, when they buy, what they buy, how often they buy and most importantly, why they would buy from you.
This gives us a good picture of the people who will be engaging with the website, their personas and needs, based on the services you offer.
We will guide you through the production of content, be it written or audio / visual / video and the many channels we can further network out to.
Mobile Responsiveness
Without doubt, the web is mainly viewed from mobile devices. You know for yourself, that when you’re out and about, you’ll be browsing the web and doing research, be it socially or for a more set purpose.
If your website is not properly optimised and tested, you many find your limiting the viewing experience and this may be holding people back from engaging.
A mobile-friendly design not only enhances user experience but also boosts your search engine rankings, as Google prioritizes mobile-optimized websites in its search results. Make sure that your website is optimized for touch interactions, with buttons and links that are easily clickable on smaller screens.
Compelling Visuals
** YOU’VE GOT MY ATTENTION **
Having super visual elements on the page help to direct the eye.
Bring in amazing imagery, quality content and video to really stand out, boosting your brands presence.
Whatever you do, make those pages pop – if you don’t your competitors will and they’ll win the race.
Keep it Simple and Intuitive
Making a website easy to navigate is so important as it allows our audience to find what they want quickly, without wasting time.
It goes without saying that you’re looking to get something from your visitors so you need to make sure they are not only given the content, but can read it without confusion.
Search engine optimization or SEO
This space is ever evolving, so we never claim to use a step by step process as you’ll probably just get lost in the online noise.
I personally love to write and something we like to do is make sure you have a persona that comes across online and cannot be lost.
Work hard on your SEO, develop methods, study and keep studying, research the competition, setup a plan of action to carry on and MONITOR those results. This is what I do with all of my sites to see how i can get the edge.
Focus on Conversions
The dream would be to get loads of traffic, all converting, but the inevitable result is very different.
As a small business, your top priority should be quality leads and conversion tactics.
This tactic will see your ROAS increase as the value of your time spent and any associated costs are balanced against sales and new business..
Regular Updates and Maintenance
Blogs are for life, but they need nurturing. As things change with time, consider going back over the content, updating it and bringing it into the modern age.
You’ll need to manage your blogs both offline and online as a database of the content, titles and logic between them will really help to evolve the interweaving between them.
Make sure you listen to customers and invest in a plan of action that lets you develop and evolve the system quickly to meet the needs of your small business website design.
