In this digital age, the Internet is king. Most people visit a company’s website before deciding whether to use your product or service. In fact, 48% of people admit that the company website is the most important factor in deciding the credibility of their business. Think of the website as the virtual face of your company; it conveys your brand identity and the value of your products and services. To stay ahead of your competitors, the design, content, and function of your company’s website need to be highly effective.
This may seem like an overwhelming task if you don’t have a background in web development. To make things easier for you, here are a few best practice guidelines for building a website that’ll increase traffic and conversion rates.
Website Design
1. Unique
First impressions determine whether visitors stay or leave your site. Instead of using a run-of-the-mill template, create a website that expresses your brand identity in a unique way.
2. Simple and clutter-free
Avoid overwhelming the visitor with too much information or a complicated design. Clutter-free designs reflect professionalism and are more effective in conveying your message.
3. Professional branding
Simplicity and consistency should be your focus when it comes to making your website look professional. All elements should appear cohesive. Use a set color palette based on your brand logo. Use one or two fonts throughout the website.
Website Content
4. Well displayed products and services
Showcase your products and services in a logical and user-friendly way. Clearly communicate (in both visual and written form) what you’re offering and the benefits to the visitor.
5. Relevant content
The relevance of your content to your products/services will determine your website’s search engine rankings. Pay close attention to your headlines and use them to entice visitors to continue exploring your website.
6. Clear contact info
You want to make it as easy as possible for visitors to get in touch. Make your contact details easily visible at the top and/or bottom of every webpage. Include a phone number, email address, and physical address (with directions).
Website Function
7. SEO
Multiple aspects of content and design contribute to the search engine ranking of your website. An uncluttered site, with a clear sitemap, relevant content/keywords, and useful URLs, is more likely to appear at the top of search results.
8. Mobile-friendly
The mobile version of your website is the first thing Google looks at when determining the site’s ranking. At the very least your site should adapt and rearrange when being viewed on mobile. To optimize your search engine ranking, your site needs to provide a user-friendly experience across all devices.
9. Lead capture
One vital function of your website is to capture as many inbound leads as possible. Use online forms to acquire the contact details of any interested visitors. Reach out to these visitors to further educate them about the value of your offerings. This should nudge them off the fence if they’re still unsure about being a customer.
10. Quick Site load time
Visitors won’t have the patience to browse through your site if it takes too long to load. Make sure you are using the right server infrastructure and bandwidth to allow quick load times.
We’re aware that every business is unique and that there is no cookie-cutter solution when it comes to building a company website. Here at Insight IT, we offer customized web design services that allow you to truly stand out among your competitors. Talk with us today about how we can transform your website to give your business a powerful online presence.