Creating a small business website is vitally important for your company’s long-term success.
Most consumers go online to research a product before they ever buy it in person, which means your customers are already trying to interact with you online.
If you don’t have a presence on the internet with an updated website, you are losing out on these customers and their revenue.
For your company to grow and expand, you need a high-quality small business website design and a strong online presence.
1. Responsive and Mobile Friendly
Effective sites must be responsive and function across all kinds of devices.
Savvy companies optimize their sites for desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
With about half of users accessing the internet from a mobile device, having a responsive small business website is becoming incredibly important.
If you are designing for a mobile user, keep things basic by focusing on a minimalist design.
Mobile screens tend to be much smaller than a standard computer, so cluttered images and small fonts are almost impossible for the user to see.
Instead, focus on making large, easy-to-tap buttons and a clear menu design.
2. Proper Internal Linking
When you go to the best website designers for small business pages, you will also get recommendations about proper internal linking practices.
An internal link is a hyperlink your site uses to lead from one of its pages to another.
These links are extremely important for showing search engines how the menus, blogs, and service pages are connected.
Internal links create a virtual bridge to different pieces of content and show Google the overall structure of your site.
In addition, they show which pages are more important through the number of internal links.
Because of this, internal links in your small business website design can improve your search engine optimization (SEO), so you can rank higher in the search results.
Is a free website builder right for your business?
Read through this article to find out whether those free website builders like GoDaddy, Wix and Squarespace will work for your business.
3. Post on Your Blog
Google and the other search engines look for a handful of basic features in a small business website.
In addition to looking at the quality of your content, Google wants to see how often you update your site.
An easy way to satisfy this requirement is by creating a blog where you share consistent posts and relevant content.
A blog helps you to naturally incorporate keywords and search terms into your small business website design.
When Google sees your blog articles, it can tell your site is currently active.
In addition, these blog articles add informational and educational value for your reader.
4. Create and Use Videos
An estimated 54% of site visitors prefer to see videos over other marketing tactics.
Videos make it easy for customers to engage with your business and learn more.
By incorporating this type of content into your small business website development through explainer videos or landing page videos, you can also instantly see when viewers stopped watching and more effectively track your performance metrics.
5. Add Calls to Action
Another one of the most important things you can put on your small business website is a call to action (CTA).
Once you show someone your product or service, you want them to do something about it.
Whether your intention is for them to buy right away or sign up for your newsletter, you need a CTA to inspire the viewer to take the next step.
A basic CTA is a text or image which websites use to prompt potential leads or site visitors into taking action.
It’s an easy way to nudge customers into and along your sales funnel.
Your CTA can be anything from scheduling a consultation to downloading a free report.
Is your business information the same across the web?
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6. Show Trustworthiness
Trust elements are another important thing to incorporate into your small business website design.
These features help to build trust in the consumer’s mind as you establish faith in your brand and present yourself as a reliable, reputable company.
Your trust elements could be customer testimonials, videos from current customers, or snapshots of your Google reviews.
If you have a good amount of positive reviews from customers or awards from the community, you should make them easy to find on your homepage with a direct link.
These trust elements serve as social proof.
Even if a viewer has never heard of your company before, your reviews and case studies show you are worth the money.
Once a customer trusts your business, they are more likely to make a purchase from you and even become loyal to your brand.
7. SSL Encryption
As you look up the average cost of website design for small business, you should remember to account for the price of SSL encryption.
Unfortunately, many design companies forget about this important tool.
SSL is crucial for any site, but it is especially important if you are selling anything online or accept customer information through the website.
When you don’t have SSL, Google Chrome has a “Not Secure” designation next to your URL, creating an instant issue of distrust from visitors.
Even Google wants to see an SSL certificate as well, having made it a key ranking factor for SEO.
Begin Building a Successful Small Business Website Today!
A small business website is the best thing you can do to market your company and reach out to online visitors.
It is a way for you to show your clients you’re a professional in the industry and to demonstrate social proof.
More importantly, your site makes it easier for your clients to hire your company, discover your location, or learn about your services.
Through effective small business website design, you can market your business to visitors from around the world.
With the right web design company, you can get started on your new site and begin building your online brand right away.
Get in touch with the team here at AWEBCO today at (217) 903-5999 and learn all about how we can create the perfect website for your brand.
One Response
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