Essential Elements of a Small Business Website
Sure, so you have a website for your business. That is an amazingly fantastic first step! (If you don’t, then you need to read about why a website is suuuper important). But does your website have the critical features your potential customers need? Just because your business is out there in the cyber world doesn’t necessarily mean you are supplying your customers with a way to become a returning customer. So without further ado, here is a list of the most important things you can have on your website.
1. Your Business Name & Logo
This should be a little bit of a no-brainer, but I had to include it. Make sure to tell your customers who you are!
2. Contact Information
How do you expect them to hire you or buy your stuff if you don’t tell them where to go or how to call you?! Phone number, address, maps, & contact form (or email address, but this way you won’t get so much spam) are SOOO IMPORTANT!
3. User-Friendly Navigation
You want to make it incredibly easy for people visiting your site to find what they need. If you’ve got extensive drop-down menus, links that are hiding in pages, etc. then you’re making it really hard for your potential clients to get around. And the harder you make it, the less likely they are to stay for long, and become clients.
4. Your Services/Products
Let them know what it is that you do. You wouldn’t call up a business without knowing what services they offer, right? That’d be crazy. Let your visitors know what services or products you offer. If you can give them prices, do it! People are much more likely to contact you if you let them know ahead of time what you charge; otherwise, they’ll assume you’re out of their price range (because you’re so amazing ;). If you own a shop that sells products, have you ever thought about selling your stuff online?! That’d be super cool! At least let them know what they can expect if they come to your store.
5. Images
I’m talking about photos of your store, your products, your services, your staff, your customers, your location, everything you could possibly take a picture of to show your visitors what/who you are. This is crazy important because it gives them a peek into your business’s personality. It’s like getting to know you before they meet you. Images build trust between you and your potential customers.
6. Responsive/Mobile-Friendly
Honestly, this should be #1 because in the day and age of smart phones, half if not more of your site’s visitors will be looking at your website via their phone. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about with the word ‘responsive’ click here to head to my FAQ, where I explain allll the web/techy language! All of the websites that I design are 100% responsive so your visitors don’t think you’re living in the dark ages.
7. Social Media Links
Do you have a Facebook page that you post on regularly with business updates? Then link to it, my friend! This will not only tell your visitors where they can find you on social media, it will also boost your SEO.
BONUS
8. Google Analytics
Integration of Google Analytics allows you to track how many people visit your website, where they came from, where they clicked, how long they stayed, etc. It’s a marketing fanatics dream when it comes to website tracking information.
9. ADA Compliance
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) states that all electronic and information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities. That means making your website accessible by a screen reader, for the most part. These rules generally apply to entities with “places of public accommodation” (hello, your website). For schools, public libraries, and government entities, ADA compliance can save you from a nasty lawsuit.
Questions?
Have questions about this post or anything I discussed here? Send me a message!