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What Does A Business Website Need To Succeed?
In today’s Internet-obsessed world, it is expected that any new business will have an accompanying website to give them an online presence. In order for these to be successful, it is also generally expected that they will have certain key characteristics. After all, your website is your online calling card and, if done well, can allow you to compete with even some of the biggest players in your market sector. Here, then, are just some of the attributes your company website ought to have:
Clean Layout: No, this doesn’t mean avoid obscene images and language. Your website should be visually appealing and this means keeping the design clear and simple. Use a small number of well-chosen images that help to illustrate the points you make. There should be nothing superfluous on there. You should also be sticking as far as possible to a small number of colours – preferably incorporating those used on your logo and branding material. This will give your website an overall coherence and strengthen your brand.
Links To Social Media: Your online strategy should work on many levels and it’s important to make use of the opportunities offered by social media: one because they’re free to use; and two because it’s how you can communicate with your customers worldwide in a more informal way. Online customers like to have a variety of ways to access companies today, so make sure you include ‘share’ buttons on your site.
Relevance: Don’t forget to regularly update your content: there is nothing more off-putting to a potential customer than visiting a website and finding their last news post was dated three years ago. It’s a little like visiting a cyber ghost town, and doesn’t give the impression that you have your finger on the pulse. Any news that you have – whether this is a new product launch, a trade fair you are attending or a major investment – you should be sure to communicate this. And a regular blog post discussing issues and trends within your industry will help you build a reputation as an expert and a useful contact to have.
Contact Details: You should make sure your customers know they can get hold of you whenever they need to. You can do this by having a clear ‘contact’ section on your site that includes names, phone numbers, email addresses and your business address. People like to feel they are dealing with a person rather than a vague online entity. It gives them more confidence in you as a product or service provider and will ultimately help you build a bigger client base.
Easy Payment Process: Lastly, once you have ensured that customers feel secure enough in your credentials to buy from you, don’t then make it complicated for them to do so. Set up a reliable and trusted online payment system – Paypal is something people are generally happy to use – and offer a shopping cart to encourage multiple purchases and simplify things for buyers.