What Does a Business Website Absolutely Need?

 

There’s a lot to think about when creating or updating a website, but there are certain things a business website absolutely needs to be effective and worth the investment. While web design is important, a successful website will have solid web development too. It’s imperative that your business website is built in a way that will enhance your brand’s image and move prospects through your sales funnel.

 

Discover the must-have elements that every business website needs to generate sales or leads.

Before hiring web development services, it’s helpful to have an idea of what should be on your business website and how it should function so it’s easier to communicate your needs. Here are nine elements your business website should have to ensure it performs well with customers, on mobile devices, and in Google search results.

What makes a website address “good” varies from business to business, but there are a couple of things your website address should be to make it right for your company. First, have a website address that is simple and not too long so it’s easy to search and remember. Avoid using dashes and any quirky spellings that could lead to confusion.

 

Next, the website address should be relevant to your business or market. Your business name is typically the best option, but if that domain isn’t available, you can use an abbreviation or a relevant and popular keyword phrase.

Visitors that land on your business website should understand pretty quickly what your business does, even if they’ve never heard of your brand before. Both the copy and images should make it crystal clear the products or services you offer.

A website that’s hard to navigate will end up frustrating visitors and increase your bounce rate. Make it easy for visitors to find the page they want by having a simple menu and site map. Also, a search bar is a great way to help visitors find the content they want.

Website usability is key to providing visitors a positive experience which will make them more willing to do business with you. A crucial component of website usability is having a mobile-friendly design. Mobile shopping is on the rise so if your website doesn’t look good or function properly on a smartphone and tablet, you’ll be losing out on sales or leads.

Have your contact information easy to find in the footer and a contact page so prospects can reach your business if they have a question or need more information. Also, make sure that your contact information (name, address, phone number, email, etc.) is consistent on all of your web pages and around the internet like your social media profiles and directory listings.

Images, copy, format, and layout can make or break your website content. The quality of your content not only speaks volumes about your business, but it also affects your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).

Another important factor in website usability and SEO is speed. Pages that take a long time to load will annoy visitors and make them bounce. Google offers a free tool called PageSpeed Insights where you can check a page’s mobile and desktop speeds and receive recommendations.

Protect your online information and your customers’ by using secure hosting services. Cybersecurity is a non-negotiable in today’s business world. It’s crucial to have secure hosting to keep hackers out and your website up and running.

Prospects want to know what your past and current customers have to say about your business. By displaying reviews or testimonials on your website, it provides “social proof” to prospects that your product/service follows through on its claim which will make them more likely to do business with you.

A business website doesn’t need all the bells and whistles to be effective with customers, but these nine elements are critical for generating online and offline sales. If you need to create or update your business website, we can help. Sales & Marketing Technologies develops websites for a variety of businesses that elevate their brand and drive sales.

 

Call 407.682.2222 or contact us below to get a free 30-minute website strategy session!