A website can do many things. It can present customers with service information, collect leads, sell stuff, tell stories, and provide detailed information for just about anything. The options are truly limitless when it comes to a website and how it functions.
Regardless of what your website does or what purpose it serves, there are several items every website must have. If you have a website, take a few moments to review it and make sure you have these key items. Not only do they help keep your customer informed, but they can also help with search engine rankings and your marketing strategy.
7 Must Haves For Your Website
1. Analytics
Many small business owners do not realize the value included in Google Analytics. This is one of the greatest tools to measure the traffic to your website. Google Analytics allows you to gain valuable audience information, acquisition data, behavior analysis, and conversion tracking within a single platform. This information can then be used to develop a marketing strategy to further support sales and lead generation.
Google Analytics is a FREE tool that anyone can set up, but does require necessary coding to be placed on the website. If you do not have analytics currently on your website or are unsure if you do, contact your website developer ASAP. You could be missing out on vital data about your user and future growth of your business.
2. Custom Photography
Everyone has heard the saying “A picture says a thousand words” and when you have a picture on a website it can say even more. While scheduling a photographer to take custom photography might seem like an unnecessary added expense, it can make the world of difference on your website. Custom photos can truly encompass a brand and tell a story of a small business.
If you sell products on your website, professional photos can truly make or break a sale. Keep that in mind next time you want to use a grainy photo to showcase your product. The benefit of hiring a photographer to take photos of your business, products, services, and lifestyle will show in the end and offer you a greater return on your website investment.
3. Great Content
The content of a website serves several different purposes. Of course, the text provided on a website will tell the user about your business and services or products. This is the main function of the content and providing the consumer with the best experience on your website is incredibly important. The other function of the content is to provide keywords on each page of the website to help it rank higher in search engine results. Keyword research is an essential task when developing content to help it get in front of the right audience.
There are a few things you can do to help your website rank higher. Regularly updating the content on your website will show your website is up to date and providing accurate information to the consumer. Having a blog post is a great way to gain authority with search engines and boost your rankings too.
4. Contact Information
Having contact information for a business on each and every page might seem monotonous, but it is a must have for any website. Placing the phone number for your business at the top of each page can prompt consumers to call with sales inquiries and questions about your services. Additionally, in today’s world where most website traffic comes from a mobile device, make sure the phone number is a clickable link to make it easy for the consumer.
A clear call to action that either prompts the user to email you or fill out a contact form is also essential. Again, making this as easy as possible for the user to contact you, the more likely they will. If your form is too difficult or asks too many questions, it will likely deter the user from completing it.
5. Testimonials
Customer testimonials are some of the best ways to gain new customers. As odd as it may sound, consumers trust a stranger’s review of a product, service, and business more than anything else. Asking current customers for reviews not only provides great content for your website, but also helps future customers make a decision about your company. Implementing third party review websites and adding those to your website is also incredibly useful.
6. About Page
A website has the ability to start the process of building trust with a customer. Including an “About” page on your website is one way you can accomplish this. Sharing how the business got started can help tell the story of why you do what you do, which can help build trust with future customers. Sharing company values, mission, and goals are excellent content ideas for an about page.
Again, photos can be very telling and add a lot of value to your “About” page. Customers also appreciate photos of staff and leadership teams. This can help them feel comfortable when they visit your business and can put a face with a name. Facility photos can also benefit the customer and help them feel relaxed and further build trust.
7. Social Accounts Linked
If you are active on your social accounts, be sure to include links to your profiles on your website. This will give them a deeper look into your business, the services and products you offer, and additional reviews. Having this information easily accessible to consumers can help you create a great experience.
Review Your Site Today!
A website that is functional, informational, and creates a great user experience is essential to compete in the digital world today. Reviewing your website to make sure it includes these items will help search engine rankings and bring in additional leads or sales.
Have questions about any of these tips and how they can help your business? Contact us today to schedule a consultation. SharpFinn specializes in small business website development and we are here to help you.