Advancements in technology have made it possible for almost everyone to have access to the internet on their phones and other devices, which also allows them to easily search for services and products they need online in seconds. It’s because of this that every business (big or small) needs to have a website to reach more customers and attract more business. However, developing your business website isn’t just about aesthetics. Your website should be akin to a spider’s sticky web — attractive, well-planned, and can retain/hold customers.
As such, we’ll be looking at tips to help you develop a business website that won’t only attract potential customers, but also entice them to stay and do business.
#1 No to (External) Ads
You’re probably no stranger to all those eyesore banners ads, pesky pop-ups, and other in-page ads that take up a lot of the screen. Some business allows ads as a way to get revenue from the website or as part of the website platform (which is common when you’re using a free website platform). However, having ads on your site won’t only bog it down with slower loading times, but it can make your website visitors AKA potential customers to click out and find another business website that won’t assault them with advertisements.
#2 Go for Multi-Device Compatibility
Your website may look great on a desktop or laptop, but if you failed to design it for mobile or multi-platform compatibility, it might be impossible to use or navigate when customers access it using their phones or tablets. The majority of people that look for products and services online use their phones, so make sure that your business website is mobile-friendly and can work on any device and screen size.
#3 Make it “Light”
Keep your website design simple, easy to navigate, and (more importantly) ‘light.’ Poor website design choices can lead to longer loading times, and no one wants to wait — particularly customers that look for products and services online, as they’re doing it for speed and convenience after all. Consider the fact that not everyone has a good internet connection, so by making your website ‘lighter’ and faster to load, you’ll be making it more accessible.
#4 Optimize it for Search Engines
No matter how well-designed your website is, if it’s not optimized to show up when people look up products or services in your area that your business offers, then all your efforts would go in vain. You have to remember that almost every business nowadays have a website, and some of them are your direct competition (businesses that sell the same or similar product or services), so you’ll need to ‘compete’ with them again in terms of search engine rankings. To do so, you’ll need to utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices, such as putting the right keywords in your website content.
Bonus: Get Help From the Pros
Understandably, designing and managing your website and its content can be a bit too technical. Failing to make a secure website makes it vulnerable to hacking and vandalism, which may not only adversely impact your business but may also compromise your customers by placing links on your site that are designed to steal customer information. Additionally, poor website design and lack of content can render all your efforts useless.
That said, don’t hesitate to look for companies that specialize in digital marketing to boost business, as they won’t only ensure that you have a well-designed, easy-to-navigate, and accessible website, but can help make your website (and your brand) more ‘visible’ and have it rank higher on search engine results when customers look for products and services that your business offers.
The Takeaway
In this day and age, a website is a necessary and indispensable tool that every business should have. However, a lot could go wrong when developing and designing your website, so make sure that you follow these tips to help you attract and retain more customers for your business.
