Small business success is no easy feat to achieve, especially because these days your online business persona is just as important as your real-life business reputation, if not more so. Creating a strong online following for your business is half the battle when it comes to gaining success, but with technologies and expectations constantly shifting it can be difficult to know what is needed to get your business seen on the web.
Arguably the most important factor is a strong company website. This is your online hub – the digital equivalent of welcoming a customer into your business premises – and so is key to helping you make the right first impression.
Web design does a lot more than make your website look better. It can also draw people to you and make them more likely to actually use your services. So if you think your business site could do with some TLC, the expert team at Syntax IT Support London are here to help. Here are 6 tips for designing the perfect business website.
Make it easy to navigate
First things first, your website needs to be user-friendly – otherwise you’ll quickly start running low on users. Navigating the site should be a simple process, with clear links to product pages, about sections, contact information and a blog if you have one. You should also have a search bar for customers to use.
Make your landing page stand out
The look of your page is just as important as how functional it is, so make sure your homepage features a strong headline, a high-quality image which represents your business as a whole, and a clear, well-written description of your business and what you offer. Including these features will make people more likely to see what the rest of your site has to offer, boosting your chances of making a sale.
Use contact forms
Your website should include a designated contact area for people to get in touch. This could simply include contact information such as your business phone number and email, but an on-site contact form can give off a more professional vibe while also making site visitors more likely to actually use it. Try to keep your form short and sweet, asking for a name, email address and enquiry. This will help you generate leads and create conversions.
Create a visible CTA button
A call to action is key to making your site useful to your business. It’s no good shouting about how great your services or products are if your website offers no way for people to actually make use of them, so a call to action button is paramount. Be sure to make it highly visible too, ideally at both the top and the bottom of the page.
Boost your loading speed
Optimizing images, upgrading your site and minimizing your redirects call all help to keep your site running as fast as possible. This is important, as more than half of internet users will promptly leave a site if it takes more than three seconds to load.
Include video content
More than any other kind of content, videos attract an audience. Videos are naturally engaging and easy to digest, so be sure to include some on your site. Just make sure they feature your services or products and don’t run too long. The upper limit for your videos should be around three minutes, offering you plenty of time to show off what your business is all about.
