Some of our website tips are not by any means new; they are just applied to the world’s new way of finding information – websites. Following these simple tips will ensure that people find your website. Once there, they should be encouraged to contact you so you acquire a lead.
- Make Your Website Mobile Friendly (Responsive) – Mobile and tablet usage have surpassed that of desktop, so it’s no surprise that Google and other search engines have modified their algorithms to accommodate this. They are now penalizing you by ranking your site lower than those who have met the mobile standards. A responsive website instinctively resizes itself across multiple viewing devices (from desktop monitors to mobile phones) – no pinching or horizontal scrolling required.
- Use Common Words Instead of Industry Jargon – “Too much of a good thing” is a saying we often hear in the world of web design, and the same goes for your content. Some people make the mistake of talking to their audience as if they are experts as well – many times this causes a disconnect. You can’t expect your audience to know all of your technical terms and the lingo of your industry. Write your content on a level that most can understand in order to keep your readers interested. Have someone else proof it and get their opinion.
- Optimize Your Website for a Quick Load Time – Do you ever go to a website and give up because it takes too long to load? Unfortunately this is all too common with today’s websites. As we continue to add new ways to engage our audience with moving imagery and fancy content, we can forget the time computers take to load all the assets the website requires. Having a slow website not only discourages your anxious guests, but search engines have added your load time as one of the deciding factors in how high you rank. It’s important that you take load time into consideration. The shorter the load time, the better chances you have of connecting with your audience and being on the first search results page.
- Have Clear Calls-to-Action – I once read that you need to tell your audience plainly what you want them to do. Whether it’s to place a phone call to make an appointment, fill out a form or join an e-newsletter group, calls-to-actions help guide your visitor about what to do next. Without these buttons you lose opportunities to capture new leads. Obvious call-to-action buttons and features on your website, with Google Analytics tracking code, will help you and your audience.
- Write Relevant Content – When visitors come to your website, they are there for a reason, whether it’s for information about one of your services, help with a problem or an inquiry about a product. Your website should satisfy their question. Write as if you are talking to someone for the first time and answer all of the questions they typically ask. I’m sure you’ve had a conversation with a prospect and know what people inquire about, so you already have a good grasp of what should go on your website. There is a balance between general information, qualifying information, and information that someone really needs to contact you about.
- Show Essential Business Information – Visitors to your website also look for your business information. They want to easily access information like your
- Address, and if you have a brick and mortar store, a link to a map
- Phone number and email address
- Social media links
- Hours and an “about us” page
- Pricing and how it works
You’d be surprised how many businesses don’t have this obvious information in an easy place for people to find. If you’re like me, you may tend to stay away from those businesses over security or other legitimate concerns.
- Stay Current – More and more, people judge you by your website. Websites with current information, well maintained and contemporary in design, build trust and credibility for your business. That doesn’t mean you need to update your website every month. But if it’s been years since you’ve had a major website overhaul, it’s probably time to change to something more present-day.
If you haven’t looked at your website for some time, take a new look with fresh, discerning eyes. Compare your website to your competitors’ websites. Are there any features that you should add? Is there a better way to point out your advantages over theirs?
If your website is out of date or suffers from one of the flaws mentioned previously, the VIA Marketing team will be happy to help. Contact Julie or call 219-769-2299 to see where to begin.