Designing a new website for your business can be daunting, but if you want your company to be successful in the modern marketplace, you need a brilliant, functional website. No matter the size of your company, your website will be the cornerstone of your overall digital marketing strategy. If your site is outdated and missing essential elements, chances are you’re not making the first impression you are hoping for.
There are certain basic features and functionalities every business website should have. These elements are essential to ensuring that your website is both user and SEO friendly, and also ensures that it serves its purpose as the most powerful marketing tool you have.
Contact Information Everywhere
No, really… everywhere. It seems obvious, but a lot of companies actually miss this opportunity! Potential customers and clients are clicking to your site to find out more information about you and what you offer, and they shouldn’t have to hunt for the information they need to get in touch with you. Every page should clearly display your contact information with a Call to Action (“CTA”). Make it easy to find your phone number, a clickable “email us” button, and links to easy-to-use contact and inquiry forms. Also, include an “opt-in” subscribe button for your Email Marketing list and/or SMS marketing list, plus links to follow you on social media.
An “About Us” Page
Someone has taken the time to click to your website or seek out your company, and they shouldn’t be left guessing about who you are or what you do. Sharing your story about “why you do what you do” can help potential customers feel connected with you. A detailed “About Us” section on your company website is an excellent way to detail your company’s history and your mission. It’s okay to make it personal, because people care about who they’re doing business with. And don’t forget the visuals so your customers can put a face to the name. You can include professional photos of your company’s leadership, your team, and even candid images of the company celebrating a milestone, all of which can make you feel more approachable.
Testimonials
Referrals are a powerful marketing tool, and your potential customers have to trust you before they opt to do business with you. Honest testimonials from others help make your services or products more tangible to customers who are checking you out online. When you share client testimonials on your website, you’ll build credibility by sharing your successful track record. Always ask permission to use your client’s real names, especially if the testimonial is coming from another business who has used your services. Real endorsements from recognizable companies and organizations are powerful marketing tools.
A Blog
Blogs are an amazing way to provide your customers with information they need, and to keep them coming back to your site for updates. A regularly-updated blog keeps the content on your website dazzling rather than becoming dull, and quality content on your blog is one of the most brilliant SEO tactics out there. To maximize your SEO efforts, your blog should be listed under your domain (and not through an off-site like Blogger. If you haven’t already, check out our earlier blog “Top 5 Reasons Blogging Helps SEO” for a full dive into the importance of a blog on your website.
An Easily-Navigated Site Map
Your website should be easy to navigate for all visitors who click to it, and a sitemap is crucial in helping users to find the information they need. Every page should have clear links to the homepage and to the most important pages, and should direct consumers where you want them to go. Furthermore, dropdowns in the navigation bar can be vital so users can see the content under every heading from any page on your site. Sitemaps are also important for SEO purposes because it assists the search engine’s crawlers of your site find all the content you want to be discovered and ranked in their SERPs.
If you’ve been thinking it’s time to redesign your website, or you’re looking to build a new website from scratch to represent your brand, Inception Web Design can help. We are located in the Phoenix area, but we’ve worked with clients internationally to fulfill their digital marketing needs. Our extensive experience means we know that no two brands are alike, so we understand that no two websites are alike. We are proud of our expansive portfolio of websites from a wide range of industries we’ve designed and helped sparkle. Have a project idea? Click here to schedule a free 30 minute consultation.
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