Did you know that 36% of small businesses don’t have a website? If you’re one of them, it’s time to start thinking about creating one. You can host a comprehensive online space where customers can learn more about what you offer, book appointments, or buy products.
But website design can seem intimidating if it’s not your area of expertise. Keep reading to learn about the do’s and don’ts of making a business website!
Do Determine Your Website’s Purpose
Before launching a business website, take time to collaborate with your business partners and map out your goals. After all, heading into website design with an unfocused agenda can lead to a site that misses the mark. Identify who your target customers are and what they will expect to find.
You may end up developing a few different customer prototypes. But no matter who these customers are, you need to guide them through your site. Determine what product or service information to share, and liberally apply calls to action so they can make a purchase or reach out to you.
Do Focus on User Experience
When creating a website, make your users your top priority. To do this, you’ll need to pay close attention to the user’s journey through your website. How do they find out about your website, for instance, and how do they interact with your brand?
Consider the placement of buttons on your site that lead users to other pages. Incorporate elements of your branding, such as a color scheme or logo, throughout your site to build consistency.
Know what you expect out of a user who encounters your website. And find a Divi expert who can help you craft a well-designed website.
Do Personalize Your Website
Website design does not need to be sterile or generic. In fact, you can stand out from the crowd with a website that feels more personalized. Brainstorm website ideas and hone in on ones that align with your brand’s mission and energy.
You may want to keep your web copy casual, for instance. Weave in some script or handwritten typography to play up the level of accessibility. This is one easy way to help visitors feel more at ease on your site.
As another approach, provide blog updates from someone on your leadership team or an employee on the front lines. This is another way to connect with anyone on your site. You’ll also be able to share expertise and demonstrate a high level of investment in what you offer.
Don’t Use a Cluttered Design
While you might want to try every design scheme under the sun, avoid the temptations. Cramming too much text on a website can contribute to visual clutter. And when someone feels overwhelmed on your site, they might click elsewhere.
Embrace the power of negative space on anything from product detail pages to pop-up windows. Use clean geometric shapes to add structure to design elements and text boxes. Stay consistent with alignment and scale, too, to add clarity to your design.
Do use high-quality photographs that show off your products or facilities. But be judicious in how you use them. Even though visuals are an easy way to command someone’s attention, they, too, can backfire if used too frequently.
Craft copy that gets to the point without using frilly language. And choose typography that makes the copy easy to read while providing a distinct brand flavor. Mixing in too many different typographical styles can lead to clutter, but some variations are okay.
Don’t Forget to Optimize Your Site
Yes, it can feel tedious to optimize your website. But know that the effort will pay off. Optimized sites stand a better chance of showing up in search engine results so potential customers can find them.
That’s because optimized sites perform better, generating more traffic that could help your bottom line. Start by focusing on search engine optimization (SEO) to incorporate keywords into your site. Using SEO in tags and copy can direct more relevant searches to your site.
Consider using paid ads to help supplement organic traffic. And make sure your site has mobile optimization. This ensures that someone accessing it on a smartphone will be able to navigate through it easily.
Along the same lines, steer clear of overly large photographs. These will slow down website load times and detract from the user’s experience.
Don’t Avoid Interacting with Your Audience
Finally, be sure to use your website as a way to let others help promote your business. In other words, don’t shy away from including testimonials and reviews. While you can hype your products, you’ll gain more credibility as a brand when you let other people do it, too.
When someone buys your product or uses your service, send them a quick form where they can submit a review. Ask a few leading questions to minimize the effort your customer needs to put into the review. That way, there’s a better chance they will submit one.
And, of course, if you offer a stellar product, a customer might feel more inclined to sing its praises anyway. Include reviews, photos of happy customers, and even video reviews on your website.
Pursue Making a Business Website the Right Way
Making a business website doesn’t have to be a stressful experience if you follow some basic guidelines. Choose clean, user-friendly website design templates that are easy to navigate. Connect with your audience through testimonials and reviews, and optimize your site.
