In today’s digitally driven world, having a website has become essential. The internet has changed the way people interact with different organizations, and now the first place they look for more information is your website. People are doing their research before taking action and they are looking at things like price, location, and reviews during their search. If they can’t easily find this information on your website, they are likely to move on.
To be successful your website doesn’t have to be complex, but it does have cater to your visitor’s needs and allow them to find information easily. Whens someone visits your website, they should be able to find all the information they need to make an informative decision. Before you get caught up in the bells and whistles of web design, go back to the basics and make sure your site has these essentials.
1. Address
If you have a brick and mortar location, you should have your address clearly listed on your website. If a customer knows you are in the area, they may be more inclined to go through you. You should also have a map with your location so visitors can easily click and get directions.
2. Contact information
Your contact information along with your address should be listed both in the footer of your website and on a dedicated contact page. Your email address should also be an easy clickable link that opens directly into a new email to make it simple for users to contact you.
3. Email sign up
Building an email list is important and you should have a place where visitors can opt-in to receiving your emails directly on your site. Emails are an easy way to keep in touch with someone and when people opt-in from visiting your site, it means they are interested in the information you have to offer.
4. Social media
People are searching for information on various platforms, including social media sites. Posting links to your social media accounts, even if you don’t post on them that often it gives your brand more credibility. Not only that, but it also gives consumers another outlet to search on while improving your search rankings.
5. Testimonials
The best way to give your brand credibility is by posting testimonials on your website. According to a study by PowerReviews, 97% of consumers consult product reviews before making a purchase. This can be done on a dedicated testimonial page, or these can be woven into your content throughout the site.
6. News/Blog section
Your site should have a page dedicated to a blog, or news section. If you share or write about news within your industry, it gives your site more credibility and it also shows expertise in your field. Showcasing news and blog articles on your homepage is also a way to engage site visitors with relevant information.
7. Responsive design
People are searching on a number of devices, including desktops, tablets and mobile phones. Up to 70% of web traffic happens on a mobile device, so having a website that is mobile friendly and responsive so it can adjust to different screen sizes is imperative.
8. Meta descriptions
These small snippets of information have a large impact on your search results and they may be what sets your site apart. When people search on Google the Meta Description is what shows as the description under your website. An optimized Meta Description not only helps your SEO, but it also summarizes your page’s content to effectively engage visitors.
9. Easy navigation
Consumers have to easily navigate and search your website no matter what device they’re on. Your site should have main navigation links at the top of the page with drop downs that drill into specific products and information. Your website organization should be tailored to your visitor’s needs.
10. Optimized loading time
Loading speed is the first thing a user notices about your website. You might have the information they’re looking for, but if your website takes too long to load, users will move on before they even see the content on your page. Page speed is also a ranking factor on search engines, so the faster your pages load, the better you rank.
11. Dynamic XML sitemap
An XML sitemap provides Google with a blueprint to follow in order to index your site and rank your webpages. Having an XML sitemap will improve your SEO and a dynamic setup will automatically change when you remove or add a page, requiring less maintenance every time you make a change to your site.
12. Clean URLs
It’s important for your site to have a clear navigation structure, and for that to be reflected in the site’s URLs. Clean URLs not only improve user experience, but it is a strong component in your site’s SEO. Your URLs should be short, and reflect the page the user is on and the navigation to get there.
Since people have an endless supply of information at their fingertips, if they don’t find what they’re looking for quickly they can easily go to another site. By giving your visitors a seamless experience with the right information, you can drive more conversions and boost your search rankings.
The experts at Greenleaf can optimize your site and give visitors the experience they are looking for. Contact us today to ramp up your website.