Stephanie Organ

Your website and what it should do There are many reasons to create a website for your business, and by not having one you are probably losing out. Research shows that 4 in 5 people will search a business online before committing to a decision, so it is important that your own website is what shows up first. But what exactly will this website do for you? Let’s discuss. When people search for your business online and are greeted by your website, this immediately gives your company credibility. This is also your chance to make a good first impression on your new clients, so a clean, well organised, easy to use website suggests the same about your business and how it functions, and is far more likely to attract new customers than a poorly laid out website, or no website at all. Furthermore, your website is available 24/7, so you never miss out on an opportunity. Your website should be an easy way for people to contact you. If the primary goal of your site is to attract more customers, then they need to be able to reach you. This information should be accessible from every page of your site, as if it is hard to find, the customer may be put off and go elsewhere. This must include your address if attracting local business is important to you. Another good idea is to link your site to other social media accounts. If your business has a Facebook page people can easily click through and read the reviews, or an Instagram account where they can view your product. These additional links increase credibility and even your search engine visibility, if the links go both ways. Your website should pull people back by always being up to date. Check links are still working regularly to avoid dead links and keep your products and services up to date so your customers can always find exactly what they need. Fresh content keeps visitors engaged and increases search engine visibility. This is all the more important if your business doesn’t sell products as such, you want those visitors coming back to view your content. Your website should speak to your customer. The key here is to clearly lay out the benefits of what you offer. Highlight why the customer should come to you, from their point of view, not yours! Do not ask people to buy, rather gently persuade them with how well you will serve them. In connection to this, it’s always a good idea to provide evidence. Have a page of customer reviews to back you up, people won’t just take your word for it, they need verification. Finally your site should be collecting data. There are a variety of web analytic tools available that you can employ to track how many visitors you get, when, and what they do while on your site. You can then use this data to optimise your site for a better user experience. Understanding how people use your site will help you get the absolute most out of it.