So, by now, you might be convinced of the importance of having a website for your local business. But, how do you go about designing one? Here are some tips to keep in mind during the creation of your business’s site to help ensure that it functions well, looks good and helps bring in the business you desire.
1. Make Sure it is Optimised for Mobile
Mobile is the preferred device for most online activities. In fact, 60% of Google searches are conducted on a mobile device. Because people are spending their online time on mobile devices, and because Google will penalise your website if it’s not mobile-friendly when it comes to search rankings, it’s important to ensure that your website is optimised for mobile.
2. Make Sure It Looks Professional
As mentioned above, website design can either build or break down credibility. Thus, it’s important to make your website’s design look professional so you don’t turn potential customers away. Consider hiring a professional designer to design the site; the one-time investment may pay off big time in the long run.
3. Have a Good Web Host
Make sure you are using a good web host to host your website. A good web host is important because it allows your website to load quickly. Fast load times are important; 53% of people say that they will abandoned a site if that site doesn’t load in three seconds on their mobile device. And even more importantly, and slow load times will negatively affect your SEO ranking.
4. Feature Your Name, Address and Phone Number
One of the main purposes of your website is to encourage potential customers to get in touch with your business. Did you know that more than 70 percent of local businesses don’t have a clear call to action on their website and 27% don’t even have a phone number on the home page?! To guarantee they can do so easily, it’s important to make your contact information – your name, address, and phone number – prominent and easy to find on your site.
Make it as easy as possible for people looking to get in touch with you to do so.
5. Embed Social Media Information
On your website, include feeds from your social media pages: your Facebook posts, Tweets, Instagram photos and more. You’ll also want to include links and follow buttons to your social media so that visitors can share the attractive and informative pages you now have on your website.
Your website can help you increase your social media footprint and gain more followers, who may ultimately be converted into paying customers.
If you run a local business it’s essential for you to have a strong online, social and mobile marketing strategy. And the best place to start – or even refresh – is your website. With a well-designed, optimised site you can reach a new audience of potential leads who can not only become your customers, but who may become loyal ambassadors for your brand.
