I’ve been saying it since the beginning – your website is the face of your business. It’s usually the first thing your audience will see when they Google you or click that link you posted on the Facebook Group thread.
You want to make absolutely sure your website is optimized for your audience when they land on your page. That’s why I want to share the first 8 things your visitors want to see when they land on your website. It’s important to make sure these elements are so you don’t miss out on any opportunity to convert those visitors into clients.
Current and up to date info
Nothing is more aggravating than landing on a website just to see a banner highlighting a Christmas Sale….when it’s July of the following year. *face palm* No outdated or irrelevant information allowed! Make sure your information, hours, location, contact emails are all up to date and accurate.
By doing this simple thing, you are not only showing your audience that you are on top of your website game, but you show that you value your audience’s time by providing relevant and current information. I know life and business can get busy, but I recommend having (at least) a quarterly check-in with your website to update your content and any relevant information.
Current and up to date web design
Make sure your website is on top of its game. Competition is fierce out there, so you definitely don’t want to be sporting an outdated website when it’s almost 2020! Make sure your website design is trending, clean and professional. Not convinced? Check out my post giving 5 reasons to invest in a new website design.
A Clear Call to Action
Now, your clients may not even realize they want to see this on your website, but I promise you they do. Your website is meant to navigate visitors towards a call-to-action using copy, formatting, and design. This predetermined action will result in a beneficial outcome for both your audience and your business. Remember, you can have more than one call to action per page!
Easy Navigation
I can talk about frustrating website designs all day. One of my biggest pet peeves is a website that you literally get lost in. I want to be able to find exactly what I am looking for, without having to click around a website one million times. Anyone else?
Make sure you have the main menu and main pages at the top of your website. Drop-down menus are great too if you have relevant pages for each menu category. Having the main menu links on your footer is a great feature for those visitors that scroll to the bottom and are just too exhausted to scroll back up to the top (it happens).
Contact information
You can produce the best copy, have the best product, and have the most enticing call-to-action out there – but your audience doesn’t have your contact information – how do they ask you those questions or address any concerns they have about your service or product?
Your website should have a contact page (that is easy to find) or at the very least, a section that highlights your business hours, location and directions (if that’s relevant to your business).
I recommend having a contact form page on the navigation menu on both your header and footer. If your visitors have a question or inquiry – you want them to be able to contact you as soon as possible!
Testimonials
Your audience will want to see validation or social proof that your services or products are trusted by others. So show off your happy customers! This can also include everything from a Facebook Business Page, LinkedIn, or any awards and certifications you have. Potential customers love to know you’ve served other businesses or customers well.
Optimized Design
Your website needs to be as user-friendly as humanly possible. This can mean anything from responsive web design to mobile-optimization. Making sure all of your pages are optimized will give you a foot up – with your audience and with Google Analytics. This includes ensuring that you have a fast-loading website for visitors to happily navigate through.
Quality content and unique story
So, you’ve made it to #8. Congrats! Do you feel confident that you have all the previous 7 boxes ticked off your “Need on Website” list? Yes? Fantastic! However, I’ve saved the best for last.
Your website absolutely needs high-quality content that tells your unique story.
Your business should have a strong landing page that tells your audience exactly how your business will meet their needs or solve their problems. Make sure to outline your services and highlight the features and benefits of working with you. Here, you can also tell your unique story and highlight what sets you apart from your competitors. Tell your audience exactly why your business is unique. They want to know exactly who you are and how you (or your product) can help them. So tell them! Make it a clear and easy to read explanation.
I really recommend that you nail your copy. Inconsistent content or messages can really confuse your reader and have them clicking off of your site before you had a chance to pitch yourself! Not good, friend.
I hope this post helps you set up your website for success! If you have any questions, contact me here! I would love to help you.
