A few weeks ago, we talked about important things to consider when either building a new business website or raising the sophistication level of an existing site. User experience is of upmost importance as it can inspire consumers to delve further into your website or move on to the next one. This article digs a little deeper into some specific elements that belong on all business websites, regardless of the field, and ensure the best possible user experience for visitors to your site.
CONTACT INFORMATION
It should be easy to find – on every page, both top and bottom to combat the impatience level of the average Internet user.
Include a phone number, email address, social media links, physical address and Google Map locator.
Providing contact information helps to build consumer trust.
Consistency is key for both quantity and quality.
Use your blogs as an opportunity to showcase yourself as an expert in your field, a thought leader.
Blogs can help with SEO in that they add content, hopefully current content, should be rich in keywords, and are posted regularly.
Your articles can provide value-added information that customers will remember.
Strategically place blog highlights on your landing page so readers are encouraged to check out the entire article.
Make it possible for viewers to subscribe to your blogs and receive them via email as soon as they are posted.
This is a channel that produces shareable content when you include social media sharing plugins.
Include an opportunity for comments and feedback to creative dialogue and establish a truly interactive environment on your website.
TESTIMONIALS
Many studies have found that consumers are heavily influenced by online reviews.
Testimonials can be in written or video format.
Use these to communicate how your business has successfully helped others.
Positive testimonials provide social proof of your work.
Clients may sometimes share positive things about you and your business that aren’t located anywhere on your website.
These can help people feel more confident about doing business with you.
Pair text testimonials with pictures to visually tell the story as well.
CALL-TO-ACTION
Prompt consumers to do something while communicating what benefits they will receive by doing so.
Ask them to: provide contact information, schedule an appointment, sign up for your newsletter, buy a product, or download an e-book.
Use bold colors and text as well as compelling and specific verbs.
URL
A simple URL is best with no dashes or irrelevant words.
Your website URL should be easy to remember and easy to type.
VALUE PROPOSITION
Provide a clear explanation of your business.
Tell people what you do, what services or products you offer, and do so in clear and concise language.
Provide an overview of all services and features available.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Provide links to your social media profiles.
Some people prefer interacting via social media platforms. The easier it is for them to find and follow you there, the better.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
This section can be a great time saver for you and your staff.
Address any general questions you regularly receive.
Use this area to be proactive in communicating information regarding more complicated services or products.
This page also helps with SEO as it tends to include keywords and phrases.
ABOUT US
This section helps consumers make connections with you, your staff, and your business in general.
People like to know the history of an organization and the bigger picture of what it stands for.
Include your company’s vision and mission.
Post information about any credential or awards associated with you and/or your business.
Share what makes you different from your competitors.
Include a “Meet the Staff” section.
SEARCH WEBSITE
Acknowledge the fact that among the visitors to your website, there will be navigators and there will be searchers.
Some consumers don’t care to scroll down a page or work their way through drop-down menus to find what they are looking for. A search website tool can greatly reduce frustration levels of the searchers.
This offering is especially important if you have significant amounts of content on your site.
Your website is your 24/7 storefront and often the first part of your brand a consumer is exposed to. That first impression is how people establish an opinion of you and start contemplating whether or not they want to do business with you. If you are ready to take your website to the next level, contact the experts at Strategy Driven Marketing. We are available to build from scratch or tweak what you’ve started. Either way, we look forward to assisting you with your website and all of your marketing needs.