Hopefully, you’ve seen our blog about our Website Builder, where we promised to give you an insight into the 8 most important elements to include on your website. If you missed it, you can find it here.
Your website is your online shop window, so it’s important to grab your visitors attention and keep them browsing. That’s why we’re giving you a little helping hand to get started. Here’s a list of things you may want to consider, when beginning your online journey.
Homepage
You don’t get a second chance at making a first impression – that’s why your homepage is the most important page on your website – It’s what the majority of your visitors see first. Most customers will take around 3 seconds to decide whether they should stay on your website, or head off to a competitor, so it’s vital to tell them exactly what you do at a quick glance.
About Us
It’s important to give your customers more of an insight into your business. They want to know about your experience in the industry, knowledge and why they should choose you, over your competitors. Your customers will also look here to find out how you can solve their problem.
Social Media
Social Media is a strong platform for customers to engage with your business. Within the Website Builder tool, you can place your social media links on your homepage. Increasing your following helps to drive the number of eyes that are on your content, making them more likely to re-visit on a regular basis.
Contact Us
People want to work with people, so having contact information easily accessible offers comfort and credibility, knowing that they can get in touch. Your customers should be able to clearly see a way of contacting you, from your homepage.
Testimonials and Reviews
Did you know that 91% of people regularly or occasionally, read online reviews and 84% of those people trust online reviews just as much as recommendation in person*? Why not add these to your website, to show your customers just how great your business is?
If you want your testimonials and reviews to be seen, sprinkle them around your website on every page, instead of having a testimonials page. Your visitors aren’t likely to sift through a page full of reviews, so have them dotted around to grab attention.
Easy navigation
Your navigation should be easy to use, for a first-time visitor. You want a visitor to view your website and know exactly where they can find the information they need, without being confused. Perhaps ask a family member or a friend to have a click around your unpublished website, ask them to try and find something and find out how they found it. This will gauge how effective your navigation is.
Awards, certifications or associations
Has your business been awarded or recognised recently? If so, show them off! Industry recognition builds credibility and speaks volumes to your potential customers – they show that you’re an expert in your field. As well as using testimonials and reviews, adding awards and certifications show that you’re not just bragging… your work stands up!
Security
If you’re selling anything online, you’ll need to invest some time and effort into securing your site with an SSL certificate. These encrypt communications between your customers and you (for example, bank details), which will ease any fears of providing such personal information.
If you can think of any other tips for beginners, let us know in the comments below.
Sources: *Forbes.com
