Don’t get caught out and left with a pretty-looking website that does nothing for you or your business. A beautiful picture put in a cupboard is no good to you if it’s not hung on the wall for all to see!! Always make sure your website is getting the traffic it deserves with a good 3-stepility plan.
Here I’ll run through the three top things that every business owner needs to consider when getting their business online with a website.
Website functionality is essentially what your website can do and how it works. It encompasses everything from the actions a user can perform to dynamic content and interactivity.
Providing the correct functionality is crucial to the success of a website, and it should be an essential part of the planning phase. Before your website is ever written, designed, or coded, you should have a clear scope of the features it will offer. Getting halfway through a website build to realize that you are missing some essential functionality can quickly derail a project!
One of the first things a potential client or customer will do is check out your businessās website. While your website may be beautifully designed, is it truly functioning to its fullest potential?
A well-functioning website can help generate new customers for your business. Without a functional website, you could be losing out on potential leads and even leaving a negative impression of your brand.
Your website must be appealing and functional for both tech experts and those who are still learning.
It is important that your website works well for all potential visitors so that each person leaves your site having a pleasant experience.
If your site is engaging to your audience and meets their needs, then they will want to spend time exploring your site, revisiting the website in the future, and considering doing business with your company.
Website design (usability) is the focus on the ease of use of a website. This can include the presentation of concise and relevant information to the subject of the website.
The strategic placement of items in appropriate areas within the website is considered too. Perhaps whether the website is suitable for all ages and gender should also be considered.
In terms of incorporating a website in a business direction, website usability is very important. Good website usability creates a good impression for visitors that may be potential clients. It is an important strategy to make the website easy to navigate; enabling visitors to quickly find what they are searching for.
Without this feature, visitors will simply move on to another relevant website offering what they want. Therefore a potential client is lost. Therefore, when designing your website, although it should incorporate your personal ideas and inspiration in terms of the artistic aspect of the website, the visitorsā needs should take priority. Website usability focused on visitors could mean potential clients for the business and in turn the success of your online business.
The key components to website usability are to have a clear and simple navigation system, it must consist of clear, simple and relevant content and good branding of the business which operates as advertisement for the business.
It would be best if you remembered that each member of the public that is viewing your site may have never visited it before and will not know what lies behind each heading, subfolder or menu item. Each link needs to be informative and descriptive, whether this is done by text, images, or simply the designated area where it is positioned.
This will enable the viewer to make an informed guess as to what lies beyond the link that they are about to explore. Using a back button, or breadcrumbs on the page will also enable the user to conveniently return to the parent folder or section without having to start from the homepage again, equalling a good user experience.
Lastly, when the website is fully designed, a usability website test would be highly recommended. For instance, designing a website for your business is a very personal project. The website is inspired by your personal design ideas. It is your personal visualisation.
The website is full of content that you are proud of and interested in. This does not necessarily be in agreement with the average visitor. Adjustments may be needed to suit that of your visitor as well as something that reflects you and your business.
Even if your business isn’t yet online, your customers already are. They’re posting reviews, looking for information, telling their friends about their experiences with your products and services, and perhaps even posting tutorials involving them. While it’s undoubtedly a good thing to have people talking about your business, without an online presence you will be unable to join the conversation.
The best information about your products and services comes from the person providing them ā you. Even if other websites offer data gathered from official sources, such as manuals, menus or leaflets, it is unlikely that it will be fully up-to-date and as detailed and precise as the information you can provide.
There’s no reason to stop at the basics, either; any bit of knowledge related to your products can be a reason for both current and potential customers to visit your website and learn more about what your company offers in the process. For example, if you run a bakery that specializes in cakes, you could add articles on decorating a room for a party or choosing the best type of cake for the occasion.
No matter how many loyal customers you have, many people will be completely unaware that your company exists. Although traditional media advertising can work wonders to let these people know about your products, having an online presence will also be extremely beneficial ā provided your potential customers can find it.
Since you aren’t just targeting people who already know about your products, your website needs to appear as a result when users search for related keywords. Having useful content that people are likely to share with others will help your website rise in the search engine ranks, as will search engine optimization, a process designed to optimize your website’s visibility.
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the key to enhancing online visibility. SEO enables you to optimise your website so search engines understand it better and give you higher rankings. There is a certain value and a level of trust that is associated with brands that appear on the initial pages of search results. It also helps to increase the click-through rate to your website and in turn, leads to conversions.
