Optimize Your Website
When you are building your small business, you want to take every advantage you can to attract new as well as retain loyal repeat customers. In fact, your website can be the hub for your brand to connect and funnel all of your advertising and marketing efforts together. This makes it necessary to optimize your website to attract and retain interest in your business.
Extension of the Brand
Your website is the extension of your brand and what all of your social media, advertising, and directory listings should link to or land on. People will develop their impression of your business within seconds of landing on your website. With one chance to make a great impression, your website needs to get its image and usability right. Here are some things that your website needs to be a value-added public image of your company.
Good Design
The goal of your website should be to first attract and then truly appeal to your potential customers. Good design takes extensive planning. Figuring out who your target audience is before you start your website design is essential. The website design process can in fact be a way for a new business venture to delve into defining marketing issues such as the company’s tone, personality, and mission.
The design elements you choose to define your brand on your website can be followed through on your logo, packaging, and additional advertising. Your social media sites that are linked to your business website can share the same design features.
A Brand Experience
Prospective customers are having an experience with your brand for the first time when they visit your website, so small business websites need to be well-designed to visually evoke the outlook and values of the company. Your website design will give them an idea of what it would be like to interact with your business face-to-face, so you want them to have a positive first experience. A professional image on the internet begins with professional design skills.
Design Tips
The visual appeal of your website should be strong, but that does not mean something that will overpower your audience. Your relevant visuals should not be overloaded with unnecessary animation or action buttons. Consistency in format is key. An engaging website can be sleek and modern and yet simple. A strategic use of distinctive font styles and color that works well with your image adds a touch of detail.
Powerful images that communicate quickly and memorably are best supported by relevant website content. Your design can be top drawer, but if you do not have appropriate page content such as the email address missing from your contact page or click buttons that go nowhere, your great design is all for naught.
Visiting the website of a business is fast becoming part of the shopping process for most people. Great visuals combined with relevant and direct content in the appropriate places will set a positive tone for your company’s image. Even the simplest of designs, if well done, can clearly showcase your products or services and grow interest in your business.