Mya Hill5 Ways You Can Improve Your Website
First impressions are important. Especially when it comes to your business.
One of the most important factors to running a successful business is having a well-designed website as it’s one of the first things people see when they search for your company. You want your website to be inviting, professional, attractive, but most of all help you convert leads into customers. If you’re looking to grow your business, improving your site is where you should begin. This can be a difficult task and if you’re unsure on where to start, you’ve come to the right place!
Make sure your site is user-friendly
One of the biggest factors that can turn away potential customers is having a website that is not user friendly. Always assume that your visitor is somebody who has an average understanding of using the internet. When creating a website, it is important to keep in mind that simplicity is key. Try to keep your site as simple to use as possible. There is no need to overdo it. Trying to add too much information or too many color schemes can be distracting to users and leave them uninterested.
Use effective navigation and usability
Is it difficult to find information on your site? Your website should be easy to navigate and designed so that users can easily find what they are looking for without too much effort. Your website should be designed for scanning, not reading. People quickly lose interest when they can’t find what they’re looking for. In just a few clicks your user should be able to answer these three questions:
- What are you offering?
- Why should I choose you?
- What should I do next?
Your website’s homepage should clearly tell the reader what it is that your business offers, why they should choose you, and should include a call to action (CTA) telling them what they need to do next. Some common call to action examples you may use on your website include:
- Buy Now
- Sign up for emails/newsletters
- Learn more
- Add to Cart
- Subscribe
Build Trust
It can be difficult for users to trust a website that they are unfamiliar with. All businesses, even online businesses, must have credibility in order to attract visitors and generate leads. Without it, visitors are skeptical and will most likely leave your site. Including trust symbols on your website is a great way to build trust and credibility with your customers. Trust symbols can consist of:
- A symbol
- An icon
- An image
- A testimonial
- A statement
Try to use any kind of trust symbol to show users that your site is trustworthy.
Some examples of these trust symbols can be:
- Accessible Return Policy and Guarantees
- Brand Recognition and Awards
- Video Demonstrations
- Testimonials
- Secure payment gateway
- Detailed product information
Credibility
One of the first places new users will look when they are considering purchasing a new product is for feedback. Personally, I check customer reviews on almost all products or businesses I am interested in purchasing from. Reading customer reviews will influence the decision-making process for potential buyers and most likely shorten their purchase time. It is crucial to make sure past buyers have a spot to leave feedback on your site.
Positive publicity and having a strong social media presence are also great ways to show users that your site is credible. This may seem like a difficult task, but it is actually quite simple to build an online presence! Here are some steps you can take to do so:
Invest in SEO
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to how well your website ranks on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP). Your goal should be to optimize your visibility online and to rank as high as you can. This will ensure that you are reaching as many people as possible and targeting a specific audience based on your keywords and content.
Stay Active on Social Media
- Including links to your social media platforms on your website is a great way to build credibility with users. Social publicity is one of the best ways people can learn about your business. Make sure to stay active and share relevant content on your social media platforms. Popular platforms you can use include:
- TikTok
- YouTube
Use Visuals
People love visuals. Like I mentioned earlier, your website should be designed for scanning, not reading. Using images makes scanning much easier and enjoyable for visitors. Pictures make content more interesting as people are able to visually picture what they are reading. Make sure to use professional photography for pictures and videos to ensure that you are providing users with high quality content. Include demonstration visuals to help users understand how to use your products. Common visuals people use consist of:
- Photos
- Videos
- Infographics
- Social Media Posts
- Quotes
Improving your website takes time and effort but it isn’t an impossible task. These tips will help you better your existing website without having to completely redo it and without spending too much money.
If you have any comments or any additional suggestions, I would love to hear your feedback.
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Author:
Mya Hill is a senior at Wayne State University studying marketing and information systems management. She is an experienced writer who is passionate about helping others learn the best way to market their businesses. You can find Mya on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/mya-hill
References
1. Improve Website User Experience
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/improve-your-websites-user-experience
2. Improve Your Website Strategy in 2020
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing/website-strategy
3. 27 Research-Backed Web Design Tips: How to Design a Website That Works
https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/web-design-tips/