What if you could seriously grow your small business this year?
If you really want to grow your business, then you need to focus on your website. But certain strategies are going to be more effective than others.
Want to learn the best small business website strategies for 2021 and beyond? Keep reading to discover them all!
Simplified Navigation
When it comes to your small business website, it’s tempting to throw a little bit of everything in there. This includes all of the copy you can dream up and all of the high-resolution photos you cram in there.
But keep in mind that customers typically visit your website for a single purpose, such as looking at a restaurant menu or checking the prices of certain items. You need to make sure the website is clean and easy to navigate so they can immediately find the answers they are looking for.
Build Around a CTA
Would you believe the best websites are designed “backward?” That’s because it all starts with you creating the best possible CTA for customers. From there, you work your way backward and build the site around the CTA.
For example, maybe you sell software products and your primary CTA is for customers to request a free trial. Everything leading up to that CTA should organically build on the benefits of the software for the consumer.
It doesn’t mean you can’t have many other pages (so long as you are using an easy-to-understand breadcrum navigation structure). But make sure that your front page is streamlined and effortlessly guides consumers to the CTA.
And don’t forget that PopUps, when used right, are a perfect way to help convert customers!
Use Responsive Design
Quick question: how do you think most of your potential customers will be visiting your website? If you answered “by computer,” then you’re wrong!
In recent years, smartphones and other mobile devices have become the main way that consumers access websites. And if you have a site designed for desktop computers, it may look strange on a smartphone.
The best solution is to use responsive design for your website design. If you don’t already know, responsive design helps to resize the content of your website based on the size of the user’s display.
In other words, the site will look great for desktop users and smartphone users alike. This allows your site to appeal to as many customers as possible.
High-Quality Photos
As annoying as cliches can be, some of them are accurate. And when it comes to your small business website, the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” has never been truer!
No matter what products or services you sell, customers want to see photos to help them visualize everything. Good photos will have them reaching for their wallets. And bad photos will have them reaching for that “back” button!
While you shouldn’t have too many photos because it can slow down page speed (more on this later), make sure the photos you use are colorful, high-quality images. And don’t be afraid to hire a professional photographer to get the photo quality you need.
Build Your Brand
Make no mistake: the website is the best representation of your business brand. And that is because your website is the first thing that potential customers are likely to encounter.
When it comes to branding, the main challenge is to be consistent. For example, you should make sure that your site uses the same font and same colors as you use in your advertising and in your brick and mortar stores.
Make sure the website prominently features your logo as well. Your basic goal here is to create a seamless branding experience for the customers who go from checking out your website to walking in the front door.
Space for User Comments
What do you normally do before you visit a new restaurant or order a product online? If you’re like most of us, the first thing you do is see what other people have to say about it.
Customers are driven by what other customers have to say. For example, the average Amazon shopper will skip over much of the product description to see how many stars an item has and what comments users have left.
You can channel this by including customer testimony on your website. By focusing on the best and kindest reviews, you can put your best digital foot forward by showing new customers what previous customers had to say about your products and services.
Customer-Centric Copy
Remember when we said to design your website around a CTA? The other important design note is to write all of your copy from the POV of the consumer.
For example, you need to do a deep dive into your business demographic to understand your customers. What are their biggest fears? What are their most ambitious dreams?
To the average customer, your business is a way to solve a potential problem they have. Once you know what the problem is likely to be, you can write copy that showcases how well you understand consumers and how thoroughly your products and services will solve potential problems.
Fast Loading Speed
The most frustrating thing about designing a great website is that many customers may never see much of it. That’s because if it takes too long to load, they are likely to hit the back button and go check out your competitor.
How can you make your page loading speed faster? If you have too many images, it’s good to reduce those to the bare number you need. You can also try optimizing your images (to find the best combo of quality and size) and switching to a different server.
And one of the easiest things you can do is run your website through Google’s PageSpeed Insights. It will provide customized ideas to help your loading speed break the sound barrier!
Small Business Website Strategies: Your Next Move
Now you know the key to the best small business website strategies. But do you know who can take your site to the next level?
We specialize in custom, non-intrusive PopUps that help to convert customers and grow your business. To see how big we can make your business, come sign up today!