Customer acquisition is one of the most essential parts of a successful business. Bringing in new clients increases revenues, and thus profits. Advertising can be costly and can drive up expenses, which naturally reduces profits.
One of the most cost-effective ways to reach potential clients is with a website. Every business worth its salt has a website. People tend to look for things through Google searches, and you want to be on that list. To be effective, a website must be well-designed. Certain elements are essential to a quality website.
Table of Contents
Visual Design
You can hire a Cincinnati web design agency, but you should have an idea of what you want your site to look like. The internet is very much a visual experience, and you want to thrill your customers with eye-catching displays.
You have a fraction of a second to hook a visitor, so visual design is crucial. Using photos, videos, and animations is helpful, but don’t go overboard. Too much is overwhelming and can drive viewers away. Place content on each page sparingly, so that everything is easy to read and digest.
Navigation
A website should be easy to navigate with clearly-labeled menus that are available on any page. A visitor should always know where they are and how to get to where they want to be. Include a site map that will let visitors access any page with ease.
If you are selling products on your website, photos, descriptions, and prices should be clearly displayed. Shopping carts and check-out pages should be easily accessible.
Quality Content
Content is the most essential part of your website. It’s what viewers are looking for when they visit. Articles and blogs should be concise, well-written, and informative. The use of keywords and proper SEO practices will put your pages high up on Google search results lists.
Web Friendliness
Your site should be designed to work on all major browsers. You don’t want to lose out on potential customers because your site doesn’t support, say, Safari. Keep tablets and smartphones in mind, and have mobile versions of your site. Don’t neglect this critical aspect of web design. No matter how beautiful your page is, if people can’t view it, that won’t matter.
Branding
It should be very clear to visitors who you are and what you do. Your logo should be on every page. Design the site so that viewers make a mental connection between your logo, your written material, and the physical location of your business. You work hard to create your brand. Make sure it’s all over every page of your website.
Available Contact Information
A potential client should be able to easily find your contact information. This includes your email address, phone number, and mailing address. They should be placed together on an easy-to-read page, with a link to it at the bottom of every other page. A visitor may not have time to view the entire site, but may want to contact you.
A well-designed website is essential to running a business in today’s technological environment. Make sure visitors to your site can find it easily and can navigate through it to get the information they need and become customers.
