6 Must-Have Elements of Any Small Business Website
There are millions of small businesses within the United States. Over 22 million of those small businesses manage to stay operable with no employees. Regardless of the size of the business you operate, you absolutely must have a website. More people than ever before research a company online before visiting the physical location or making an online purchase. To have greater success in this field, you need to make sure your website has the following features.
1. Your Company’s Promise
From the moment a consumer visits your business’ website, he or she should know precisely what your company does. You essentially need to make a promise. For example, if you run a second-hand clothing store, then a good promise would be something along the lines of, “First-class clothing at affordable prices.” With that statement emphasized on the homepage, consumers will know exactly what to expect throughout the rest of the site.
2. Video
You do not need professional directors, actors or editors to make a simple video that clearly outlines what your company stands for. Video provides a clearer understanding of your business rather than simply text on the page. This is your opportunity to inform people of your business’ story and how you got to where you are today. Additionally, creating videos allows you to have a greater presence on certain social media platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube.
3. Ever-Evolving Content
After you create a website, you do not want it to remain stagnant for a long time. You need to constantly update the site with new content, so consumers have a reason to return. This is all part of an effective SEO strategy. You can change information on the homepage by including a link to a social media feed that updates daily. It is also recommended for companies to maintain a blog to update at least once a week. Fresh content also gives you more links to post onto social media.
4. Detailed Core Services
Your homepage essentially serves as the front door to your business, but you want to expand on it by including information about your business’ core services. You do not need a lot of details about each one on the homepage. However, you should include links on the homepage that will direct consumers to more information about each one. Not only will this fill out the totality of your website, but it gives your site more SEO value.
5. Elements That Build Trust
Consumers have many options when it comes to the services and products they buy. Therefore, you need to provide a reason why they should trust you over the competition. For many small business websites, this entails including a page filled with customer testimonials. You can also include links to your company’s Yelp page. Ultimately, you just want to provide proof you can do what you say you can do.
6. Call to Action
After consumers have looked at your webpages for a while, you need to indicate what you expect people to do. Your website may give customers the power to buy products online, or depending on your business, you may want consumers to schedule a consultation with you. Either way, you need to make it clear on virtually every page. If you are going to include a blog, then the end of each blog post can include a short call to action.
Take a look at your small business website as it stands now. You will likely realize there are a few things you can make better. It may take a little time and effort, but the rewards you reap in the long run will be well worth it.
