…. and how the answers could lead to the perfect website for your business
Here’s a question for starters: which of the following are you most likely to say to a potential new client?
a. Yes, look me up online. It’s all on my website.
b. I haven’t got a website yet, sorry
c. Please don’t look at my website, it’s out-of-date, I’ve got to get it sorted.
Way too many of us fall into category c.! (and, believe me, I’ve been there) There are hundreds of forlorn and forgotten websites sitting doing nothing very much in lonely corners of the internet, with their owners a little embarrassed to direct people to them.
It should so NOT be like this. Your website should be the keystone of your business’ marketing mix. It’s all yours – unlike social media – and its accessible 24/7 – unlike you (work-life balance people).
So how do you design and build the perfect website for your business which works for you – without it being just too much like hard work to set it up, and update?
It all starts with my second absolutely key question:
What do you want your website to do for your business?
It’s surprising how difficult people can find it to answer this question. People know they want their website to be there – but what is its purpose? Do you want your website to:
- Sell your products or services
- Raise awareness of your brand
- Boost your brand’s credibility
- Build trust and confidence in what you do
- Enable people to engage with you and join your mailing list.
Your website priorities will be affected by how you use other platforms and social media. Understanding what your website is actually for, will shape the design and content of your perfect website.
Question three:
Would you like some tips to make your website perfect for you?
Silly question. Of course you would! Here you go:
• Ensure your website looks good and your branding is clear and consistent. A must.
• Welcome website visitors with very clear messaging – tell them what you can do for them; what problem you can solve for them.
• Keep your text short and sweet. No boring ‘business speak’ you wouldn’t use if you were talking. Be you. Write like you.
• Deliver a good user experience – make it easy to navigate so visitors can find answers to the questions you anticipate they’ll have…
• Only add the good stuff – don’t bury it under unnecessary stuff others may well have but you don’t need on your website. People may get lost, confused or just bored.
• Add testimonials – share them across your website not just on one page which people deliberately have to go to. Nothing builds confidence better than the endorsements of others.
• Add prominent calls to action – incorporate easy interactive ways for people to engage, buy a product, sign up to your mailing list or send you an email enquiry.
If, in Question One, you answered b. or c. and would like to be an a. but are a little overwhelmed by the task yourself, please do get in touch, and me and my team of experts can help. See Black Bee Creative’s Website Design and Build package.
The first thing we’d do is discuss your website’s purpose, as at Question Two, and then we can get stuck into Question Three’s action points together, so that your website for your business is set up to do what you want it to do.