Surviving During Uncertain Times
Jen Jordan brings a wealth of life and leadership experiences to her writing. After 10 years creating a variety of content for a nonprofit, Jen decided to establish her own writing business. She specializes in creating high quality blog and website content for small businesses. When she's not writing, Jen is a competitive triathlete with a goal of completing a triathlon in all 50 states.
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Updating and optimizing your small business website can improve its performance and bring in more business in 2023. Here are some "Must Haves" for your website!
No matter what kind of small business you own, a great website is essential for success in the 21st century. We aren’t just referring to a good design. There are many elements besides appearance that make a website customer-friendly and effective. The New Year is a great time to assess your small business website and ensure it includes the critical elements hat generate leads and cater to your customers. Whether you’re starting from scratch or evaluating your current website, here are seven elements that every smal business website should include. 1 An easy-to-use domain name Every business needs a URL (domain name) that is easy to remember and write down. Keep things easy to spell, as short as possible, and easy to remember. Use a .com domain if possible. Avoid .net, .co, and other options unless you can use a .gov, .edu, or .org extension. Many small businesses also choose a broad web address to allow for future growth. For example, a domain name like "ShaneandShaneTreeRemoval.com" is specific, but it might be challenging to offer additional services in the future. 2 A clear description of your business-who are you, and what do you provide? Include your name and a clear description of your products or services at the top of the homepage. Someone who discovers your website shouldn’t need to do any work to determine what your business does. A clear description should help a visitor determine what you do within a few seconds and encourage them to continue exploring your website. 3 Include an easy site navigation bar on every page Include a navigation menu at the top of every page on your website. Dropdowns in your menu help visitors navigate your website from any page. Keep things consistent and organized. In short, a customer should be able to navigate to any page on your website with just a few clicks. 4 Easy-to-locate contact information Make it easy for potential customers to contact you. Any barriers to making a purchase may cause them to choose a competitor. Include your contact information in a variety of obvious locations on your website:
5 Customer testimonials and reviews Honest reviews from previous customers are a must. It’s no secret that many online shoppers use customer testimonials to guide their decisions. Reviews help potential customers build trust and confirm whether your product or service will meet their needs. They can also provide valuable feedback for you and your team to ensure you provide high-quality service. 6 Optimize your website for SEO Search Engine Optimization ensures that search engines index, rank, and show your website appropriately. When search engines index your website, it competes with other websites with similar content. The better your website design and content are, the higher your site will appear in search results. Here are some easy actions you can take to improve your SEO:
7 Add quality content to your website regularly Both customers and search engines love fresh, quality content. If you want to keep a good ranking in search results and keep your audience coming back, you’ll need a steady supply of relevant content. Some examples of new content you can add to your site regularly include:
Updating and optimizing your small business website can improve its performance and bring in more business in 2023. Works Cited https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/10-things-every-small-business-website-needs/217499#! https://websitedesignkingston.com/15-small-business-website-essentials/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2019/05/25/small-business-website-tips/?sh=25bfd8a221ad https://hpxmedia.com/essential-elements-every-small-business-website-needs-in-2022/ https://www.theedigital.com/blog/things-every-business-website-should-have https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9811-effective-business-website-tips.html |