Small businesses-new and old-require websites to remain visible in a sea of emerging competitors. These days, people look to the internet for products and businesses they are interested in. A little inconvenience with the website’s interface could lead to the loss of a potential sale. What should you do to keep them browsing and end up with checking out?
What to Consider When Designing a Website
When designed and executed correctly, a new website will work as the one who will generate leads for your business. They turn web traffic into quantifiable conversions that allow you to measure your business’s progress. It is important to set a target that, when hit, will transform your business according to your plans. Here is a list of things to consider before kick-starting the process of designing your website.
1. Identify the main users of your future website
This should be a no-brainer. However, some websites have been designed and executed without giving much thought to how the main visitors will experience the outcome. To create a website that meets the technological capabilities and comfort of your website’s target audience, you first have to analyze their profile. Figure out who your primary users are and what they will use your website for.
For example, you are planning a website for your small barbershop. Your ideal website should be one where people can schedule appointments to have their hair done. They should be able to see where you are located, how to contact you, and how they will pay you.
Create an interface that makes transacting with your business seamless. Considering how they access your website also plays a big factor-do they access your website using their mobile phones or computers? Tailoring your website’s design to cater to those platforms will make navigation easier.
2. Make your visual brand appetizing
Take a look at your business’s logo. Does the color palette look appropriate to the nature of your business? Does it look modern and eye-catching? Creating a visually appealing brand within your website-and outside of it-matters. This is how customers will first interact with your business. Put up detailed descriptions, images, and prices. All while keeping your visual brand in mind.
An example of this is if you are in the business of jewelry retailing. Your ideal website should contain categories of your jewelry products depending on type, price, and made. The website should also contain crisp and attractive images of your products. Using jewelry photo retouching services will help you come out with the best photos of your products. Those services can handle and retouch your products’ images based on how you want your customers to perceive them.
With trying to improve your visual brand, it is easy to lose sight of the message you want to deliver. Keep in mind that your brand is your business’s voice. Make your business identifiable-ideally with a single look. This will keep your target consumers reminded of your business.
3. Identify your website design budget
Before finalizing website design ideas, it is important to keep track of how much you are willing to spend on the project. According to website builder expert, hiring a web designer can cost over $5,000. You can go over and below that amount, depending on how you want your site built. There are free platforms such as WordPress, but you have to pay for hosting, themes, and plugins.
On top of web design costs, you still have to factor in additional services for your website’s content, such as copywriting services and search engine optimization (SEO).
In keeping your small business visible online, you have to publish appropriate content. You cannot simply open a website to visitors without it containing anything. While content creation can be completely free of charge if you go for in-house content creation, it is always ideal to look for the best deals with the right companies specializing in web content creation.
You will be fighting for the attention and loyalty of customers among a sea of other small businesses and even big ones. Putting up a fight surely would not hurt your business’s progress.
In creating a website for your small business, customer experience should always be the first thing in your mind. It would help if you thought of how you want your target consumer base to experience the first encounter with your business. Doing so can affect their opinion of your products and services. You would also want to stand out. Ideally, turn your website into one of your business’ pathways to success.