Creating a User-Friendly Website For Your Business
Nowadays, having a website for your small business is hardly optional. It’s the first impression that most consumers will see, so you want to make sure you build a user-friendly website from the very beginning.
Web design can be as simple or as complicated as you make it, too. Here are some tips for creating a well-designed and effective business website.
First things first, do your research
A little bit of research will go a long way in helping you design the best small business website. Educate yourself about things like mobile responsiveness, hosting options, website building tools, and more.
Here are some resources from the Intelligent Office archives that will help you get started:
How to Improve Your Customers’ Mobile Experience
The Importance of a Working Mobile Site
Your Small Business Website Needs Google Analytics, and Here’s How to Get Started
Optimizing your Landing Pages for Digital Marketing Success
Should I DIY my website or hire a professional?
This question is one that many business owners ask themselves when it comes to creating a website — do it yourself or outsource the work?
The answer will be different for every business owner. If you’re already low on free time and your to-do list is miles long, it’s probably best to outsource your web design. You could search online for a freelance web designer or ask your network if they have any recommendations.
If you have some free time, and the desire to learn basic web design, it’s easier than ever to DIY your website. Wordpress is a popular choice, with thousands of pre-made templates you can use. Squarespace offers an easy-to-use solution that virtually anyone can learn how to operate. Your design options will be limited, so if you have a very specific design in mind Squarespace may not work for you.
Rules for creating a user-friendly website
As you work on your website (whether you’re doing the design or have hired someone else), keep these best practices in mind:
Simple is always better. Online attention spans are short, so avoid the urge to fill your website with dozens of images and paragraph after paragraph of text. Include plenty of white space, too, which enhances readability.
Include all of the information a customer needs. What do your customers want to know? Your website should be a one-stop resource for someone who wants to purchase from you. For starters, include information about what you do and the benefits customers will receive when they do business with you.
Make it easy to contact you. Consumers aren’t going to spend time tracking down your phone number, address, email address, hours, and other contact information. Make sure they can easily reach you by displaying that information clearly on your website.
Tell visitors what you want them to do. Do you want new clients to schedule an initial consultation? Do you want them to purchase a product? Whatever your end goal is, design your website so that call to action is apparent.
