A website is a powerful marketing tool, especially if it’s done right. If you’re thinking about starting a website for your business, you will want to make sure you’re focused on creating something that is trustworthy, professional and motivating. This isn’t something you want to create during your lunch hour.
In today’s technological era, having an online presence is crucial, and if you don’t have this presence yet, it’s important this priority is at the top of your to-do list.
To make sure your website rises above the rest, here are a few things you will want to keep in mind to create a website customers will love:
Fast Loading Times
Google and other search engines love fast loading times, and if your website takes longer than 10 seconds to load, you will have a problem ranking for key terms. Since most websites today are made with CMS platforms, such as WordPress, it’s important to pay close attention to the plugins you download. These plugins are often the cause of a slow loading website.
Back It Up
Hackers are everywhere, and they don’t care how small your website is. If your website has a flaw, it’s going to be hacked, so to save yourself the headache of redoing your website, make sure you have a backup system in place. This backup system should download a copy of your website daily, and it can often be done with your hosting provider. If they don’t offer this feature, consider using a third-party service.
Watch the Domain Name
Try your hardest to stick to a .com domain name since these are the easiest to remember. Also, avoid using any hyphens or numbers in your domain because this can often lead to confusion as well.
Have a Business Plan
Just like a business plan for your brick and mortar business, you should have a plan for your website. What do you want to get out of this website? Do you want to promote it via search engines to gain more exposure, or are you just looking for a place to send potential customers? Preparing a business plan allows you to set goals and have a clearer path for the future.
Be Prepared to Publish Content
Be prepared to publish content to keep both the search engines and your visitors happy. Search engines tend to favor websites that are frequently updated because this shows them you’re actively working on your website. Good content also keeps visitors coming back because they may deem you an expert in the field. When it comes to the creating the content, don’t publish it for the sake of updating your website; instead, you will want to make sure you’re creating something of value. Before you publish it, just ask yourself: Would I truly enjoy this article if I were to find it?
Think Mobile
There’s a good chance more than half your visitors will come to your website using their mobile phones, and if the website isn’t optimized for these visitors, this could lead to a poor user experience. As search engines begin to create new search engine indexes for these mobile-friendly websites, it’s very important your website works on all mobile platforms.
Trust Your Web Designer
If you do your research and find a reputable website designer, there’s a good chance they have already developed hundreds of successful websites. While you may have a lot on your mind, a web designer may have some actionable tips that may make sense. Remember, you hired this expert because they probably know more than you, so try to let them exceed your goals with their own ideas.
Summing It Up
Hiring a professional website professional can be a lot of money, but like anything in the business world, you won’t want to skimp on this investment. Since this website, if done right, can lead to a hefty increase in business, it’s so important you take the time to either invest your own time to learn about developing websites or picking out the right professional. Even if you feel you can’t afford one right now, consider small business loan companies, such as Business Credit and Capital, that specialize in this sort of financing. A website is something that can’t wait in the business world.