Web design is constantly evolving, and since your website is your online 'face', it has tremendous effect on the perceived credibility and quality of your business.
Whether your current website design just needs a few tweaks or a major update, here are 8 things you can do to drastically improve your website, and attract more clients!
1. Cohesive Branding
We'll start with the most obvious one. When it comes to running an online business, a great brand identity is the foundation of a great website.
"Branding" is much more than a cool logo - it should include selecting appropriate fonts, colors, style and graphics to set the tone of your site and all other marketing platforms you are using.
Cohesive branding ensures that:
"When everything is consistent, it suggests that your services and products are consistent as well—and this makes prospects trust you more." -LeapGo
2. Compelling Copy
Writing quality content might not seem all that important, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Good, compelling writing will not only drastically improve your site, it will also increase sales.
Make use of memorable headlines, and offer genuinely interesting content to support them. Phrasing your content to acknowledge and answer customer questions increases the chances that people will engage and take action on your site.
Nobody likes bland, vanilla writing and "walls of text". Not only are they boring, but they're hard to scan and digest quickly. In this age of short attention spans, resorting to run-of-the-mill copy is a big mistake. If writing is not your strong point? Hire someone to do it for you, the payoff is well worth it.
3. Appealing Images And Graphics
People are visual.
When considering how to improve your website, images and media is one of the primary ways you can stand out from the crowd. When done correctly, pictures, icons, and graphics all make it easy for people to process information, and take the next step.
Use photos and media that are professional, unique, and match your brand aesthetic. Using your own photos is best, but high quality stock photos are easy to come by, for filling in the gaps.
Note: While appealing images are super important, be careful not to overdo it. Peppering your site with too much media make your site feel cluttered, plus slow down load time - in turn affect SEO.
Optimize your site media for speed, so you avoid slowing down your site, and hurting your ranking.
4. Mobile Friendly
All of this means there’s a good chance your visitors are using their phones to find you. Clearly then, a site that’s mobile-friendly is crucial.
Customers must be able to reach you on their mobile devices - if they can’t, most will take their business elsewhere.
5. Testimonials
Updating your reviews is an excellent way to improve your website. Current, 5-star reviews is a great way to build trust and credibility with your customers. According to this study, 93% of consumers say that online reviews influenced their purchase decisions.
Need we say more? Client testimonials can dramatically increase your conversion rate and help you stand out from the crowd. Ask your customers to leave reviews and keep testimonials on your site updated.
6. Fresh Content
This survey finds 81% think less of a brand if the website is not up to date.
What does it say about a company’s attention to detail if said company hasn't updated its website in 5 years?
The simple answer: A dull, outdated website will not only turn visitors off, it makes people lose trust in you.
Clean, modern content design is an important step to improving your website - but also have the content be current. If you have pricing, product, or service details, make sure to keep it up to date. If you have a bio page, make sure you keep your photo and info current as well.
Which brings us to the next tip:
7. Creative Bio
The purpose of a bio or an "About" page is to help build trust and credibility by telling the reader exactly who you are and what you do.
Get creative! You don't have to come up with a long-winded epistle, but give a few interesting details about yourself, and your business. List your favorite movie, or songs. Tell a funny story on how you got started in your business niche.
Maybe you like sports - which team do you cheer for? In a bio, you're even allowed to brag a little on your professional accomplishments! Don't be afraid to show the world what makes you unique!
Clients like to know who they are working with. A bio should reflect your personality and what you stand for.
When you write a catchy bio, these little informal details create a sense of value and trust for the reader - thereby increasing your chances of generating more clients and followers.
8. SEO And Analytics
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of using keywords and relevant content, to get your site ranking higher in the search results.
It involves tactics to make sure your URL's, meta descriptions, tags, landing pages, content, etc. is highly relevant to your target audience, to gain trust and online ranking.
Analytics goes hand-in-hand with SEO, by letting you see exactly how your site is performing. Keep an eye on where traffic is coming from, how your site is ranking and recognize where any intervention is needed.
Both Analytics and SEO are integral to improving your website and getting recognized online. Without them, it's nearly impossible to make the improvements that are going to grow your business or brand.
There are so many steps you can take to improve your website! What methods have you implemented?
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