These days your business website is often the first impression new potential customers will have of your business. So it really makes sense to spend some time thinking about how best to present your business information, products or services and also how visitors to your new website will interact with this information. So here are 5 essential elements you'll need to consider to make sure you have a great business website:
1 - Identify clear goals
The very first thing to think about when looking at building a new company website is what you would like to get out it. Common goals include just gaining an online presence, selling a product or finding new clients. Once you've identified your goals it will be easier to visualize how you would like users to interact with the information you publish. It's important to link clear calls to action to these goals. For instance, a well placed button prompting visitors to join your mailing list or a content slider on the home page highlighting product specials.
2 - Insist on strong branding and design
Often the first thing businesses look at when choosing someone to build and design their website is price. Budget is of course a big consideration but far more important is the quality of the work you get at the end. The very first thing you should do is look at their portfolio, and select a freelancer/agency who's design style you really like, then talk budget. Most freelancers and even established agencies are prepared to negotiate. Visitors to your company website will judge your business based on the quality of the design first and foremost.
3 - Easy to use navigation
Don't get too creative with your navigation placement and function. This is an an area of a website that people expect to behave in a certain way. People have become accustomed to either a header navigation or one in the sidebar. Also, it's important not to get too complicated with your categories and drop down menu's. Try and keep things simple and explicit.
4 - Update regularly
These day's it is not enough to just have your company contact details and an about page on your website. Add a company blog. First of all, regularly updating a blog will improve your SEO, and secondly integrating social media will give people reading your posts an opportunity to share the posts they find useful or interesting with their friends. If you're spending money on online advertising this can help you to spend less.
5 - Focus your content
Don't try and put up every bit of information about your company and every product you have in stock. Think hard about the information and top products visitors will seek when they come to your site (and the ones you would like to focus on) . Too much information or products to wade through can be very daunting and may just frustrate visitors if they can't find what they're looking for.
For more check out the Big Friends blog - http://www.bigfriends.co.za/category/blog
