There are almost 2 billion websites across the internet today. And with over 30 million small businesses registered in the United States alone, you can bet that a large portion of those websites is carved out for small businesses.
The internet provides a wealth of opportunities for small business owners. However, if you’re preparing to launch your own small business website, you’re going to have quite a bit of competition.
That’s why it’s vital that you not only provide top-notch products or services but that your website design is impeccable as well. Yes, what you have to offer your customers is what will keep them around, but your website is what will draw them to you in the first place.
Listed below are 5 website design tips to keep in mind when building your business website. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start With a Strong Domain
The first step in creating a thriving website has nothing to do with the design at all. You first need a strong domain name. This is a crucial step, as it will be the name of your brand and how customers identify your business.
When choosing a domain name, pick one that’s both unique and memorable. Now, don’t get carried away with the uniqueness of your name, because it also needs to be easy to remember. You might have an idea of a creative name that makes perfect sense to you but means nothing to potential customers.
It’s a good idea to ensure that your domain name is available before you get too attached. You should always go with the .com version of the domain. It’s better to choose another name entirely than to go with a different domain extension.
2. When in Doubt, Simplicity Is Best
When you’ve chosen your brand name and have your domain picked out, it’s time to move onto the actual design of your site. As with your name, it’s okay to get creative, but you might have to reel it in here and there.
This is because a simple design is almost always better than a loud, complex one. Not only will Google like your site more, but users prefer simplicity.
When you’re designing a website, remember that your users should be able to find anything they need in three clicks or less. If your navigation is any more complicated than that, you need to simplify things.
In addition, don’t go overboard with your colors. Your site should have three colors, and one of them should be white. The other two are your brand colors and should suit your style but be easy to read.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this task, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. A website design company will be able to take all of your ideas and create something great with them. Your website is far too important to settle for a less than spectacular design.
3. Ensure That Your Site is Mobile Friendly
Thanks to the advent of the smartphone, the majority of web users are browsing from their mobile devices. Because of this, it’s essential that your website is mobile-friendly.
Thankfully, many of the top themes come with mobile-friendly versions built-in. If you’re using one of these websites, you need only to design your site on your computer, then double-check to ensure that it looks good on your phone.
For those using a theme that doesn’t include a mobile-friendly version, you’ll need to create one. It’s not as difficult as it might sound. All you have to do is create a simpler version of your desktop design.
4. Build a High-Quality Blog
There are few things more effective when it comes to gaining favor with Google than having a high-quality blog. The more quality content you have on your site, the easier it is for search engines to find and promote your website.
Aim for posting two to four times a week, with one caveat: post as often as you can without sacrificing quality. It’s better to only post twice a week but give both articles your best effort than to post four or more mediocre articles.
Creating a blog serves the dual purpose of allowing your users to “hear” your voice and encouraging Google to rank your higher in their results.
5. Fast Loading Times Are Essential
Along with a mobile-friendly site, you also need to make sure that your site loads at lightning-fast speeds. You might have the most gorgeous website in the world, but if it takes more than a second or two to load, you’re going to lose customers.
If a potential customer clicks on your site and doesn’t get what they’re looking for in the first few seconds, they won’t wait. They’ll hit the back button and choose another website.
There are many free tools online that you can use to ensure that your website loads quickly. Many of them also give personalized advice to speed things up.
Design the Ultimate Small Business Website With This Guide
Designing your small business website is an exciting but stressful task. You want your website to capture your personality and the essence of your brand but need to stay in Google’s good graces at the same time.
That said, your time and effort will be worth it when you begin to reap the benefits of having a website for your business. And these tips will help to get you there.
For more tips and tricks for taking your business to the next level, take a look at our blog!