Do you want your small business to grow? You need a better website.
If you own a small business you may have struggled to create a web presence for yourself. You know it’s essential, so you made sure to have one, but is it effective? When designing websites for small business, it is necessary to keep in mind the customer base that you are dealing with. You need to make sure that your website is showcasing your business in the correct way. There are few things you’ll want to avoid when designing a small business website.
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1. Lack of Credibility
As a small business, you have to prove that you can be trusted. You haven’t built up brand loyalty yet, or a great followership. To do this you need things on your business website that will lend you credibility. Let your consumers know that you can be trusted by having your BBB rating on your website. You can also add details about customer satisfaction, statistics to lend support the fact that your business is growing, and other information that helps to bolster your credibility with consumers. Becoming a credible source is often an overlooked idea for small businesses, they think testimonies will be enough, but consumers are intelligent. In today’s world, a testimonial page often goes unvisited; people need facts.
2. Overly Self Praising
While you need to build your credibility, don’t over do it. Being too over the top with testimonials, self- aggrandizement, and other excessively praising content drives consumers in the other direction. When people visit your small business website they want to know about the services you can offer to them, not how amazing you are at offering said services.
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3. Wishy Washy Branding
Larger companies have their branding down to a science, so take a page from their book. Don’t claim to be the best at everything, pick out the one thing that your company is best at, and advertise that. You want your business website to reflect your business as best as it can; unequivocally.
4. Misuse of SEO Structures
SEO is important to a website. Without it, your small business website will get shuffled to the back of the search pages. Optimize your SEO by having defined structures, which reinforce your keywords and general website theme. This will allow your small business website to be found by the search algorithms, and lead you gaining more customers.
5. Missing Contact Information
How will your customers contact you if they need assistance? Many small business websites don’t have adequate contact information or have too complicated a contact form. If your consumers cannot find a way to contact you, it’s likely you will lose a customer. Make sure your contact information is easily accessible and easy to use, so as not to confuse your customers.
6. Nonspecific Photography
Using stock photography shows a lack of creativity. Customers have likely seen all the generic types of photos you can use. It lends credence to your website and livens it up to have professional photographs taken. You can use photographs from your business place to reinforce your branding.
7. Missteps in Typing
In order to appear professional, your business website must be free of grammatical and typing errors. True professionals don’t allow the copy on their business websites to be ridden with misspelled words, grammatical errors, or content that lacks originality. Make sure the content on your small business website is original and error free.
8. Non-Navigable
Having a website that is difficult to navigate is frustrating. If a customer is unable to navigate your small business website they will likely forfeit your site for one on which they can find what they are searching for. Make sure your website’s menus are easy to find and easy to navigate.
9. Speaking in Generalities
Every word matters on your business website. Make sure that each word makes a point, and that none is wasted. Don’t allow your business website to have fluff about your services, prove that you are able to deliver what you promise. It goes a long way to creating credibility when there are actual statistics on your business website.
10. Mobile Discordance
Being able to transition easily between a desktop version and a mobile version is essential for your small business. When your website is not mobile friendly it not only loses you customers, but it also puts your site lower in terms of SEO. It’s estimated that over 80% of customers use their smartphones to access business websites, so make sure that yours is in the running.
Having the right kind of web presence can make or break a small business. Make sure your small business website is avoiding these website pitfalls. You can maximize your web presence, and consequently your business.