Thinking about building a new website for your business? Considering re-building one that you’ve had for a few years? While the project may seem simple enough at the start, inevitably it becomes more and more complex — and easy to make mistakes.
Working with a great web design agency such as GREENCREST will help you avoid the five most common blunders businesses make online:
Mobile Un-friendly
Over half of all website traffic is mobile now – and it’s still growing. Five to ten years ago, businesses may have been able to get away with a desktop-only site, but that’s no longer the case. Today, companies must have a responsive website that is mobile friendly to survive in today’s smartphone-first world.
Call to In-action
What do you want website visitors to do when they arrive on your page? If you don’t know the answer to this question, do not begin a website design project. Every great website design has a strong call to action “above the fold” — visible when someone first lands on the page.
BUT, don’t jump the gun. If you sell a complex product that is extremely expensive and takes months to complete a typical sales process, do not put a “Buy Now” button on the page. Rather, think about what steps customers typically take in their journey and provide valuable resources to help them make informed decisions. Great calls to action include “Download the Ultimate Guide,” “Schedule Your Free Consultation,” and “Sign Up for a Webinar.”
Ignoring Search Engines
Before engaging with a brand, consumers and business decision-makers do an average of six to 12 searches online. And the overwhelming majority start with a search engine such as Google. If you want people to find your business online, then you need to invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of creating website content and following best practices that lead to ranking highly on search engines and gaining organic website traffic.
Another common blunder that businesses make is trying to “do SEO” after a website is launched. It’s best to begin your project with SEO in mind — you’re much more likely to succeed and avoid wasted investment in content that’s not optimized.
Who Ya’ Gonna Call?
Believe it or not, some businesses are so focused on the call to action and other design elements, they forget to make it easy for customers to contact them.
It should be extremely clear how customers can reach you, and you should provide multiple options including phone, email and web forms at a minimum. One of our favorite design standards is to include a small phone icon in the top right portion of a mobile website that allows customers to click and call you directly.
Set and Forget
Websites require constant maintenance and upkeep. Once your brand-new website is launched, the work is not over. You’ll want to continuously apply security patches and make sure your platform stays up to date.
The other thing to keep in mind is that websites are nothing like diamonds — they do not last forever. The web design your business proudly launched 10 years ago probably looks like, well, it was from 10 years ago. Think of your website as digital storefront — it tells a story to customers of how much you invest in and value your business.
If you’re ready to get started on your next website, contact us at GREENCREST. We can help you strategize, plan, build and succeed online.