To spread the word about your new small business, you want to design a great online home. If you’ve never created a professional website before, you may not know what blunders to avoid.
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Sensory Overload
Rather than packing every page of your website with visuals, colors, and text, aim for a clean layout that’s easy on the eyes. If you’re starting your digital presence, learning how to create a website from scratch could be beneficial. Decide what message you want to convey on each page of your site, then choose the most efficient way to deliver that message. Site visitors should understand what your business is about within the first few seconds of visiting your website. If they can’t perceive that while being bombarded with a busy site design, they’ll likely check out your competitors.
Lack of Visual Interest
Just as you don’t want too much going on, you also don’t want to underwhelm site visitors. Minimal site design can look great, but only when done with a deft hand. To avoid this, ask yourself what information website visitors need to understand your company and how you can improve your customers’ lives. You don’t want to leave room for misinterpretation or guessing.
No Call To Action
What do you want visitors to do when they’re browsing your site? Common calls to action include learning about a product or service, getting a coupon or discount, and clicking a specific link. Whatever you want visitors to do, make it plain with a succinct and direct CTA.
Lack of Brand Image
All text, images, typefaces, color palettes, themes, and flat icons on your site should flow together. Mismatch any of these design elements and you may confuse potential customers. Keep this from happening by selecting a single design template, conveying a few distinct ideas, and understanding your brand image. If possible, carry this cohesion over to your social media business profile and everywhere else your business appears online.
Incorrect Use of White Space and Content
Focus just as much on your website’s content as you do its layout. Poor use of content and white space may drive visitors away from your site the same as a lack of visual interest and sensory overload. For content, concentrate on a typeface that’s easy to read and looks great on the screen. As for white space, break up content with blank space. That way, you give the reader’s eyes a break and make blocks of text less intimidating. Using visual elements instead of words to convey your concepts also makes content a joy to read and experience.
Poorly Updated Site
Don’t take a set-it-and-forget-it approach with your site. Even if your products or services change very little, regularly update your website. Most of today’s shoppers connect with businesses for the first time through the company website. If yours looks like a relic from the past, your target audience may become skeptical about your company and the services or products you offer. Let your site make a great first impression by keeping it current.
Not Working With Professionals
As you can see, there’s a lot to creating and managing a commercial website. You could use some professional help to bring out the most in your business’s online home. Web hosting professionals can design, maintain, and market your site for you. You can use free web hosting services and tools, but that could cost you if you don’t know how to maximize those services and tools. Paying for professional services costs money, but it could earn you more money, too.
Learning what to avoid and what to focus on for your small business website helps you save time and maximizes your company’s potential. Use these tips to your company’s advantage.
