Your website is your digital shopfront. And with 68% of all online experiences starting with a search engine there is a good chance that your website is going to be the first impression for your potential clients!

The internet is full of bad websites and we aren’t just referring to bad design! There are many other elements besides how your website looks that make it customer-friendly. From fresh, quality content to thorough contact information, these are the basics of what every small business website should have for it to effectively help you generate and convert enquiries. 

A Clear & Concise Description of What You Do

If someone comes across your website you ultimately want them to know exactly what you do, who you are and why they should choose you, as quickly as possible. Assume that they know nothing about your industry and address your target audience’s pain points and how you can fix them where possible. Clearly state your business name, products, services, and contact information on the home page. 

Simple Navigation

Simple navigation is key for an effective website. Keep your amount of navigation tabs as simple as possible. Use dropdown menus where possible (i.e. - products and services) to make it as easy to navigate as possible for your customer. 

Easy to Find Contact Information

There is nothing worse than heading to a website and spending too much time trying to find the contact details. You would hate to lose a customer because you made it too difficult for them to get in touch with you. The best place for the contact information is at the top left or right of the website. Also be sure to include a contact page where you list phone, email, address (if you are a brick and mortar store) and even a map of links to google maps is great. Another great thing to do is to integrate your Facebook messenger to your website so that people know that they can easily get in touch with you.

Customer Reviews

There is nothing that instills more trust in a potential customer than seeing honest reviews from other people in their position. Seeing customer testimonials makes your products or services more tangible to customers who are visiting your website. People love to hear real stories from real people. 

Fresh, Valuable Content

When a new customer stumbles across your website and finds the answer to their question you are establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry and instilling trust in that customer so that when they are ready to purchase they will keep you front of mind. Not to mention, adding blog content to your website regularly is great for SEO, as well. 

FAQ’S Page

The best thing that you can do on your website for yourself and your customers is creating an FAQ page. Not only will this keep your customers' questions answered but it will also prevent them from coming to you which will save you time responding to DM’s, PM’s, emails, and phone calls. Plus if you add the URL link from your website to your auto responders on Facebook and Instagram then you are hopefully answering their questions in real-time, without having to lift a finger. 

Email Subscribe Function

If you don’t already have a strategy in place to grow your email list, let me tell you, now is the time to start. Email is definitely not dead and is still an imperative part of any business marketing strategy. You might be surprised who signs up to your email list! Just remember to promote your email subscribe function across your social media platforms. Create a lead magnet to entice people to sign up and then in those quieter months or when you have something special to launch you can reach out to these subscribers who will already be “warm”! 

Basic Search Engine Optimisation

Search engine optimisation or SEO will allow your website to rank better in search engines (like Google), and in turn, increase your chances of being found online. And while SEO is a long-term strategy, and can be quite technical and confusing, there are a few things you can do yourself NOW to help give your website a boost in the weeks and months to come. Things like ensuring your website is secure, your headers are correct and you are using the correct keywords for your target audience are just a few things to keep in mind! Check out our Quick SEO Tips That You Can Do Right Now! And also our SEO Glossary if you are confused by any of the lingoes!