If you are going to build your first business website it is very important that the foundations of your site are solid first. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Planning your website
The best way to plan your website is to start with your end goal in mind. I going to assume that you are going to build a small business site and would like to gain more customers online.
Think about
- What is the purpose of your website?
- Are you trying to sell a product or service?
- Who is your ideal customer?
- How are you going to reach your ideal customer?
- Who are your competitors?
- Are your competitor’s websites excellent?
Tip#1 Keep it simple
One of the main things that I have learned is to keep it simple. You do not need a website with hundreds of pages to generate a lead and make a sale.
Simple one-page websites work really well as long as you have a method of advertising your website and getting people to a single landing page.
Work out how you are going to get prospective customers to your web page. This could be pay per click, business cards, magazine, radio, social media or email list.
Tip#2 Branding
If you have a business card or letterhead with a distinctive logo then keep your branding consistent.
Think of your website as an extension of your business card or advert. Try and build on the information you have already shown your prospective customers.
Tip#3 Call to action
Always include a call to action at the top of your pages. Make it as easy as possible for your prospective customers to contact you.
Think about what your customers really need, not what you want to give them. Use a call to action to give away some valuable information.
Tip#4 About page
About pages are very important and often overlooked. Every industry is different and will require a different approach. An image of the owner and team members is a good idea (use positive happy images).
A story about how the company was formed and how it grew is a great idea. Showing your company values and ethics is very powerful.
Tip#5 Email list
Remember to start collecting email addresses as soon as your website goes live. Offer a free information PDF and collect as many email addresses as you can.
Search Engine Optimisation
Before you start building pages start to think about what your customers will be searching for in the first place. Compile a list of search terms and then make pages that match the search terms.
