5 Must-Haves for the Small Business Website
I’ve recently started to collaborate with Amber Riviere at BrownBugProject.com. I like her style and what she has to say. I’m pleased to have Amber’s article as my very first Guest Post!!
5 Must-Haves for the Small Business Website
Many small business owners fail to effectively use one of the most inexpensive methods of promotion they have at their disposal – their websites. Here are a few “must-haves” for the small business website to help you get more traffic and convert more of it to new business for you.
#1 Simple and obvious navigation
It might not seem very important, but simple and obvious navigation (or the lack of it) can be the difference in converting website visitors to new business or having them leave your site in search of greener pastures.
Your site should be easy to use – period. It should take very little (if any) thought to cause the visitor to take action. If your site is confusing, visitors will not hang around long enough to figure out how to use it.
#2 Relevant content
If your site shows up in search engine results for a particular search term or phrase, it should relate to that search term or phrase. Nothing will cause a visitor to click the “Close” button faster than the aggravation that comes from feeling misled.
#3 Lots of relevant content
Once they get there, visitors should have all the information they need to learn who you are, what you do, what services/products you provide, and how to get those services/products. On top of that, you should have timely and relevant articles, podcasts, video, blog entries, and other types of content related to your niche. For example, if you’re a personal organizer, then you should have a lot of information about getting organized readily available for your visitors.
#4 A place for regular updates
You should have at least one location on your site to provide regular updates that followers will want to receive. It can be a newsletter, a blog, or a podcast. Also, be sure to provide multiple ways for subscribing to the content (email and RSS are a must).
#5 Prominently placed contact info
As ironic as it sounds, many people do not put a lot of ways for people to contact them within their websites. They make every attempt to get visitors to their sites, in hopes of getting new business, and then when the traffic comes, there’s no way for them to get in touch with the person.
Put your contact info in a very prominent place on your site, and provide multiple ways for people to reach you.
Your website can be a very inexpensive yet effective way for you to promote your business, if you use it right. Make sure you have the tools in place to help you gain more traffic to your site and then convert it to sales once it gets there.
Amber Riviere is a web designer with BrownBugProject.com You can follow her work through her blog and through her newsletter, Inside Brown’s Brain.
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About Rusty
Rusty Lee has been providing computer support to Small Business Clients for over five years. He lives in Battle Ground, Washington. His focus is on prevention, security and reliability. He's a Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist. For more information visit the About page on this site. Or contact Rusty using the Contact page.
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Where did you get your site template, I really like it
This one is eNews by Elegant Themes. They have a full package of them you can get for about $20 with a year subscription. It’s been modified with my graphics and a few other tweaks.
Have a Great Day,
Rusty