Dos and Don'ts of Website Design for Small Businesses
A website is crucial for small businesses because it provides an online presence that can help attract new customers, build credibility, and increase sales. A website allows businesses to showcase their products and services, provide important information such as hours of operation and contact details, and create a platform for engaging with customers through blogs, social media integration, and other features. Let’s explore some elements and features that can make or break your small business online.
Dos of Website Design for Small Businesses
Do make your website mobile-friendly and responsive. No matter what device or screen size someone is using, they should have a positive experience on your website.
57% of internet users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed website on mobile (Source: Society of Digital Agencies)
Do focus on user experience (UX) design. People should be able to navigate your website and access the most critical pages. Depending on your line of business, this could mean finding contact information, adding products to a shopping cart, reading blog posts, etc.
Do make your website easy to navigate and find information. Place the most important information above the “fold” of any web page. Assume people do not want to scroll and search for information. If you want someone to know something, put it at the top of the page.
88% of consumers who search for a local business on a mobile device call or visit the business within 24 hours (Source: Nectafy)
Do include high-quality images and videos to showcase your products/services. Custom graphics and photos can highlight the visual aspects of your brand and emphasize the messages you’re conveying in your copy.
Do make sure your website loads quickly. If you’re struggling with slow loading times, try upgrading your server or reducing the size of photos on your site.
39% of people will stop engaging with a website if images won’t load or take too long to load (Source: Adobe)
Do use calls-to-action (CTAs) to encourage visitors to take action. Do you want people to contact you, buy a product, or sign up for a newsletter?
Websites with a clear call-to-action (CTA) button can increase click-through rates by 62% (Source: Small Business Trends)
Don'ts of Website Design for Small Businesses
Don’t clutter your website with too much information. If someone was to glance at your web page for a few seconds, would they be able to tell you what the webpage was about? Place the most important information front and center.
Don’t use too many colors or fonts. Choose a brand color palette and a few fonts, and stick to them in everything you design… website, social media graphics, business cards, flyers, etc.
94% of first impressions of a website are design-related (Source: SWEOR)
Don’t use too much industry jargon or technical language. Craft your website copy as if you were talking to a potential customer. Generally, your customer doesn’t know as much about your product, service, or industry as you do… hence why they’re on your website!
Don’t forget to optimize your website for search engines (SEO). With on-page SEO, frequent blog posts, and credible backlinks, you can help your website climb to the top of search results for common questions and terms.
81% of shoppers conduct online research before making a purchase (Source: Adweek)
Is Your Website Up To Snuff?
In today’s digital age, having a website is a fundamental part of any small business marketing strategy. If you run into any roadblocks while trying to incorporate these dos and eradicate these don’ts, Kreativ Alchemy would be happy to conduct a website audit and see what we can do to help.
