Catherine Spibey discusses some of the most important factors to consider when creating or updating your website.
Many companies in the flooring sector have websites nowadays – which is great of course. However too many companies view their website as a static entity, not requiring regular attention and updating. In fact too many website owners are not equipped with the tools and knowledge to keep their sites up to date.
As a business owner, it’s essential to understand the different elements that make up a well-designed website.
Aesthetics and branding
First impressions are everything, so it’s vital that your website looks professional and is consistent with your brand identity. This means using colours, fonts, and images that reflect your company’s image. Keep in mind that simplicity is key – too much clutter will only serve to confuse visitors and turn them away.
User-friendly navigation
Creating a website that is both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly can be challenging. However, it is crucial to consider both factors when designing a website. Usability is essential in ensuring visitors have a positive experience on your site. This means having a clear menu structure, simple navigation, and consistent layout throughout the site.
Make sure all your pages are well-organised and clearly labelled, so users can find what they’re looking for without hassle. Drop-down menus, search bars, and ‘breadcrumbs’ (which indicate where a user is on the site) are great ways to help users navigate your site.
Visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily without getting frustrated. In addition to usability, creating a visually appealing website is essential. The layout, colour scheme, and overall design should be pleasing to the eye and convey the desired message. By considering both usability and aesthetics, you can create a website that is both user-friendly and visually appealing.
Mobile-friendly design
With more and more people accessing the internet from their mobile devices, your website must be optimised for smaller screens on mobile devices. This means using a responsive design that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. Not only will this make your site more user-friendly, but it will also improve your search engine rankings.
Quality content
To keep visitors returning to your site, you must provide them with quality, relevant content. This could include blog posts, articles, product descriptions, resource centres, inspiration galleries, or infographics. Make sure it is well-written and accurate, whatever type of content you choose to include.
Your website’s content should be well-written, accurate, and relevant to your business. It should also be updated regularly to remain fresh and relevant. In addition to great content, your website should also have engaging visuals. This could include photos, videos, or other visual content that will help capture your visitors’ attention.
Call to action
A call-to-action (CTA) is a text or image that encourages users to take a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter or downloading a white paper.
CTAs should be placed prominently on your website and use persuasive language to encourage visitors to take the desired action.
Lead capture forms
A lead capture form is a way to collect information from visitors, such as their names, email addresses, and phone number. This information can be used for sales and marketing purposes, such as following up with potential customers or sending targeted emails. Remember to follow GDPR with all customer data.
Social media integration
Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to promote your business and drive traffic to your website. Make sure your website includes links to your social media profiles, and consider embedding social media feeds onto your site.
SEO optimised
If you’re looking to get your website noticed by potential customers, it’s vital to ensure that it’s well-designed and optimised for search engines. This means using the right keywords and phrases and creating quality backlinks to improve your site’s ranking. While it takes some time and effort to get this right, it’ll be worth it in the long run when your website starts attracting new visitors. So, if you’re serious about getting your business online, keep SEO in mind from the very start.
Analytics and tracking
Google Analytics is a free service that allows you to track the number of visitors to your website, their location, the pages they visit, how long they stay on each page, and much more. This information can be extremely valuable in understanding your audience and informing your website’s content and design.
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