When you run a business, it can be a little difficult to see the true value of a website. After all, your product or service is good enough to speak for itself…what’s a few lines of HTML going to do to change that? Well, if your market is completely free of competition you will probably still be successful, but for most of us that’s not the case. In order to stay on top of your market and make your maximum profit, you need to have a strong online presence in today’s world.
In today’s ever-connected society, a great web presence can make the difference between a possible conversion and a client. There are many different ways to create exposure for your brand, including: social media, online review sites, and viral marketing. However, the one investment every business should make is in an official site. Some people use Facebook and some don’t; some people are avid Yelpers and some don’t trust those reviews as far as they can throw them. The one source that is completely under your control and will consistently draw in an audience is your company’s website. So you better make sure it is optimized.
First and foremost, you have to have a great design. With the user-friendly site template available through popular hosts like WordPress, it’s not hard to find a sleek design that is easy to use while allowing your business’s message to stand out. But you also need to make sure your site’s structure and content is on point. What are the most commonly asked questions your clients come to you with? Find a way to structure your site to answer those questions before they’re even asked. FAQ pages are passé, anyway.
While your site may look great on your desktop, you shouldn’t stop there. Mobile browsing is becoming increasingly important. In 2014, 30% of all searches came from mobile devices. Perhaps even more importantly, the most recent Google algorithm update is changing so sites that are optimized for mobile devices are given more weight in their rankings. That means if your site looks great on an iPhone, it will be more likely to rank on page one of Google when your targeted keywords are searched. Phones aren’t the only thing to recognize; tablets are just as important, especially if you have an online shop. 69% of tablet users shop on their device every month, so make sure your site is both responsive and easy to navigate on these devices.
Finally, you need to make sure your content is strategically written and organized to be SEO-friendly. This doesn’t mean to pack every line of copy with keywords; you need to make sure your message is easy to read and relevant to your audience’s interests. Of course, crafting content like this isn’t exactly easy. To ensure you’re getting the most out of your website’s content, find a trustworthy online marketer, like Incite Digital Marketing, who can work with you to identify your business goals and optimize your site to meet them.