So you’ve finally decided to start that business idea that’s been brewing around in your head all these years. First of all, Congratulations! Second of all, get ready for the ride of your life. If you are anything like me, quarantine has put a lot of extra time on your hands to focus on your goals and get started on the things that you may have put off.
Now that you have decided on your business name and narrowed down that business plan it’s time to attract your target audience. But how? A website, of course! Your website will often be the first point of contact for your potential customers and you want to make sure that you have a site that not only stands out from your competitors, but converts those potential customers to paying, dedicated repeat clients.
In order to convert those potential customers into paying, repeat clients, there are 5 Key Elements That Every New Business Website Must Have:
1. Home Page
Think of your home page as the digital front porch your business. It must be inviting and want people to come in and see more. The home page is what pulls people in and let’s them know what you are all about. Don’t hold back on the information here but make sure that your home page is concise and straight to the point so your potential customers can quickly find what they might be looking for.
Potential customers don’t want to spend precious time trying to figure out what you do. In order to keep their attention and keep them on your site you need to make ure your site navigation is easy to see, your services are prominently displayed, your pricing is easy to find and your contact information readily available.
Your home page should make your customers what to stick around and look at the other pages on your site.
2. About Us
The About Us page is self-explanatory. This is the place where you will let your potential customers learn more about your business as well as the people behind your business. You can choose to only talk about the business, how the business started and your mission and values. However, we have learned that potential customers often want to know more about the person or people behind the business.
We humans thrive on connection to one another and customers like to connect with businesses on a more personal level by getting to know more about the people behind the brand. You don’t have to give your whole life story here, but a glimpse of how you got started, why you do what you do and some of your favorite things will let potential customers know if you are someone they can trust and if their values align with yours. The biggest thing to remember here is that you are honest and sincere in letting your potential customers learn more about you and your business.
3. Navigation
Now, I touched on this earlier, but I feel like this topic warrants further explanation. Navigation is important in guiding your potential customers around your website. A simple navigation bar at the top of the website can usually get the job done, however, putting a little extra energy in deciding page content and navigation placement can ensure that your potential customers have a pleasant experience with your site and increases the likelihood that they will convert to paying customers.
You might be thinking that navigation is not that important. Through careful placement of page order and placement of your navigation bar, you can lead customers directly to your contact information or direct them toward your online store. A carefully placed “Request a Quote” or “Book Me” in the navigation can increase your conversion rates.
4. Blog
I know what you’re thinking; “But I’m not a writer”. Most business owners don’t think that blogging is their thing but hear me out. As a new business owner, you might have many years of experience working for someone else, but how can you show potential customers that you are an expert in your field? A BLOG! If you are just starting out, a blog that focuses on topics related to your field showcases your knowledge and expertise and lets potential customers what more of what you have to offer. It is your chance to talk directly to your customers
A blog is also a way to let potential customers learn more about your business and you personally, which further solidifies the community and connection you have with your customers. If done correctly blogging. Most business owners don’t have the time to blog and run their business at the same time. We at Blūm Digital Studio offer blogging services and can write and post on your behalf.
5. Contact Us
This is another one that is straightforward and crucial to converting potential customers to paying clients. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve looked around on a business web page and was ready to contact them to use their services, only to find that their webpage didn’t have any contact information. No phone number, no email address, nothing.
Instead of placing this information in one spot in your footer or header, make sure to have your contact information available in multiple places throughout your website so that no matter where your customer is located on your page, they can easily find your contact information.
It is also important to make sure you have multiple options for people to get in contact with you. If you have a physical address, include that along with your phone number, email address and contact forms. It is also important to make sure you link your contact information so that if a customer clicks on it, they are immediately direct to you. For example, a phone number that is clicked on will allow a customer to make a phone call directly to you.
BONUS: Social Media Integration
It is essential to make sure that your website has social media integration of some sort. While your website is an important tool for connecting with your customers, social media pages are even more important and allow you to interact directly with your customers. Make sure your customers can find and connect to your social media pages directly from your website by linking your active social media pages directly from your website.
