10 Things Every Small Business Website Needs

As most business owners know, a website is an important tool in growing and marketing any small business. But what should a website include? Does your website have all the information your customers are looking for? A good website provides relevant information to potential clients, and while there isn’t a one-size-fits-all plan for small business websites, there are certain things EVERY website should have:

1) Relevant Web Address

When setting up your website, choose a web address that’s both easy to remember and spell. Avoid using multiple dashes or numbers in your URL. If possible, acquire a dot ca (for Canada) or dot com address – it is preferable to a .biz or .net. If you can’t get YourBusinessName.com, try to find something similar and relevant to your business.

2) Easy to Find Contact Information

Don’t lose a customer because you made it difficult for them to get in touch with you. Put your contact information in a prominent spot on your homepage. Continue to put your contact information everywhere, such as adding it as a header or footer on each page.

Contact information should include:

• Phone number (especially for brick and mortar stores and restaurants)
• E-mail address and/or contact form
• Hours of business or hours of operation
• Location or a map of where to find your physical location (if applicable)

3) Engaging “About” Page

This seems so obvious! But despite the fact that the About Page is often the second-most visited page on a website, many business owners either don’t have one or don’t spend time developing a good one.

Utilize the About Page to engage customers in your story. Include a brief history of your business – when it was founded, what you do and maybe even what inspired you to start your business. People like doing business with people they know, like and trust, so give them information to help grow your connection with them.

4) Visual Content

Customers like images and videos that help them get to know you and your business better. Consider including pictures of yourself, your location, your team and your work. If your work is tangible, show samples. Also, consider including photos of local landmarks to indicate you are part of the community. These photos will also lend credibility to your business.

5) Testimonials

Not surprisingly, people don’t believe everything you tell them about yourself. Likely though, they will believe the honest words of others – people love to hear real stories. Create a spot for testimonials and, if possible, include photos.

6) Social Media Links

If your business is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social media, provide the links. Customers, especially millennials, will expect to find these on your website. If possible, match your social media handles with the name of your business to make them easy to find and remember.

7) A Contact Form

Some customers prefer contact forms to e-mailing or calling. Remember to ask enough questions on the form to allow for you to understand what the customer needs. And make sure you get back to any inquires from a contact form as quickly as possible. As well, a contact form rather than an email address may help decrease the amount of spam you receive in your inbox.

8) A Mobile Friendly Website

It is critical that your website is mobile friendly. Traffic from mobile devices to websites is surpassing traffic from desktop computers. Consider your design, text and loading speed to ensure that your website will represent well on all devices.

9) Optimal Download Speed

Two seconds. That’s how long most people will wait for a page to download. Make sure you get reliable hosting that will provide fast service. Check your website to ensure that all your pages download within a maximum of three seconds, remembering that under two seconds is ideal.

10) Call to Action (CTA)

You have made it easy for visitors to find your website, to learn about who you are and what you do, and how to contact you. But how can you entice them to stay connected with you even after they have left your website? Convert website visitors into customers using calls to action, including signing up for your email newsletter or downloading a PDF checklist or coupon that then adds them to your e-marketing list.

If your website has all of these things then you are well on your way to having a quality web presence. You may also want to consider a blog to help your customers get to know you even better, to keep your website current and to share valuable resources and tips to potential clients. You should also remember that your website is a part of your brand. Make sure it flows with the rest of your business in terms of its messaging, colours, etc.

If developing content for your website is overwhelming, hiring someone with experience in content writing can help! Virtual Office Resources offers content writing, blog writing as well as other content creation services. For more information, contact us!