How important is it for small businesses to have a website in 2020? Well, you have consumers stating that a company's credibility is primarily based on its website.
Consumers are using your website to decide whether or not your brand is trustworthy. So it's fair to say that it matters a whole lot.
And now that 52% of website visits come from smartphones, you need to ensure your site performs well on all devices.
But what if you don't have a website at all? Then you're going to risk losing a ton of potential prospects for your local business. Here's a look at what you can do to set one up easily using website builder software.
Before you begin creating your site with website builder software, you need to buy a domain name. But not just any domain. You need one that contains your brand name.
In other words, your business name should be in your URL. This will help your business in several ways:
Branded keywords can and should be used in your domain and throughout your website. This way, when a user searches for your business, your site shows up at the top of the search results.
Now, let's dive into how you can use a website builder software to increase your sales.
When you begin designing the web pages of your site, be sure to focus on the layout. You want to design it in a way that promotes conversion.
How do you do this?
You can start with the UX (user experience) design. This focuses on how users will interact with your website. The layout, menu, and links should be easy to find and understand so visitors can navigate seamlessly.
Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Follow similar layouts as other companies in your industry. You don't want visitors having to learn how to navigate your website.
Then you want to ensure you include CTAs (calls to action) through your website.
On the home page, it's ideal to have one above the fold somewhere (visible without having to scroll down) or even in the header. And there should be another at the bottom of the page.
If you're creating a long-style landing page, then you'll need several CTAs throughout. Make sure your CTA is easy to see, read, and understand. Use bold colors and large buttons with clear and concise language, such as "Request a free guide" or "Click to buy now!"
Another way to improve conversions is to include testimonials on your site. Social proof offers more than just bragging rights -- it helps guide consumer buying decisions.
Roughly 95% of shoppers read reviews before making a purchase. So you can beat them to the punch by offering customer reviews right on your website.
There are various ways you can add testimonials to your site. You can create case studies, videos, or text next to the customer's photo.
When you're designing your website, you need to include vital details about your business. Otherwise, you risk losing the trust of your visitors and missing out on sales opportunities.
To avoid this, you need to put all of your contact information where it's easy to find. This includes your business name, address, and phone number (N.A.P.).
Include this at the bottom of each web page, then on its own "Contact Us" page.
When you begin increase your web presence in Google My Business and other directories, be sure the nap info matches your site.
If it doesn't, it can hurt your ranking in Google My Business.
Now, it's time to start marketing your website. If only you could publish your site and watch traffic flock to your domain. But that's not going to happen.
So you're going to have to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get to work (or hire someone to do it for you).
Creating a business page on social networks your audience frequents can help build visibility for your business. Users will begin visiting your website to check out what you have to offer.
You can also promote this behavior by adding a blog to your site and then sharing them on your social profiles.
It's good to see how your website is faring after creating it using website builder software. You can do this by adding a tracking tool to your site, such as Google Analytics.
This will help you monitor how much traffic your getting, where traffic is coming from, and how many visitors are converting.
If you notice your bounce rates are high, then you'll need to find out what's wrong with the page. Maybe it's the content or the SEO. If you're attracting the wrong people, they're going to bounce away.
And if the right people are coming and still bouncing away, then you need to reevaluate your content and design.
So what about the visitors that decide to become customers? You want to make it as simple as possible for them to complete the transaction.
You can add a payment solution to your site so they can complete online payments using their card or mobile wallet.
To summarize, the idea of designing your own site may seem overwhelming. You don't have programming knowledge and you know nothing about website design.
But you don't have to know any of that when you're using website builder software like best website builder for small business. This offers a simple drag and drop platform so you can visually design it without the use of code.
Check it out for yourself today!