7 Essential Website Elements for Small Businesses

Your business website can be a very powerful marketing tool, but many small business owners don’t put enough effort into the visual and design elements to ensure that their target customers will actually make a purchase or contact them right away. First impressions are even more important online, so you need to make sure your small business website is designed in a way that attracts the right type of customer, has a strong online presence, and delivers the type of information your visitor is looking for.

Whether you’re a tech startup or a local construction company, here seven essential website elements for any small businesses:

#1: Visible Logo

Make sure your logo is visible on the home page, and every other page of your site. Your logo is an important part of your brand image, and you need customers to identify it as quickly as possible. Use the same logo and colors on other pages and marketing materials for consistency.

#2: Contact Information

Make sure your contact information is visible on every page, not only on the Contact Us section. Put your phone number and email address at the top or bottom of each page, and include a small Contact Us button on every page. This makes it easy for the visitor to get in touch with you the moment they decide to proceed with a sale, or just when they want to talk to you.

#3: Eye-Catching Headline or Slogan

Describe your business’s key services or mission in two to three lines and place this text in a visible location on your homepage. This element of your website will be the focal point of the home page and should convey your core message when the visitor arrives.

#4: Call to Action

Whether you want your website visitor to book a consultation online, call you for an appointment, or buy something from you during the same visit, make it as easy as possible for the visitor to proceed with the next steps. A large button that links to your contact page or a shopping page can be all it takes to encourage the visitor to take the next step.

#5: Quality Content

Whether you’re describing a set of products and services, sharing your mission statement or providing industry news, make sure you are providing original, useful and high-quality information for your visitors regularly. Updating your site regularly with quality information not only keeps visitors entertained and informed, but also offers a search engine optimization benefit. You can post articles, archives of newsletters, or even maintain a blog on the site to help generate more traffic and keep visitors interested.

#6: About Us Section

A single page that summarizes your business’s history, notable achievements and awards, staff members and future growth potential can help potential customers learn more about you. This page adds a personal touch to your website and the information you provide here can help to set you apart from competitors in your area.

#7: Map and Directions

Make it easy for prospective customers to find your office, store or warehouse by providing a map and directions on your Contact Us page or About Us page. You can also include a link to directions on the home page for easy access.

From an eye-catching headline to a thorough “About Us” section, make sure your small business website has all of the essential elements of a quality, reputable site. First impressions are still important in the online world, so you need a site that reflects your company’s core values, showcases your products and engages your target customer.

Whether you’re a real estate agent looking for prospects, or a retail store owner who wants to drum up more business, it’s important to launch a website that not only represents your company but also attracts the right type of visitor. Hundreds and thousands of people are searching for the products and services your business offers, but only some will ever even get to your website.

How do you stand apart from the competition and ensure you are seen by the most qualified prospects? By creating a website that provides useful information, ranks high on the search engines, and also makes it easy for the visitor to contact you. Here are seven simple ways to attract more visitors to your website:

#1: Provide High Quality, Useful Content

Many people searching online are looking for information and answers to their questions. Some of these web users are also interested in making a purchase or booking an appointment during the same visit, so you can serve as a guide by providing high quality and useful content throughout your website. From articles to blog posts, updating your website regularly with fresh and informative content can help to attract more visitors.

#2: Use Keywords Appropriately

Using the right keywords throughout your site can help you get a high ranking on the major search engines. This is important because search engines help people find you. If you’re not showing up on the first few pages of organic search results for major keywords, your prospects might not even know you exist.

#3: Initiate a Pay-Per-Click Marketing Campaign

You can attract more visitors to your website with a targeted pay-per-click (PPC) campaign. PPC ads also use keywords to drive traffic to your site, but you will show up in the sidebar of “Sponsored Search” results, instead of in the organic listings, when someone does a keyword search. If you are competing for some popular keywords, PPC ads may be a valuable marketing strategy for you.

#4:  Create a YouTube Marketing Campaign

Can you present your business, products and services with a short YouTube commercial or presentation? Post your YouTube link on your website so that visitors can learn more about you within a few minutes. Video marketing can improve your search engine rankings and can also help to build your online presence.

#5: Submit Press Releases Regularly

Writing and distributing press releases about the latest products and services you have to offer, your website launch and other newsworthy items can also help to drive traffic to your website. If local media channels pick up your press release, you may be able to reach a wider audience.

#6: Offer Free Newsletters and Articles

People love free information. Offer a free monthly newsletter or post an archive of previous newsletters you have sent directly on your website. Create a separate section for articles or blog posts that contain useful information related to your industry. Adding content to your website regularly also has a search engine optimization benefit.

#7: Use Social Media Platforms Effectively

Promote your business on social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter. Set up a professional account and share information about your company, latest news in your industry, and also to share information from other businesses or partners you work with. Social networking sites can help to build your brand presence and drive more traffic back to your website.

From providing useful, keyword-rich content to launching a YouTube marketing campaign, there are several ways to attract more visitors to your website. Make sure your online marketing strategy includes at least one or two of the above approaches so that you can enjoy a steady flow of traffic month after month.