These 6 essential steps of a website are to help you build a website that will help you be found online and create a great customer experience. So if following these 6 steps it will make your website better – for sure.
Based on the goals of your website, these 6 steps are probably the most important. By showing your value and having a clear consistent brand on your strategic website, you will build trust and credibility with new and existing customers. It goes without say that your images need to be good quality and support your ideas and your text needs to be spell checked and grammatically correct. If you have sloppy text you are projecting you are a sloppy business. First impression counts, so it is important to have a fast, functioning and useful website that focuses on your target market.
1. Navigation
- No more than 5 to 7 tabs top level
- Bucket content to make it easier for your customers to find answers
- Potential customers are there for a reason – give them what they came for – do not make them work it
2. Functionality/Speed
- Make sure all links work
- Load time – test speed
- Optimize images
- Add plugins to help with cache and image compression
To check the speed of your website, go to: https://website.grader.com/
3. Clearly show your value to your customer
- What do you do in simple terms
- Understand your value proposition so you can explain it
- Identify your target market
4. Content/Keywords
- Focus on the value and benefits
- Do not say “I” do this and “I” do that – show what you can do for your customers (WIIFM – what’s in it for me)
- Keep content up to date,
- Use the content to paint a picture for your customer
- Write content that is relevant to your customer – nothing random just to share content
5. Clear contact info and a Call to Action
- Guide them through the process
- Have a CALL TO ACTION (tell people what to do)
- Show them what you want to show them – branding and story – you are in control of that
6. Mobile friendly / responsive design – test on all your devices
- Customers will probably search you on a mobile phone
- Google requires you to have a mobile website for Google Ranking
