December 04, 2012
A website is one of the most powerful tools a small business owner has at his disposal. The right website can turn a start-up into an international brand, while giving you the same ability to market and sell your wares as the largest corporation. While you may not have the same budget to put into web design, there is no reason you cannot bridge that gap with attention, creativity and effort. But where to begin? If it has been a few years since your last website redesign there may be a lot of areas that need work. So ask some friends who haven’t been on your site to look it over and report back. You might be surprised to hear the results. While you’re waiting, consider these five ways to revamp your business website that will each make a real and lasting impact.
First of all, is it time for a new theme? Chances are you didn’t build your website yourself, unless web design is your business. But if you had a designer put it together for you several years ago, technology has probably now passed it by. You’ll find the navigation won’t be quite as smooth, loading times will begin to lag, and some elements may no longer look as they are supposed to. Operating systems and web browsers are constantly changing, and your site won’t update itself. Consider installing an entirely new web theme. Pick something that fits your business, and will also work on mobile platforms. You might have a bit of a learning curve to make up, but you’ll see a marked improvement in performance.
Next, take a look at the ‘About’ and ‘FAQ’ sections of your website. These are two of the most important print elements of your site, while also often receiving the least amount of attention. You should always consider these two spots during a website revamp. The ‘About’ information on your company has certainly changed over the years, from the people you employ to the details on your resume and the other businesses your company connects with. When potential customers are choosing between competing offers, this information may be what has them choose your business. The ‘FAQ’ or Frequently Asked Questions page is where your customers can go to find answers to their most pressing concerns. It’s how you can illustrate your professionalism prior to a sale, and hopefully stave off customer service calls further down the line.
Now think about your content creation on the site. If you have a blog, does it need a refresh? How often do you post, and how long has it been since the format has been adjusted? Attention spans lag very quickly online, and you’ve got to keep things interesting in order to maintain your audience and hopefully grow it beyond its current levels. Make sure you are promoting what you do here through the social networks, but give your blog a facelift first, so you can present it as a re-launch.
Are you set up to include multimedia presentations? Your content needs may have changed since the last website update, and it’s time to get things current. You’ll want to be able to post videos, photos and print content, and to have each element easily shared across the internet. A multimedia presentation with embedded links to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more would serve you well. Consider creating a series of free videos that help your customers engage with your product or service, and present them in such a way that they get used.
Finally, revamp how your website integrates with the larger world of the internet. There is only so much you can do in a vacuum. Your site must take advantage of keywords and links with other websites. If you want your business to grow beyond just word of mouth, you’ve got to move up in internet search rankings. If your business website maker can’t handle SEO, look for a service that can. In the end, it’s about placement where your core audience goes most frequently. So make sure your revamped site is set up to take advantage of web connectivity, and you should notice a difference.
