If you’re thinking about building a website for your business and finding it all a bit overwhelming, you’re not alone. There are a few sneaky pitfalls waiting to trap new business owners during this stage, from struggling to select the right platform for your site, to neglecting to integrate search engine optimisation from the get-go.
Our Website in One Week program is designed to help you navigate these website pitfalls with ease, making the whole web-building process less stressful and (hopefully) more fun.
If you’re more focused on eCommerce and are interested in Shopify, or you prefer WordPress for complete customisation and coding, get in touch to discuss these options.
1. Choosing the wrong platform
There are many website builders and platforms available, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s essential to research and choose the right platform for your business needs, budget, and technical skill level. Choosing the wrong platform can result in a website that is difficult to maintain, slow to load, or lacks the features you need to grow your business.
Luckily, we have a fix for this! We developed a fun little quiz to work out which is the best website type for any small business – you can take the 5-min quiz by clicking the button below. For small businesses, we recommend Squarespace in around 80% of cases. To discover why, hit up our previous blog ‘Why we choose Squarespace for small business websites’.
2. Not having a clear plan
Before building a website, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what the website will be used for, what content will be included, and who the target audience is. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to end up with a website that doesn’t meet your needs or your customers’ needs. Taking the time to define your goals and plan out your website’s content and structure can help ensure that your website is effective in achieving your business objectives.
Guiding participants through these decisions is not something all web developers offer as part of their service. We developed the Website in One Week program to help you work out what you want from your site, and ensure the content and design are geared towards your target market.
Navigating the mine field of web development is not for the faint-hearted!
3. Poor site navigation
Site navigation is critical for helping visitors find the information they need on your website. A website with confusing or disorganized navigation can turn off potential customers. It’s crucial to organize your website’s content in a way that makes it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for. Clear and intuitive navigation can help visitors stay engaged with your website and find the information they need quickly and easily.
Generally, a prominent header menu, important links in the footer section and plenty of buttons and links throughout to guide your visitors is the way to ensure your site navigation is on point.
4. Ignoring mobile optimization
With more people accessing websites on mobile devices, it’s essential to ensure your website is optimized for mobile viewing. This means using a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes. A website that is not optimized for mobile can be frustrating for visitors to use, which can lead to a high bounce rate and lost business. Making sure your website is mobile-friendly can improve the user experience and make it easier for visitors to engage with your business.
This is one of the more challenging things for small business owners to achieve if building their own website. Even if your platform has mobile optimisation built in to an extent, a final polish by a professional team will ensure your site looks great on the small screen.
Don’t forget to check your new website on phone, as well as desktop.
5. Overcomplicating design
While a visually stunning website can be impressive, too much complexity can distract visitors from your content and make it harder to navigate. It’s important to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality. Keep your website’s design simple and easy to use. This can help visitors focus on your content and improve their experience on your website.
All the bells and whistles in the world can’t make up for a lack of clear purpose, real consumer insight and authentic communication!
6. Not having a clear call-to-action
Your website should have a clear call-to-action (CTA) that tells visitors what you want them to do next. Without a CTA, visitors may leave your website without taking any action. A clear and prominent CTA can help guide visitors towards the next steps you want them to take, whether it’s filling out a form, making a purchase, or contacting you for more information.
7. Neglecting search engine optimization (SEO)
SEO is essential for getting your website to appear in search engine results. Neglecting SEO can mean your website doesn’t rank well and is challenging to find. Incorporating SEO best practices into your website design, content, and structure can help improve your website’s visibility in search results and attract more traffic to your site.
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