There are many reasons you might want a website but these days a website is almost essential if you are running a business. There are often some overlooked questions to ask yourself if you are starting a new project or updating to a new website.
Here are some things to think about if you are considering a new website
What do I need the website to do?
What is the actual function of the website? Are you wanting to be able to sell products or services through your site? Are you wanting your website to be able to take payments? Do you want customers to be able to make bookings through the site? Are you wanting your customers to be able to find you easier?
What is the first impression of my website?
I have found that a lot of people concentrate of having a sophisticated-looking site because they think the fancier it looks, the better it will be. So they hire a graphic designer to make it all pretty and run some banner videos or have photos fading into each other. It is nice to have a pretty looking website but it is more important that people can find your website and find what they need when they get there.
What really makes a good website?
This one is very subjective and, in my opinion, depends on what the website was designed to do. Take a step back and think about if it actually meets your needs. Is your website doing what you want it to? Think about it from the perspective of the visitor too. Does it create a positive experience for them?
Is my website easy to navigate?
This might seem like a no-brainer but if people are coming to your website looking for something specific, are they able to find it easily? With the overwhelming amount of resources available online, if somebody can’t find what they need on your website, it is so easy for them to just leave and just look for it on another site. They can just go back to their search engine results and pick the next web page on the results.
Is my website easy to read?
This one is way more important than the colours you want to use. For example, if you have a background that blends into the writing on the site or the words are very small or in a fancy font and it is not easy to read, your visitors will probably not stay for as long because it is just too hard to stay engaged when you have to put in that extra work.
Does my website create a positive user experience?
Whether you are wanting people to buy a product or service or you are just offering your expertise or opinion, people are less likely to buy something or stay on your website if the experience is frustrating for them.
Is my website optimized for mobile devices?
Majority of web users these days are on their mobile phones. People still use computers but almost everyone has a mobile phone in their possession at all times. If you are bored on the train or are just wanting to find an answer to a question really quickly, people are using their mobile phones more often. Does your website adapt easily to a mobile format that is easy to use and read? Have you checked it?
Can my customers find my website?
The first step to moving your business online is obviously to have a website or some sort of online or social media presence. But can your customers actually find you? The best real estate for businesses are the places that have a lot of foot traffic and you can erect a bunch of signage so people know your business is there and what it does. Digital real estate is similar but it is less obvious how to create that foot traffic. If you are having trouble getting people to your website, make sure it is optimized for SEO. If you have no idea where to start with SEO, hire a professional. It is easy to spend hours, days, weeks, delving into courses and researching anecdotal articles about how SEO works. If you want to get your traffic up the most effective way without taking all of your time away from your business, consider hiring an SEO specialist.
Does your website clearly convey it’s purpose?
If somebody visits your website, how long does it take them to work out what sort of business you have and what services or products you offer? If your goal is to have customers contact you, how easy is it for them to find your information?
Are your performance statistics where you want them to be?
Have you had a look at how many visitors you have coming to your website on a regular basis? How long are people spending on your site, what do your engagement metrics say about your site? What are your conversion rates?
Is the content on your site high quality?
High quality content written by an actual human that understands your business and your customers can have a very high value for a website. Not only does it help Google to rank your site as an authority in your niche but it also keeps your visitors engaged.
Is the speed and performance adequate?
If you have a website that has so many videos and graphics that it takes time to load the page, it will be hard to keep your visitors engaged. Technology has advanced so much that people do not have the patience to wait for websites to load. Have you run a speed test or checked for broken links on your site?
Is your website integrated with your social media accounts?
Social media is very popular and a good social media profile can direct customers to your business or website. These should be linked so people can easily jump over to your website with just a click.
Is your contact information easy to find?
How easy is it for customers to contact you? Do you have a phone number, contact form, email address? If you are a service company that only work in a particular area it is especially important to have your address or general location available.
Does your website have regular software updates and maintenance?
Your website should be backed up regularly to prevent data loss and should have software updates as necessary. Are any technical issues addressed in a timely manner? If your website is your main source of connecting with customers, any down time can really affect your potential revenue.
Is your website able to be updated?
If you need to make changes to address customer feedback, are you able to do it yourself? If your website needs to evolve to meet changing business needs, how difficult is it? I have heard some horror stories about website developers not allowing the business owner access to their own website and charging them exorbitant fees for any changes. If you hire us to build a website, we will set you up with all of the resources you need to be able to make any changes. Or if you are not comfortable doing it yourself, we offer our services for competitive prices but you are never locked in and can cancel at any time.
Whether you are building your website yourself or you are hiring someone to do it for you, these are just some of the things you should address to make sure you know what you are getting and can be confident the new website meets your needs.