In today’s digital world, your website is often the first impression a potential customer has of your business. It’s your 24/7 digital storefront, and it needs to be more than just a pretty face. A truly great website is a powerful tool for growth.
But what separates a good website from a great one? Here are the top 10 things to remember to ensure your site is a success.
1. Intuitive User Experience (UX)
Your website should be incredibly easy to use. Visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for within a few clicks. A clean layout, clear navigation menus, and a logical structure are non-negotiable. A confusing site will lead to frustrated visitors who will quickly leave. For more on this, read this article on UX design fundamentals.
2. Mobile-First Responsive Design
With a majority of web traffic coming from mobile devices, your website must look and function perfectly on smartphones and tablets. Responsive design ensures your site automatically adapts to any screen size, providing a seamless experience for every user, no matter the device. Learn more about Google’s approach to mobile-first indexing.
3. Clear and Compelling Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
What do you want visitors to do when they land on your site? Buy a product? Fill out a form? Call you? Your CTAs must be impossible to miss. Use prominent buttons with action-oriented text like “Shop Now,” “Get a Free Quote,” or “Contact Us Today.” HubSpot offers some great insights into creating high-converting CTAs.
4. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
A beautiful website is useless if no one can find it. SEO is the process of optimizing your site to rank higher in search engine results. This includes using relevant keywords, writing meta descriptions, and creating quality content that establishes your authority in your industry. For a great beginner’s guide, check out The Beginner’s Guide to SEO.
5. Fast Page Loading Speed
In our fast-paced world, people have little patience for slow websites. If your pages take more than a few seconds to load, you’re losing potential customers. Optimizing images, leveraging browser caching, and choosing a reliable hosting provider can dramatically improve your site’s speed. You can test your site’s performance with Google PageSpeed Insights.
6. High-Quality, Engaging Content
Content is king. Your website’s text, images, and videos should provide value to your audience. This not only keeps visitors on your site longer but also helps build trust and credibility. A well-written blog, informative product descriptions, and helpful guides are all key. The Content Marketing Institute has a wealth of resources on this topic.
7. Strong and Consistent Branding
Your website should be a consistent extension of your brand. Use a cohesive color palette, typography, and imagery that aligns with your brand identity. This consistency helps build brand recognition and professionalism, making your business more memorable. Here’s a helpful guide on building a consistent brand identity.
8. Website Security (SSL)
An SSL certificate, indicated by “https://” and a padlock icon in the browser, is a non-negotiable trust signal. It encrypts data transmitted between your site and your users, protecting sensitive information. Search engines also favor secure websites, so it’s a win-win. Learn more about why SSL certificates are crucial.
9. Easy-to-Find Contact Information
Make it simple for people to reach you. Your phone number, email address, and physical location should be easy to find. A dedicated contact page and a prominent link in the header or footer are standard best practices. For a good example of what to include, see this guide on creating a contact page.
10. Accessibility for All Users
Designing an accessible website means making it usable for people with disabilities. This includes features like proper alt text for images, high color contrast, and keyboard navigation. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it also broadens your audience and can improve your SEO. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the gold standard for this.
Don’t Go It Alone: Partner with Escape Web Development
Keeping all these factors in mind can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in. At Escape Web Development, our mission is to craft exceptional digital experiences that not only look great but are built from the ground up with these 10 essentials in mind. We specialize in everything from web and brand development to SEO and Google Business Services, ensuring your website is a powerful asset for your business.
Ready to build a website that truly works for you?