When you start a business, no matter how big or small, you have to look at a website. We now live in a time where we rely on being online, and as a business, you can’t afford not to be. People will immediately turn to the internet to look you up once your name is out there. Sometimes, this will be to find out what you do and what time you are open. The rest of the time it will be to search for reviews and opinions about you, so that they can make sure that you are the company that they want to turn to for their business. You may want a sleek, professional website that has minimal information so that people will ring you and find out what they need that way. The thing is, people would rather get what they need from your website and avoid calling in at all if they can help it.
If they can’t find out what they want from your business on your website, they will be turned off by you and will go elsewhere. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s one that you need to understand as early as possible because it’s going to affect how you play it with the information that you put on your business website. It’s nice to want a big, intricate website with lots of flash images and sleek menus. However, if your website isn’t adapted for all platforms, no one is going to be interest in learning about you. So, what DO your customers want from your website and how can you ensure that you are giving it to them?
Optimised For Smartphone. Most customers now use their smartphones to be online, which means that you can’t just have a website that’s adapted for computers and laptops. You need to be online, everywhere, all the time. If you’ve used a company like Avex Designs, you can be assured that the management of website optimisation is going to be done and updated regularly to fit the way that smartphones are developing. People want to find you wherever they are; you’d be stupid to mess with that!
You Need To Be Clear. People don’t want minimalist on a website. Maybe in design, so things are easy to read, but in terms of information it needs to be clear and spell out what you do in plain English. Talking to customers about what you do should never be dumbed down, but people shouldn’t read your website and have no idea what it is that you offer. Be clear, be concise and be plain in your language.
A Way To Reach You. Contact numbers, email addresses, social media buttons and even an online chat will endear you to customers. They need to reach you, and you need to give them as many options as possible to do so. The more that you offer in contact information, the more approachable you will see. Display your social media widgets proudly on your homepage and make sure that it’s not hard to find the contact information, either.
Reviews Feed. So, a customer has discovered you and they want to buy from you, they’re happy with what you offer. However, they haven’t bought a thing, because they need that third-party validation from others about what you can offer. A new company is always a risk for a company and you can offer reassurance by providing links to reviews that others could have left for you. Testimonies are nice, but they’re not validated. Allow for reviews and opinions on your social media, too, because people appreciate transparency.
Security. If someone is browsing your website and wants to buy from you – and you have that capability – you need to reassure potential customers that their data will be safe. You can do that with SSL, secure socket layer. Read here about it.
Personalisation. A website thick with calls to action about where to click, what to buy and personalised with special offers based on their searches is going to be more attractive. You need to offer your customers whatever you can, so that they can feel confident in their purchase.
While you’re making your website everything that they need, don’t forget to give them somewhere to give their opinion. People always want to leave feedback, which you should welcome with open arms! Maximise your relationship with your customers by paying close attention to what they want. They’re the ones paying you, remember?
