Discover 12 Secrets of a Winning Website
We all know that a good business website draws viewers in. But what makes a good website?
Here are a few things.
1. Clear Purpose and Target Audience
Purpose: Whether it's to sell products, offer services, or provide information, the purpose of the site should be clear from the outset.
Target Audience: Design and content should be tailored to the intended audience, considering their preferences, pain points, and needs.
2. Simple, Intuitive Navigation
Easy-to-use navigation menus and a logical layout help visitors find what they need quickly. Insist on a search bar, intuitive language for your navigation, and minimal clicks—especially to your high traffic areas.
3. Responsive Design
A good website works seamlessly across all devices—desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. And because mobile traffic often exceeds desktop traffic, it must be mobile friendly. Test your site on all three sizes, and make sure everything is readable on smaller screens.
4. Fast Load Times
Page loading speed directly affects user experience and SEO rankings. Optimize images, scripts, and plugins to ensure the website loads quickly (ideally in under 3 seconds).
5. Strong Branding
Consistent use of colors, fonts, and logos helps reinforce the brand identity. Design elements should align with the company’s personality, helping build trust and recognition.
6. Engaging Content
Compelling Copy: Use well-written, concise copy that speaks to the target audience.
Multimedia: Don’t cheat on your visuals! Use high-quality images, videos, and graphics that engage visitors.
Up-to-Date Information: Ensure all information (such as contact details, hours, product listings, or prices) is current.
7. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Optimize for search engines to ensure that your website ranks well on Google and its competitors. Pay attention to:
Keyword optimization
Meta tags and descriptions
Alt text for images
Fast load times and mobile optimization (affects rankings)
8. Strong Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
Clear calls-to-action (CTAs) are essential (e.g., "Buy Now," "Get a Quote"). Writing for web is not the same as other writing—it must be crisp, short, and catchy. Draw attention to the CTAs with bold colors, graphics, and visuals—and make sure they appear throughout the site.
9. Security Features
SSL Certificate: Ensure that the site is secure, especially if handling sensitive data (such as credit card information). Clear privacy policies and terms of use build trust with users and demonstrate professionalism.
Make sure your vendor has heft in the area of privacy and security, and can address the continuously changing landscape of online breaches.
10. Contact Information and Accessibility
Don’t make your visitors hunt for your contact info! Draw attention to it, place it in obvious locations, and make sure it doesn’t require much scrolling to find it.
11. Social Proof
Testimonials, case studies, customer reviews, or client lists provide credibility and show that the business is trustworthy. A portfolio section can help showcase past projects or clients.
12. Analytics and Tracking
Implement analytics tools like Google Analytics to monitor traffic, user behavior, and engagement metrics. You should be frequently looking at your data to understand what your viewers most want, and adapting your site to address those items.
A well-designed website not only builds credibility but also helps convert visitors into customers, ultimately growing the business.