Your website is an incredibly important representation of your business. When people visit your website their experience is assimilated, both consciously and sub consciously, as being highly indicative of your business as a whole, and they will make decisions on whether to engage with your business solely based on that experience alone.
Your website is almost always the first place someone will go to introduce and familiarize themselves with your business and its products or services. You should approach your website design in Houston the same way you would an introductory meeting with a potentially high value client – you’ve got to look good, communicate well and be very organized. The website’s visual presentation, content and user experience are the three main ways through which your prospects will form a first impression of your business.
If the visual and aesthetic design of your website looks dated or unattractive the visitor might project that impression onto your business itself and its products or services. Your web design needs to be professional, modern, clean and aesthetically pleasing. When something looks good people feel confident and reassured, and they naturally feel like they want be a part of what they’re experiencing. Working with an experienced and talented web designer is worth the investment. A web design refresh may be needed every two years or so to stay up-to-date with design trends.
If your website is hard to navigate, difficult to find information and loads slowly your visitors could assume that dealing with your business is going to be as frustrating and difficult. Hubspot did a survey that showed 76% of people say the most important characteristic of a website is ease of use.
The website navigation needs to be clear, logical and intuitive. Information should be easy to find and understand. Ideally you are aiming to present the visitor with the information they need before they even know they need it. The website must load fast and display well on every browser and any device. With such a huge, and growing, number of internet users using mobile devices your website absolutely must be mobile friendly.
If your website content is vague, long winded and unhelpful you will not connect with your visitors and they will perceive your business as one that doesn’t really understand their needs.
Your content needs to be concise, to the point and delivered in easily digestible amounts. A great starting point is a carefully crafted 200 word business pitch which is often perfect for your home page. In addition to the information about your business and services your website needs to be rich in valuable content that is focused on fulfilling the intrinsic needs of your target market above and beyond the promotion of your own business. You need to provide helpful information that establishes you as a credible resource and trusted leader in your industry.
The impact that a website design has on a business is a lot more significant than the majority of business owners realize. It’s essential to know what the most important elements of a website are, or to work with an experienced website designer in Houston that does. The great news is that if you get the basics right your website can operate as a highly effective, efficient and influential communication tool that, on its own, can elevate you above your competition and project your business as an industry leader.
