According to a recent survey of 1,800 consumers, 42% said they’re “very unlikely” to buy from unprofessional or ugly websites. If you’re wondering whether or not your site could fall into that category, check out these key indicators.
Professional Photos
From pictures of your products to team photos, high-quality images are arguably the most important thing on your website. Blurry, outdated, or irrelevant pictures tell your site visitors that you don’t care about their browsing experience. In-house photos are the best option, but stock images shouldn’t cause any problems as long as they are optimized for mobile viewing and relevant to your content.
Clear copywriting
Aside from one subpar imagery, linking to nonexistent pages is one of the best ways to turn site visitors away. Ensure it’s easy to navigate your site and remove outdated or irrelevant pages. You can’t sell 404 pages to customers; if that’s all visitors can find, it’s game over.
Navigation
The last thing you want to do is confuse your customers, so it’s important to keep your product or service descriptions as straightforward and simple as possible. If what you’re selling has detailed information, such as dimensions or technical requirements, make sure it’s easy to find but not obtrusive.
Promises to site visitors
Any website that ships products should make its returns policy visible. This establishes trust early, and some online shoppers make purchase decisions based solely on the clarity of a return policy.
If you don’t run an eCommerce site, you must prominently display privacy commitments, such as those mandated by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
About page
Your brand needs a story behind it that customers can relate to. Every company website should have an About Us page that describes your team, its culture, and what sets you apart from the competition. Whatever your story is, make sure it’s accessible from any page on your site.
Design
Not everyone is a web design expert, but one in today’s gig economy is never too far away. If your budget is tight, there are DIY site builders specifically geared toward small businesses. Or, with a relatively low monthly expenditure, you can hire a managed website provider.
Small- and medium-sized business owners can’t afford to overlook the importance of creating a fully functional website, as more revenue originates online. Contact us today for more information on building a modern website!
