Building websites takes work, and even amazing brands can lose serious business if their website isn't up to snuff. Selling a product or service means packaging it through a website that entices customers and converts viewers. We all know that good content and visual appeal are essential, but there are some critical elements every website needs to have in place before it goes live. Before you launch your next project, make sure that the website you design has these five staples.
Responsive Design
Mobile compatibility is a major factor of modern SEO ranking, and it ensures anyone can access your site, no matter what device they use. Mobile traffic makes up the bulk of internet users these days, so you should anticipate that most of your visitors will either be scrolling on a smartphone or tablet. Responsive design scales your site to fit the size of a user's screen, creating a seamless experience for everyone.
Optimized Content and Copy
Keyword-optimized content should be at the forefront of your digital strategy when you launch. If you've done your research, you'll know what your audience is looking for and how to position your site in front of them. Intent-driven SEO can help you build a website that puts value before visibility, which actually generates more organic traffic and helps businesses multiply their revenue. Make sure you run through all the reasons why SEO is important prior to launch. A refresher will help you build a strategy around powerful keywords that are less sales-driven and more rooted in establishing credibility and trust with your audience.
Explicit Calls-to-Action
Avoid being vague when it comes to promoting services. Some websites only advertise their business without creating a rich story that culminates with a prompt for the viewer. Whether it's encouraging someone to contact us today at the end of every blog post or an entire landing page, make sure that there are directions that help guide users from simple viewers into loyal customers.
An Exclusive Offer
Opt-in offers, like a free e-book for joining a mailing list, help you build a roster of leads early in the game. These can be invaluable as you start to work on conversions through newsletters and e-mail marketing services. Discount codes and other freebies also make good offers. Just make sure you make it easy for anyone who is interested in the material to access it as soon as they provide their information. Having exclusive offers can also be useful when promoting on social media; as more people visit your accounts to click through to your site, they're also likely to check out other posts and possibly become followers.
Consistent Navigation
The better a site is designed, the easier it is for search engines to crawl and rank. Navigation is also a practical consideration that some designers overlook. An infinite scroll feature is always a major plus, and there should always be a nav bar visible for users to quickly move from one page to another. Well-placed hyperlinks will also help guide your visitors throughout your web pages, and they can even be used to create a narrative that leads them from your home or landing page through the entire process of becoming a customer in a single session.
