Building your brand is just as important as owning your business. One of the first steps to building a reputable, credible business is investing in a professional website, especially one that is accessible to all users, includes a call to action, and works for you, even after business hours are over for the day.

Before I launch into explaining my logic, here are some real stats. In February, Forbes released their “Top Website Statistics For 2023.” At a glance, Forbes notes, in 2023:

• 71% of businesses have a website
• 43% of small businesses plan to invest in their website performance
• 93% of global traffic comes from Google
• 51.2% of website traffic comes from mobile devices – in North America alone
• 88% of users won’t return to a site after a bad experience
• 74% of online users will return to a website that is mobile-friendly
• Half of internet users say that they use website design as a factor to formulate their opinion on a business
• 48% say the number one way they decide on the credibility of a business is determined by the website design

I really encourage you to read the full article, linked above. The lack of a website, specifically, a well-built website could be a big factor in what’s holding your business back from reaching its full potential of clientele.

Our society is continuously evolving, and smart technology has accelerated that evolution tremendously. We are now conditioned to thrive on instant gratification, whether that be an Amazon purchase reaching your doorstep in two-days, or the grocery pick-up that you’re thankful you didn’t have to go inside the store to pick-up (Me too!). The point is, when a potential client develops a need, the first action they’ll take will be picking up their device and Googling for their answer. If your business isn’t populating in those search results – you just shorted yourself their business.

The second, equally as important, aspect to building a website, is recognizing the need for a well-built website.

Let’s just put it out there: It’s true! Anyone CAN build a website. However, I urge you to consult and work with a website design specialist to ensure your website not only retains the attention of users, but performs at high level to benefit your business. There are several different features your website should have, but I’ll only highlight a few.

Accessibility

• A website should adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Standards. This allows any user of your website, especially those requiring the use of screen readers, captioning, or voice recognition to have full access to you website.
• Accessibility also ensures the flexibility of your website on different devices, meaning that a user can fully use your website whether they are viewing it on a desktop computer, tablet, or phone.

Call to Action

• If you read the full Forbes article, you saw that “Seven out of 10 small business websites don’t include a call to action.” The paragraph then goes on to state, “Seventy percent of small business websites lack a call to action, which can impact their ability to convert website visitors into customers.”
• A call to action is just what as it sounds. It’s a prompt that encourages users to do something on your website, like sign-up for a newsletter, check-out a new sale, or fill-out a contact form for more information.
• Without a call to action on your website, users tend to leave your site, and potentially won’t return.

A Website that Works for You

• Your website should have the professional look and feel that accurately represents your business. After all, it most likely will be the first interaction your potential clients have with your business – and will determine if they will follow through with your services. That being said, a website that functions fully, 24/7, will benefit you tremendously, even after your business hours are over for the day. After all, your website should work just as hard as you do.

Creating, or even redesigning, a business website should be just as exciting as when you first began to build your business. The process should be smooth, effective, and enjoyable. If you are looking to make a change, reach out to me. I am thrilled to share my knowledge within a field I am passionate about and am absolutely looking forward to the opportunity to work with you.