It’s easy to create a professional website that lets you communicate with customers and sell products or services. Building a great business website doesn’t require a degree in computer science or coding experience. The best way to build a website for free is to use a website building platform that gives you the necessary tools to quickly and easily set up a fully functional website. Here are five essentials for building an effective website.
Tip #1 – Brand Yourself
Want to build a website that stands out? Pick a great logo that represents your company’s branding and makes a significant impact. A logo is one of the most important branding investments a business can make. A logo should have the following characteristics:
- Distinctive
- Appropriate
- Practical
- Simple
Pro Tip: No need to hire an artist. Online logo design tools like Logo.com have fonts, icons, shapes, and colors to make a cool logo in just a few minutes.
Tip #2 – Design: Function and Flair
Successful website design gives your users an amazing experience and helps your users navigate from one page to another seamlessly. No matter how great the content on your site is, you could be losing conversions if your website isn’t visually appealing. Three of the most important aesthetic elements for effective website design are
- Color – these should match your branding and product line.
- Typography – use a font that’s keeping with your industry. Use a clear font and text size for clarity and comfort.
- Layout – make sure your site flows so your audience knows what you want them to do. They should know how to add a product to a shopping cart and contact customer service.
Pro Tip: There are many website templates to use when you build a website. These are designed by experts. Choose a template that fits your business and customizes it with your company information. Then if you want, add your own flair and personalization using easy drag n’ drop tech.
Tip #3 – E-Commerce
Chances are if you are selling a product you are already familiar with an e-commerce or online store design. Making sure it has user-friendly features is necessary.
“Studies show that 76% of consumers say the most important characteristic of a website is ease of use.”
- Global access, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Search functionality – autocomplete options really help your users save time and get to the product they want.
- Every site you have should be mobile-friendly – make sure your online store is 100% responsive.
- Reviews – let your customers get you more sales with review options.
- Wishlists – a great way to get customers to convert is letting them create a wishlist for them to purchase later.
Pro Tip: Pick a ready-made online store template to quickly add products and bring your business online.
Tip #4 – Landing Pages
A landing page is a crucial element when building a website because it provides a targeted platform for converting higher percentages of visitors into leads. A landing page is a great way to drive traffic, improve your SEO, and build your brand. Most leading businesses use landing pages to generate leads for future conversion. Landing pages lead customers to a specific product, service, or offer and encourage them to take action.
Pro Tip: Landing page creator platforms allow you to quickly pick a design and connect your own custom domain.
Tip #5 -Blog About It
By blogging consistently, you give Google and other search engines new content to index and you create opportunities to plug in those all-important keywords to increase your visibility on search engine results pages. More importantly, blogging allows you to develop relationships with potential and existing customers.
One of the biggest benefits of business blogging is the ability to provide value to visitors. Posts that help them solve problems or include tips to make something in their life easier are far more interesting to potential leads than obvious ads. A few examples of ways that blogs add value are :
- Product reviews
- Tutorials, instructional webinars
- News about upcoming products and services
Pro Tip: Blogging platforms and Apps let you choose your topic, write engaging articles, add images, optimize and publish them in just a few steps.
Takeaway
Creating an effective website doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. Wow, your users with an amazing design that showcases your brand with great logo colors, typography, and layout. Add features an online storefront, a blog, and a landing page to drive business.