If you want your company to hold its own in the Internet world, you need small business web design that works. The best small business websites don’t stop at targeting customers ï they also target potential and current employees. If you don’t have a website at all or if yours is currently lacking in the hits department, doing some research and tweaking ï or completely overhauling ï the site could get you back on track.
Add Personality to Attract Customers
Personality brings in people. How many times have you seen small business websites that use the same basic template and wording? Were you intrigued? Were you moved to purchase products or services on the spot? Probably not. To create the best website, hire professional web designers who can help you brand your site. A recognizable logo and color scheme are the building blocks to small business web design that works. Mix it with witty writing and information about the people behind the website and you’re much more likely to bring in new customers.
Use Information to Attract Potential Employees
A solid website should focus on more than the customers. Small business web design that works brings value to jobseekers, too. Your website represents your company brand, so attract potential talent by including pages with photographs of team members and the environment in which your company operates. Dedicate a page specifically to providing details about open job positions and the type of skills you are looking for in an employee. Include a link to the page in the footer or another prominent area. Don’t forget to mention open job positions in your website’s blog and on your social media accounts. Never simply state that you’re hiring and ask people to contact you. Almost nobody will take the initiative without knowing what they are calling about.
Include Your Current Employees
Many companies forget the most important part of their business when creating a website ï the current employees! If you truly want small business web design that works, you want your employees to feel as if they are part of the team. Include an employee section that provides pictures and information about the people who work for you, which not only shows them you value you them, but shows potential employees and customers you value the people behind the brand. You might also consider a private employee hub where your team can communicate among themselves or speak with management. A section to check schedules or request time off will provide convenience for your employees, further showing your appreciation.
Making It Happen
Now that you know who your target audience is for small business web design that works, you should consider exactly how to make your website happen. Begin by focusing on what’s most important to your brand. This information should be at the top of the page and not require scrolling to find. This includes the most important contact information, coupon codes or other sales-related notifications, and information or pictures about new or featured products and services. Your written content is just as important as your visual content. Avoid ïstuffingï keywords in an attempt to make your website rise in the Google ranks. Overly salesy writing not only makes your readers cringe, it also makes Google’s algorithms angry. Instead of getting your desired result, your website is actually likely to be penalized. Always look up SEO best practices before writing content.
Keep It Current
You need to be sure your content is current. This doesn’t mean you need to write a post every day, but you should update information or blog regularly. If you use social media widgets on your website, be sure you aren’t neglecting your company’s Facebook or Twitter accounts. Visitors will notice if it’s February and your Twitter hasn’t been updated since before Thanksgiving. Finally, be sure your website is easy to read and accessible on every device. Fewer people are using laptops or desktops on a regular basis, so if your website doesn’t load well on tablets or smartphones, you’re losing potential connections. This is known as responsive web design. Any good web designer knows how to provide responsive design. If yours doesn’t, hire someone new. Small business web design that works isn’t the easiest thing you’ll ever do, but it’s definitely not as hard as some people think, either. A solid logo and color scheme and engaging writing can take your company to new heights. Want more ideas for your small business? Check out some of the other resources available on Mighty Recruiter.