What makes a great website?

1. Appearance

• Your website needs to reflect your company's values and goals.
  It must be visually appealing. It could be a potential client's first impression of your company.

• The three second rule applies to appearance. If they don't form a good opinion in three seconds, they will leave.

• Text must be easy to read, colours used wisely and your branding elements maintained. Fonts need to be kept to under three and be consistent on each page.

• Images need to be used carefully. Don't overwhelm viewers by using too many. They are there to enhance your products or services.

• Photos need to be high resolution without slowing down your site. Use images that are clear and not copyrighted.

• Don't clutter the pages with useless animations or too many elements. Keep it simple and retain a consistent look throughout.

2. Content

• People come to your site for information so make sure its relevant and informative.

• A visitor will leave if they don't know what you do, know how to get it and form an opinion that they trust you all in about three seconds.

• Websites should be updated regularly... google likes that.

• Ensure that your content is your own and enhances what your company needs to advertise.

• There are many features of a website and you'll want to be sure you have used the correct ones for your needs. For example: Do you need a blog or a gallery?

• Don't use language that is hard to follow, full of acronyms, big words or runs on like a long story.

• Get to the point. Be clear. Have good supporting images.

• Offer FAQs, Testimonials and news or tips.

3. Functionality

• Every aspect of your website should work correctly. You don't want broken links or poorly constructed components that will frustrate the viewer.

• Grammar is important. Make sure you don't have any spelling errors, bad grammar or missing punctuation.

• Check your facts and have an error free website.

• Your website is your storefront. Offer similar services to what you would offer in person or make it easy to get them.

• Make sure you have all the basics covered. Social Media, contact page, phone links, quick links, catalog, blog, gallery, feedback, newsletter, tracking, analytics, easy navigation, database, booking forms, purchase options and much more.

4. Website Usability

• Your website must be easy to read, navigate and understand.

• Have an easy to see call-to-action on every page.

• Keep your images small enough that you don't create long load times for your pages.

• Create links on your home page to find other features people will need to read about.

• Maintain a consistent layout and repeat certain elements throughout your site.

• Don't make your visitors hunt for information. A properly placed and easily navigated menu is key.

• Cross platform compatibility. You'll need to make sure that your website will work on different browsers, displays and mobile systems.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• SEO is an important aspect of any website. You'll need to make sure that your site frequently uses important key words so that search engines will find them.

• Learn what the important TAGS are for and why they are important: Heading, ALT, Title, Meta, strong/bold, italics, 

• Don't stuff keywords or use tricks to try to fool Google. Google has seen them all and knows how to recognize them. At best, you will suffer lower rank. At worst, you will be moved to their supplemental index and disappear from search results. Most likely, you will be stuck on page 10 or more of the results, which essentially hides you. It is not worth it.

• The best strategy is a strong content strategy. Learn E-A-T strategies. This will be explained in a future blog.

• Minimal use of tables. Use DIVs instead when possible.

• Don't use flash, it will be obsolete very soon.

• Use CSS to keep your code clutter free.

Sounds like a lot, hey? If you have us design your website for you, we will make sure that everything is done to make your site a successful addition to your marketing plan. You want your website to represent your business, in the best way it can. We have a process in place to make the best use of the information you give us, in order to create your vision of your brand. 

Contact us today at 780.739.5850 for your new website!