Crafting a functional, easy-to-use and attractive website is vital to your business’ success in today’s digital world, but it can be overwhelming to determine what factors have the greatest impact on user experience, and business risk. Here are ten website must-haves that will motivate visitors to engage with your business in a meaningful, safe and accessible way.
ADA Accessibility
When creating your website, you want to connect with as many people as possible. Building a site through the lens of accessibility and digital inclusion ensures that your website isn’t shutting out a significant portion of the population by default. The Americans with Disabilities Act created guidelines with the intent of guaranteeing accessibility and prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Digital inclusion, or the act of ensuring equitable and meaningful access to digital materials, like websites, should be prioritized in everything from design to functionality to the addition of accommodations that users can opt in and out of. Considerations like the color of text and background, whether videos have captions, alt text on images and allowing for keyboard navigation are all ways you can make certain everyone, like those with hearing or sight loss, is able to easily use your website.
Strong Security
When inviting users to your website, it’s important to be a good host, which means ensuring your guests’ data is secure when they visit. Shielding your website from malware, hackers and other security risks protects both you and your users. Whether or not you’re asking visitors for personal information, like their name or phone number, it’s crucial to implement security measures. Adding layers of protection like SSLs to encrypt user information, installing a security plug-in – for instance, adding Wordfence to a WordPress-hosted site – to defend against malware and putting your site behind a firewall will protect data and keep your website running smoothly.
Simple and Easy-to-Use Navigation
Once users are on your site, they should be able to effectively navigate to the information they need. Developing an intuitive and organized site map is the first step to creating a user-friendly website. UX, or user experience, is one of the most important aspects of web development. If users have a bad experience, like struggling to find the one page they need, why would they stay? When developing your website, it’s best to approach development from the perspective of your potential users. Remember, simple is always better.
Modern Design
In addition to the strictly functional aspects of developing a top-notch website, the site’s design is essential to providing both a great user experience and establishing credibility. Ensuring that all graphics and layouts are up-to-date, clear and well-designed communicates to users that they can expect that same quality in the work you do. Don’t worry, having a modern design doesn’t mean your website needs to look minimalistic or overly trendy. Working with a team of web developers and designers will help you achieve a design that showcases your company’s unique personality while staying fresh, clean and engaging.
Quality Copy
Every sentence, paragraph or phrase on your website should clearly communicate who you are and what you do. Working with a skilled copywriter who takes the time to know your brand will help you develop the perfect voice and tone for the website. It does take time and effort, but it’s worth it to put your best foot forward and effectively connect with your audience, both through the right messaging and implementing SEO best practices. Avoid flowery or overly vague language – don’t keep your website visitors guessing! Using clear and concise wording is the best way to ensure they keep reading.
Mobile-Friendly Design
Nearly half of web visits are via mobile phone – chances are, you’re reading this blog on your phone! When building your website, it’s important to consider that a significant amount of users will be accessing it from their phones rather than computers. Developing a mobile-friendly website ensures people will have access regardless of the device they use. This is particularly important if you know your audience possibly doesn’t have access to a personal computer.
Relevant Thought Leadership Content
Consistently publishing thought leadership content is a great, effective way to communicate to potential clients and customers that you’re keeping up with the latest trends and industry news – and you have something to say about it. It shows that you know what you’re talking about and that your audience can look to you as an authority in your industry. Whether you’re sharing short blogs, detailed white papers, how-to guides or executive interviews, establishing yourself as a thought leader helps you stand out in the marketplace.
Testimonials
Of course, you think your company is great, but what about your clients? Showcasing testimonials from clients and customers can increase user trust and lend you credibility. Whether we’re buying jeans online or hiring a contractor, we often look at reviews before making the final decision – let your potential customers do the same with your business. Former clients are sure to have positive things to say, so give them the space to share!
Customizable Contact Forms
If your business depends on potential clients contacting you, like a repair company whose customers need to reach out for an estimate, clearly listing your contact information is essential. Creating a contact form is a great option if you’re anticipating receiving a consistently high amount of consumer communication. A contact form can not only help you keep all communications organized but also help ensure you get all necessary information from potential clients. Custom fields allow you to ask those reaching out for specific pieces of information, like their name, address and reason for contact. You can also use this space to let users know when they can expect to hear back from you.
A Call-to-Action
Great! Your audience has made it to your website – now what? As you develop your site, it’s important to keep in mind what you want your audience to do. Do you want them to contact you? To buy something? Fill out a form? Guide them in the direction you want them to go with a call-to-action, or CTA.
Not sure where to start? CONNECTIVE is here to help you build a quality, user-friendly website to make your business shine! Our team has spent years honing their skills crafting compelling, award-winning websites focused on creating a great user experience. We take the time to understand you – your brand, your goals and your audience – so that we can build a quality website that meets all of your needs. Check out our portfolio and learn more about how we can help your team build the website of your dreams!
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