If you own and run a business, having a website is essential. Not only will people expect it (and look at you rather suspiciously if you don’t have one), but a website is your ultimate marketing tool. Once it is up and running, it can bring you more business than you realize, and because of that, it’s essential to get it right.

Having a goal when creating your website is the first step – it means you can work out who to target with your site, and what to include. The goal is the start of everything online. Here are some of the best foundations for any website that will help you grow from there.

Make It Intuitive

If a potential customer has come to your website and wants to find something specific, don’t make them search for it. Make it easy to find. In fact, make your entire website intuitive to use, and you will find that people will stay on it for longer (which makes the search engines happy and can help with your rankings), and also that they will buy things or get in touch regarding your services. Whatever you want them to do, make the message clear and straightforward, and make the site easy to navigate, and you’ve made a good start.

Find a Good Host

A website that keeps failing and falling at any given moment will not help you grow your business. This is why it’s important to do your research and find a web hosting company that is going to be there when the going gets tough and ensure that your site has as little downtime as possible.

SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is not as scary as it sounds, and getting it right means being found quicker online. Being ranked higher than a competitor, especially if you are on the first page of Google, will stand you in good stead. It’s all about the right keywords and content, and if you’re unsure about it, an expert can always be found to guide you through. If you’re unsure about anything, find a local SEO company to help you, as this is not a step you want to get wrong.

Less Is More

Too much information on a website can put visitors off. They don’t have time to read all that text, and all they want to do is find the item or service they clicked through for in the first place. If your website is full of words or you take a long time to get round to what you want (and need) to say, your potential customers will just go elsewhere, and you will lose the sale. Distilling your website down so that only the essentials are there will help you in the long term, even if it feels too simplified to begin with. Your clients will appreciate the minimalism.

Make It Mobile Friendly

A website that works on a laptop or desktop but doesn’t look right on a mobile device will not do much to help your business image. More and more people are using their phones and tablets to surf the web these days, and they want to do it quickly and without fuss. Optimizing your site for a mobile device means keeping customers and selling more which, ultimately, is what business is all about.