Not all websites are created equal. Your website is the first impression potential customers have about your company. A majority of consumers visit a company’s website before doing business. Most of these people visit more than one website before making a purchase.
2 important reasons for this:
1. A website is essential for your company to remain competitive.
2. Your website should be better than your competitors.
This guide will help you understand the five essential features every website needs to increase your ROI. If you implement these features, your website can be your greatest salesperson.
1. Target SEO Strategy
Is a website worthless if no one can find it? SEO optimization is the key to a website’s success. Search engines like Google will consider hundreds of factors before displaying your site in their search results. These factors can affect a website’s ability to be found by its target audience. Each line of code within your website needs to be checked to make sure it is optimized for search engines. That’s why DIY solutions often fail to offer business owners the best possible solution.
You will see a return on your investment.
2. Mobile Responsive Design
Mobile devices are used by up to 80% of website visitors. If your website isn’t working properly, users will know where to find it. Small screens have a very different user experience from a laptop or desktop. It is difficult for mobile users to navigate and find the information they need. Modern websites respond to screen size so that they can display properly on every device.
3. Clear Navigation
What could be more frustrating than trying to find the information you need on a website that doesn’t exist? Your visitors won’t be able to find the right way to navigate your website. The visitor must know immediately where to find the information they need. They won’t waste their time trying to figure out how to do it. Your visitors should find it simple, clear, and easy to take the action that they want, such as learning more about your product or service or getting pricing information. You should make it easy for anyone to use.
4. Obvious calls to action
Let’s face facts, none of us want to have to think so much. It is important that your website clearly explains what the next step should be to ensure readers are satisfied. There are hundreds of decisions that people have to make every day. You shouldn’t waste your brainpower by wasting time on your website. Your website should be designed so that visitors can easily find the right action. Calls-to-action like “buy now”, “find out more”, or “call us today” can help you save money.
The reader is not forced to think about what to do. Let them know what steps to take
should take the next step.
5. Client-focused Content
People waste their time on cold leads. Your website should address your ideal customer. It’s impossible to please everyone. Although you may be busy, you can still do your best.
Most likely, you won’t be happy or profitable. The ideal client is someone who discovers the best solution to their problems and needs using the products or services offered by your company. They become loyal clients, return customers, and more likely to recommend your company to family and friends. Your website can be tailored to suit the needs and preferences of your ideal client. This will help you attract more clients.
Mobile-First Index – Why mobile responsiveness cannot be ignored
People take their smartphones with them everywhere. This allows them to be connected at all times. South Africa’s total population of 29.2 millions (51%) has access to the internet via their mobile devices. This number is higher worldwide… When comparing mobile and desktop usage, mobile wins.
The Mobile-First Index
Google is changing how they index websites for this reason. In the past they crawled, index and ranked websites based upon their desktop version. However, since March 2018, Google has been rolling out the Mobile-First Index. This is a new search algorithm which prioritizes a website’s mobile version.
Google will index your desktop version even if it is limited to a desktop version. The problem is that there is only one index. It will be difficult to compete with mobile-friendly websites. They rank higher on the search engine result page (SERP).
Many factors influence keyword rankings, but mobile-friendly websites will perform better, increasing your chances to be found.
Mobile-friendly refers to a website that is mobile-friendly. With a smaller screen, you have less “real estate” for your website to work with. Because there is less space for message transmission, good content and good design are important.
Mobile-responsive design
The perfect solution is a mobile responsive website. You can deliver the same high quality content to mobile users that you do to desktop users. A responsive website adapts the content automatically to fit the screen size of the user’s device.
A mobile responsive site doesn’t need a separate URL. It is simply a simplified version of your desktop website, only accessible from a smartphone. It’s easier for mobile users to find what they want and make sense of your website. Your user will be more satisfied with your overall user experience (UX).
My client in the appliance industry was actually able to use a website that wasn’t mobile responsive. His contact details section appeared on the desktop version but not on mobile. He spent R15 000 on Google AdWords at that time and received virtually no queries. His site was made mobile-responsive and the queries started to flow within the day. Mobile responsiveness can help you reach your target market while ensuring a better return on investment (ROI).
It is vital for businesses to have responsive design because:
- It helps you to remain ahead of the competition, get better SERPs results, and ultimately increase your mobile customer reach.
- It enhances the overall user experience on your website. The user will experience a consistent experience, regardless of whether they are on mobile or desktop. This will increase lead generation, conversions, sales, and overall satisfaction.
- It only requires one URL which makes it easier to track, analyze and report.
- It adapts to all screen sizes. This makes it cost-effective and time-saving.
How do you determine a website’s mobile responsiveness?
A responsive mobile design adjusts its layout when you change the screen size. Google’s mobile-friendly test will allow you to check it.
You will also notice responsive design’s visual effects.
- There is no horizontal scroll bar
- There is enough space to tap buttons and make selections
- Text is easily readable without the need to zoom in and out
You can also test the layout on a computer desktop. Simply drag your browser window from one end to another with your mouse. If it cuts off words and images, it is not responsive.
How to make your website mobile-responsive
These issues can be fixed with the right knowledge. It could require a complete redesign of your website or just a few fixes. We can help with everything, from layout and media to typography. Contact us to get a more sustainable web design that adapts to mobile screen sizes.
