Your website is like your digital storefront. It’s the first thing potential customers will see when they’re looking for products or services like yours. And just like a physical storefront, first impressions count.
You only have a few seconds to make a good impression and convince someone to stick around. If your website looks outdated or isn’t user-friendly, they’ll click away and you’ll lose a customer.
So how can you be sure that your website is ready for business? Use this 10-point checklist to find out:
1. Your website should be mobile-friendly
In today’s world, more people are accessing the internet on their phones than on desktop computers. That means it’s essential that your website is designed to be responsive on all devices.
If it’s not, you’re likely losing out on a lot of potential customers. In fact, 61% of mobile users say they’re unlikely to return to a website that isn’t mobile-friendly.
2. Your website should load quickly
Another important factor in whether or not someone will stay on your website is how long it takes to load. If it’s taking too long, they’ll get frustrated and click away.
The ideal page load time is under three seconds. Anything over five seconds is considered too slow. Use a tool like Pingdom to test your site speed and see where you need to improve.
3. Your website should be easy to navigate
Once someone is on your website, you want to make it easy for them to find what they’re looking for. That means having a clear and easy-to-use navigation menu.
Your menu should be visible on every page and easy to understand. Drop-down menus can be helpful for organizing a lot of content, but make sure they’re not too confusing. This is true for your app too. Be sure to check out examples of ux design.
4. Your website should have quality content
The content on your website is what will convince people to stay and buy from you. It needs to be well-written, relevant, and engaging.
All of your content should be written with your target audience in mind. And don’t forget about the visuals! Adding images and videos can help break up text and make your website more visually appealing.
5. Your website should have a blog
A blog is a great way to add fresh, relevant content to your website on a regular basis. It also helps improve your SEO and can attract new visitors to your site.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide on how to start a business blog. It covers everything from choosing a platform to writing your first post.
6. Your website should be secure
If you’re selling products or services on your website, you need to have a secure checkout process. That means having an SSL certificate and using a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe.
You should also have a privacy policy that explains how you use customer data. This is especially important if you’re collecting email addresses for a newsletter.
Most importantly, you should make sure all of your website software is patched and updated regularly.
7. Your website should have social media buttons
Social media is a great way to promote your website and attract new visitors. Make it easy for people to find your social media accounts by adding buttons to your website.
You can add social media buttons to your header, footer, or sidebar. And be sure to link to your profiles in your bio or About page.
8. Your website should have an opt-in form
An opt-in form allows people to sign up for your email list so they can receive updates from you. This is a great way to build relationships with potential customers and promote your products or services.
There are a few different places you can add an opt-in form on your website. The sidebar is a popular choice, but you could also put one in the footer or on specific pages (like your blog).
9. Your website should be SEO-friendly
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search results.
The higher you rank, the more likely people are to find and visit your website. That’s why it’s important to make sure your site is as SEO-friendly as possible.
10. Your website should have Google Analytics installed
Google Analytics is a free tool that allows you to track your website traffic. It’s important to install this before you launch your site so you can see how people are finding and using it.
Once you have Google Analytics installed, be sure to check in on your stats regularly. This will help you identify any areas where you need to improve your website.
There you go!
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to put these tips into action! Use this checklist to make sure your website is ready for business.
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