What key elements should every website have, you may ask? Between the rise of digital and online interactions, there’s no question that websites play a big part in successful businesses. For those who are trying to reach a specific audience to grow their reach, your website is your ability to showcase your brand. Making sure you have the right features on your web design will ultimately set you apart from the competitors.
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Top 7 Elements Every Website Needs
When you look at other websites in your industry or niche, a huge spectrum of quality might exist. Besides basic color choices and graphical elements, there are key features to make sure you include on your website. From user-friendly navigation to customer testimonials, be sure your website has these essential features.
- Clear descriptions of what you offer
- User-friendly site navigation
- Quality page content
- Easy-to-find contact information
- Links to social media accounts
- Customer testimonials
- Noticeable calls to action
1) Clear descriptions of what you offer
Your website is your online billboard for your business. From the moment a user clicks on your page, provide a clear description of the products or services you offer. There shouldn’t be any confusion as to who you are or how you can benefit a user. Be sure to give a quick overview of your business, especially on your homepage.
2) User-friendly site navigation
Now, more than ever, user experience is key to ranking on search engines and for keeping users on your website. Make sure your website design includes clear links to internal pages and a sitemap that’s easy to understand.
Pro Tip: Don’t hide information in random pages or internal links. Instead, think like the user. If they’re looking for a product, there should be a “product” page or button, etc.
3) Quality page content
The content found on your website is what potential customers will reference in the future. Conduct research for your particular market and ensure that the pages on your website will contain enough information to be relevant. Having a website is great, but if you don’t have quality content, users will ultimately go somewhere else.
4) Easy-to-find contact information
One of the key purposes of a website is to share your business, which means your contact information should be distinctly clear. Common places such as the header menu, sidebar, footer links, or about page could be helpful. In addition, however, it’s best to have a separate contact page where you can list your phone number, map location, and email address. If users have specific questions, you can also provide a contact form that can be sent directly to your customer service department.
5) Blog page
Today, being on the top ten search results is the biggest way you can grow your business organically. That’s the importance of your website’s blog section. While you should be using relevant keywords in your website pages, individual blog posts can help dig deeper and provide more information. By posting about topics related to your industry, potential customers can be introduced to your business.
6) Customer testimonials
Hearing what other people have to say ultimately helps legitimize your business. Whether you add customer testimonials as a section to your homepage or as its own page, make sure you can display honest reviews so that onlookers can get a better understanding of what to expect from your business.
7) Noticeable calls to action
Website design, just like digital marketing, has a purpose or a goal attached to it. Most often, it can be summed up in your calls to action. Whatever you’re asking users to do, from requesting a quote to viewing gallery images, the action should be clear. Use special buttons or bolded text so that users aren’t left feeling confused.
Bottom Line: Attract Potential Customers
At the end of the day, your website is a reflection of your business. How you portray yourself online will ultimately determine whether new users will pursue your business. Focus on making your information easy to understand, and you’ll find continued return on your web design.
Does your website need an upgrade? Connect with our team to conduct a free site audit to improve your online presence.
Ashlee Visser is the Content Manager at ITVibes, Inc. She holds a B.A. in Humanities from Thomas Edison State University. With a strong focus on organization, she excels in content management and website writing. Ashlee’s passion for writing is evident in every project she undertakes. When she’s not busy managing content, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their growing family.
