InternetMarketing - 7 Things Your Website May Be Missing

By Casey Bowden

It's no secret that everything these days is done online. We can shop, interact, look up information, and even market our businesses, all with a few clicks of a button. Your website is one of the most powerful tools available to grow your business and be more successful. But unfortunately, most websites are missing key components that hinder their ability to effectively reach customers. Is your website the best it can be? Keep reading to find out.

Mobile-Responsiveness
I cannot stress enough the importance of mobile-responsiveness. You need to make sure your website looks and functions just as well as your desktop site. It's important for two reasons. First, Google actually began ranking websites that are highly mobile-friendly towards the top of their results page. Second, 85% of people searching online are doing it on mobile devices. If your site takes forever to load or doesn't look and function properly, people will move on quickly.

Clear Call To Action
One of the most common things that websites fail to feature is a prominent Call to Action button. If people don't see anything prompting them to act, they will often leave the website without taking the next step to reach out to you. Buttons should be prominently placed, match the rest of your colors/branding, and give people clear direction.

Authentic Photos
People can usually tell if a website is using stock photos and videos. While it is generally more expensive and time-consuming, using authentic photos and videos on your web pages can make you stand out above the competition. High-quality, creative media will make the website appear polished and professional. Visuals are very important in marketing your company, so don't just choose the cheapest/easiest option. A large background video on the homepage can entice visitors further into your site, high-quality images can accompany key service content, a gallery can showcase your work, etc.

Contact Information
This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised to find out how many websites are missing vital contact information. Your company info should be easy to find and access. We actually display our contact info on the bottom of several of our site's pages. All people have to do is scroll down and everything they need is right there. Also, having a contact page is a given. On it, you should have any important info they can use to reach you such as your email, phone, address, etc. You should include a contact form that's practical and easy for visitors to use.

Proper Hosting
Hosting can sometimes be an afterthought when a company launches its new website. Once the site is launched, people often pay for the cheapest hosting available and assume everything will go smoothly. But websites often encounter problems, and poor hosting could result in many issues that are bad for business. You could lose revenue if your site goes down, be ranked low on SEO rankings if your site is slow, and be susceptible to serious security and malware attacks if not properly protected.

Blog Section
Many companies do not see the value of a blog, but a blog section is a great way for visitors to gain some insight into your company. They are also a great way to promote your business because you can advertise each blog post on social media. Keep your topics well-rounded. Not every post has to be all business-you can have fun with your writing. Try to be knowledgeable and informative, but always remember that people want to know they're dealing with real people on the other side. Don't be afraid to let your personality show!

Testimonials
Testimonials are a great way to earn the trust of potential customers on your website. A real review of your company could be the spark that inspires someone to take action. Incorporate high-quality video testimonials if you want to add to the authenticity even more. Word-of-mouth marketing is free, so give people a great experience and they will gladly spread the word.

Keep these important aspects in mind when reviewing your website. If you want a high-end site that looks and functions great, Design Extensions can help! Our team of design and development experts has been building websites since 1999 (that's right, the 90s!). Get in touch with us to discuss any website, marketing or branding needs you may have. Visit http://www.designextensions.com today!