The digital world is changing daily, and it can be hard to keep up. The good news? Just making minor, regular improvements to your website can have a huge overall impact.
Mobile Responsive
A “mobile-responsive” site means that the pages on your website will automatically resize for optimal viewing on any mobile device — cell phones, tablets, etc. In today’s world, a mobile-friendly site can make or break your website traffic. A quick way to test if your website is mobile responsive is with this free tool from Google.
If it turns out that your website does need some work to be more mobile-friendly, here’s a good place to start:
- Use a mobile-responsive template and web builder (We recommend WordPress)
- Focus on short paragraphs, bulleted lists and visuals
- Make sure buttons are large and easy to click
- Make images and text large and easy to read
Loading Speed
We live in a world of instant gratification. If your website takes more than a few seconds to load, would-be visitors are going to close out and move on to the next thing. (Not to mention, Google won’t rank your website as highly as it would if you had fast loading times.) Google Analytics should be able to tell you everything you need to know about your website’s page speeds.
Here are a few tips for improving your site’s loading speed:
- Website Hosting — Investing in good web hosting is a must-have for fast load speeds. (FYI, website hosting is included with all of our support packages.)
- Remove Add-Ons — It’s a good idea to check your website occasionally and remove any files and plugins that you no longer need.
- Optimize Images — Those images you got from your photographer are beautiful. But they’re also likely high-resolution photos, which take a long time to load. Compress images to improve your webpage’s speed. (We promise no one will notice the difference.)
Site Security
A Secure Socket Layer (SSL) tells website visitors (and Google!) that your website is safe. If you’re missing this crucial piece of website security, that’s a huge red flag to potential website visitors. It’s almost guaranteed to make your business lose website traffic.
The good news is that they’re standard with new website builds — but if your website is older, then you may want to look into this.
Modern Design
By keeping up with modern design trends, you’re building trust with your visitors. Here are a few of the trends to keep an eye on:
- Negative Space — Less is more. Using white or negative space allows our visitors’ eyes to find the important information on the page without being overwhelmed.
- Simple Menus — Avoid clutter and confusion by focusing on streamlined menus and CTAs.
- Branding — Incorporate your branding into your website and social media accounts to (you guessed it) build brand trust.
Compelling Content
Investing in great copy and images is a fantastic way to improve your website. This is how you tell your visitors about your business and how it can improve their lives.
Engaging copy should:
- Give Details — You want to give your visitors all the information they need without overwhelming them. Remember: short paragraphs and bulleted lists.
- Be Audience Specific — If you’re talking to everyone, you’re talking to no one. Write to the specific audience that you’re trying to attract.
- Include Strong CTAs — Once you convince your audience why your business is the one to choose, it’s time to reel them in. Strong calls to action (CTAs) will do just that.
A few things to remember for website images:
- Quality Over Quantity — Using too many website photos will slow down your website, so try to select only the ones that support your overall goals.
- Avoid Stock Photography — Those same images are visible on countless other websites. You want to stand out from the competition, not blend in.
Ready to Take the Next Steps for Your Website?
Let’s talk about it! Our services range from support to design and everything in between. If you have a question or problem with your website, then we’re sure to be able to help. Start the conversation today to figure out how we can help you improve your website in a few simple steps.