5 Essentials to Include in Your Small Business Website

If you think that WordPress is just for bloggers, you couldn’t be more wrong. It might have started out that way, but has been transformed into the most popular content management system (CMS) on the Internet.

Its popularity stems from its ability to provide business owners with a platform that is visually-appealing and optimized for search.

When designing a website for a small business with WordPress, you can build a fully-functional website to do anything you want without having to do any coding.

A Clear Description

If someone arrives at your site and has to spend more than 3 seconds figuring out who you are and what you do, you just lost them. Make it clear on your home or landing page precisely what you do that will solve your website visitor’s problems or how your business will make their life easier.

For example, if your business provides graphic design services, your site should clearly say something like:

• Affordable. Design.
• Design solutions for any media
• Graphic design. Eye-Catching Results.
• Affordable solutions for your creativity needs

Any of the above slogans or tagline make it clear that your company provides graphic design services for your website visitors.

Call-to-Action

If you don’t tell your website visitors exactly what you want them to do when they land on your site, they won’t do it. A call-to-action can be an image or text that gives your visitor a clear path to take specific action. Examples of calls-to-action are:

• Schedule a demo
• Download a free report
• Request more information
• Enter our contest
• Take our Survey
• Subscribe to be notified of specials

Your calls-to-action need to be useful, relevant, and informative to your target market. And lastly, if you are telling your visitors they will receive a free report, make sure they get that free report. When used correctly, calls-to-action will provide a clear direction for your users.

Easy-to-Find Contact Information

Think about the primary action you want your website visitors to take when they land on your site. If you want them to visit your physical location and your address is not found quickly, they won’t. If you want them to call you and they have to search for your phone number, don’t expect your phone to ring.

These might sound obvious to most, but you might be surprised to know that many small business websites do not have an email address or phone number prominently displayed on their sites.

Don’t forget that if you only have your phone number on your homepage and someone is looking at another page, how are they going to call you?

You should include your contact information in the header and footer that appears on all pages of your site. This way no matter what page someone is looking at, they will easily be able to see how to contact you.

The smoother you make your website user’s experience, the better the chances they will stay longer on your site and the better your chances are of winning their business.

Social Media

Social media has become an integral part of marketing for all small businesses. Potential customers expect to be able to communicate with your business through their social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Did you know that 76% of customers between the ages of 45 and 60 expect a business to have a Facebook page?

If your business doesn’t have one, it is a good idea to create it so that you can communicate with your target market where they are hanging out online. Make sure your website includes links to all your social media profiles.

Reviews and Testimonials

What you say about your company offerings is one thing. It is your responsibility to make sure you are clear. But there is power in what others say about your business.

By including testimonials and reviews on your website, potential customers will get an idea of the kinds of experiences your current or past clients have had with your business. This can go a long way in persuading others to give your business offerings a try.

There are many more elements you can include to have a successful small business website. A few others are making sure it is:

• Mobile-responsive
• SEO friendly
• Content-rich
• Easy to navigate

A small business website that provides the right information a prospect needs to make an informed decision about whether or not to make a purchase, is more likely to sell more products or services.