<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
Consider the\u00a0Project\u2019s Scale<\/h3>\n
However, even if you\u2019ve found some sites you like, they might not have many elements that would be applicable to your own website project. When looking for examples, you should take into account the scale of the project along with the actual design elements. You don\u2019t want to choose a designer based on their work with huge brands that have hundreds of website pages if your project is very small and basic.<\/p>\n
Peruse\u00a0Pre-Made Themes<\/h3>\n
Not every brand new business owner will necessarily have the resources to hire a design team. There are plenty of pre-made themes available for purchase, depending on the web host you\u2019ve chosen. So find a theme that fits with your branding and will allow for small edits down the road.<\/p>\n
Stay Away from Free Themes<\/h3>\n
However, Bracket cautions against businesses choosing free themes for their sites, since they often aren\u2019t as secure as those you purchase. It doesn\u2019t have to be a huge expense, but even a small investment in a good theme can help keep your first business website secure.<\/p>\n
Add a Face<\/h3>\n
One of the common elements of many popular small business websites, according to Bracket, is a photo of the founder or the team. She explains:<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times with new businesses or website owners, they want to try and make their businesses look big. But that\u2019s not always beneficial. A lot of customers want to know that there\u2019s a real person who\u2019s going to be working with them. So including a good photo of yourself or your team is almost always a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tell a Personal Story<\/h3>\n
Another way to make people feel more connected to your business through your website is to tell your story. Bracket says:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really nice to include a story about yourself or why you created the business in the first place, as long as that reason is something more than just \u2018to make money.\u2019 If you started the business to help people or if there was a specific thing that happened that led to your business idea, people love stories like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Set Up Easy Contact<\/h3>\n
With very limited exceptions, every business website, no matter the type or size, should include contact information. This can be an email address, phone number, address, social accounts, or all of the above. The more ways you give people to contact you, the more likely they are to feel comfortable reaching out.<\/p>\n
Always Include a Contact Form<\/h3>\n
When deciding which types of contact information to provide, a contact form should always be included, says Bracket. Sometimes people are looking to get in touch but they don\u2019t have access to their main email program or just can\u2019t click on your email link for whatever reason. A contact form makes it easy for people to send a message no matter where they are or what kind of device they are using.<\/p>\n
Keep Design Elements Simple<\/h3>\n
Whether you\u2019re working with a designer or just choosing a template, don\u2019t go too crazy with different design elements. Stick with a few colors or textures and don\u2019t add too many different fonts or type sizes.<\/p>\n
Make Text\u00a0Easy-to-Read<\/h3>\n
Since the text of your site is likely what\u2019s providing most of the relevant information to your visitors, it\u2019s important that they can actually read it. Basic typefaces, like those that your designer or theme are likely to suggest, are best for readability. So don\u2019t go changing all of your fonts to fancy lettering just because you think it looks cool.<\/p>\n
Add Valuable Images<\/h3>\n
Visuals like images can also go a long way for adding interest to your\u00a0first business website. Some ideas for relevant images include team photos, examples of your work, and even relevant stock images.<\/p>\n
Avoid\u00a0Cheap Stock Photography<\/h3>\n
However, an overwhelming amount of stock photography won\u2019t really add anything to your\u00a0first business website. So if you\u2019re not willing to make a small investment in good images, it might be best to just skip it. Bracket says:<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people see other websites that utilize great photos and they think, \u2018I really need a photo here.\u2019 But then they don\u2019t want to pay anything for photography so they end up with one that doesn\u2019t show anything about the business, is low quality and has been seen a thousand times. If it doesn\u2019t actually add anything to your page, you might just be better off with no photo at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Include Customer Testimonials<\/h3>\n
Customer testimonials can be another great element of a lot of business sites. If your business is brand new, work on getting some quality testimonials first, rather than just publishing bland, generic recommendations. But even a few text blocks from customers can help build your credibility.<\/p>\n
Scout\u00a0Good Images<\/h3>\n
Including images with those testimonials can increase their prevalence on your site even more. But you might have to work on getting the best images possible. Bracket explains:<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve found that, for clients that like to include photos with things like testimonials, if they ask clients for photos they tend to be a bit bashful about sending them. But if they just ask if they can use a photo from their LinkedIn page or take one while they\u2019re on a sales call, they\u2019re more likely to go for it. You have to make it really easy for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Add Video Elements When Possible<\/h3>\n
You can also add video testimonials or other types of video content to your first business website if it\u2019s relevant to your message and high quality.<\/p>\n
Insist on a Mobile Site<\/h3>\n
But no matter what type of content you decide to include on your website, make sure that the site itself is responsive or mobile friendly. Having a site that isn\u2019t mobile optimized can drive away customers, hurt your SEO and look unprofessional.<\/p>\n
Research SEO<\/h3>\n
SEO is a concept you\u2019ll have to keep in mind throughout the entirety of running your website. Your designer should be able to help with the basics at first. But over time you\u2019ll likely want to educate yourself about some of the concepts so that people can easily find you online.<\/p>\n
Learn as You Go<\/h3>\n
Once your first business website is live, the process is far from over. You\u2019ve made a great first step. But a company\u2019s website is never really complete. Add or change elements as your business grows and changes. Adapt to things like SEO and mobile designs. And always remember to keep your customers\u2019 needs and wants in mind when it comes to your\u00a0first business website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Having a professional, comprehensive website is important for pretty much every new business. But getting started can seem intimidating for those who have never had their own website before. Below\u00a0are tips for building your first business website. Have a Clear Goal Every small business website is different because every one serves a different purpose. If […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0},"categories":[9,3,7],"tags":[51],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4625"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4625"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4625\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a1webdesignteam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}