Robert M. Kerr

Food and Agricultural Products Center

 

Are you thinking about creating or improving your small business website? It is essential for every successful business, even small ones, to have a website.

 

As a vital part of business growth, you might be losing a lot of potential online customers without a website. Therefore, knowing the importance of a website is key to growing your business exponentially.

 

Even during non-business hours, customers can access a website and discover company services and information. With minimal maintenance, a website is a resource to ensure customers are always able to access the company.

 

As an extension of a company’s brand, a website is the first place potential customers will go to find information. The website serves as the backbone of a business, offering support for digital marketing efforts.

 

One of the convenient ways for a non-developer to design a customizable website is to utilize an online website builder. All that is needed is a web browser and Internet connection. With these tips, plus a little time and planning, even a non-website designer can build a successful website.

 

Keep in mind the following tips when creating or improving a business website.

 

• Is your website easy to find online? Select a domain name that is unique, easy to remember and fits the brand. The goal is to select a domain name that relates to the business and hints at the products or services offered.
• Start with five core pages. Every business will have different informational needs, but there are some core pages most sites should always include: a home page (set the tone/brand), products/services page (what is provided/offered), about page (tell the story), testimonials page (positive reviews) and contact page (multiple ways to contact).
• Develop good content, which is well-written and relevant to the target audience. Images and videos should be used to complement the written copy. Too much information can overwhelm the mind, so don’t overload a website with cluttered content. 
• Plan for search engine optimization by establishing keywords and phrases a user would enter into a search engine to find a company’s products or services. These words can be used as phrases throughout the website in page headlines and body text. Add a title, alt text and descriptions to images used within the website.
• Make websites mobile responsive easily to navigate content. Then, check the website’s  ability to adjust content automatically to fill different screen sizes and multiple browsers.