GEEK QUEEN
25 Website Must Haves
Jenny Marsden • September 30, 2019
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My 25 "Must Haves" for your website.
No-one ever realises the work that is involved in producing a website. Now think about what you need to have or include to make your website WORK!
Great content is the engine behind your website being successful, however there are many other design and application level things that will ensure you have the best chance of success. Here's my 25 must haves for your website.
:: Make sure it is immediately obvious what your website is about:
As soon as your prospective client lands on your website they should be able to tell instantly what its about. People's attention span is short and making them browse is never a great idea.
:: Have excellent navigation:
All your visitors should be able to get to where they need to go in three clicks or less. Ideally two, however any more than three and you've lost them.
:: Make sure there is a clear path directing your visitors through your website.
While its great for your Google Analytics for users to wander all over your website, it won't be good for your bottom line in the end. Website browsing = window shopping. If you want them to buy you have to show them how.
:: Have a call to action on every single page
Sometimes this is best achieved by floating buttons, sometimes it is repetition of the same call to action so your visitors have a level of expectation as to where it is, but regardless you need to have one on every page.
:: Name your images:
SEO isn't limited to text. Use every image you have on your website to enforce your keywords and phrases. Search engines can't read images but they CAN read the image name and ALT tags. Make sure you use this.
:: Declutter - Less is more:
Less is more. Use white space and padding to keep your content readable and pleasing to the eye. There is nothing worse than paragraphs of condensed text. Your visitors will glaze over and leave.
:: Embrace The Mobile:
Mobile browsing should not be limited to your website being fully responsive. The platform I use enables us to show completely different content and imagery to mobile users. Sometimes bullet points on mobile work much better than the paragraphs on your desktop. Ask me about this fantastic feature.
:: Invest in professional photography
Be it products or services, professional photography is a MUST for any level of success. Products need to have a consistant background, focus and sizing and personal photo's must be well lit, represent you or your service exactly and show who you really are. Know, Like and Trust remember!!
:: Don't put your social media links above the fold
I'm going to get shot down in flames over this one, but I never understand why clients want to give visitors a reason to move away from their website at the first point of touch. It makes no sense to me to direct your visitors to your socials immediately. Keep them on the website, allow it to work and of course WE ALL KNOW YOU HAVE FACEBOOK! Visitors will click when they get to the footer, but by then you've had an opportunity to impress on them how or what you do.
:: Write for your ideal customer NOT just Google
Don't get caught up in keywords and phrases and completely dismiss who your customer actually is. Write for them, in a style they will find appealing, using your keywords and phrases, BUT address their needs as a priority.
:: Display the most important info above the fold:
You get one chance and one chance only - use it. It's pretty simple.
:: Have an email list sign up:
Email marketing still outranks any other form of digital advertising out there. Don't miss out just because you don't ask. Consider offering a freeby to get email addresses. As long as you are clear about it, it can't hurt.
:: Don't be scared to show prices:
This might be obvious for an online store, however it is even more important for a service based businesses. People will assume they can't afford you if you give them the chance to make that assumption. Tell them how much your services are and what they get for their money. They can then make an informed decision.
:: Ensure your website layout is consistent:
Making sure that objects are in the same place no matter where in the website your visitor lands is the key to them moving around easily and moving further into your website.
:: Have a contact button/link always visible
Using a sticky header can enable you to always have both the menu and a contact button or link visible to your visitors.
:: Add a map to your footer:
Adding a map that links to your physical location will allow mobile users to get directions without having to leave your website.
:: Make sure your website loads well and fast
This is not just a customer based action, Google ranks your website on page load times so make sure your images are optimised and load quickly. Ask me how.
:: A great about page:
Tell your visitors about yourself or your business. Particularly why you are the best choice for them. Address their biggest challenges and how you can solve it.
:: Establish an easy checkout process
You would be surprised at the amount of abandoned carts you can avoid by making your ecommerce check out simple and easy.
:: Use testimonials
Testimonials help to reinforce that you are a legitimate business with real clients. If they allow it, ask your clients for photos and show their photo and their first name against their testimonial. It instantly makes it more real to your visitors.
:: Design for your client NOT you.
I've said this so many times over the years. You website design is aimed at your customer not you. In the end even if you detest it, if its designed for them and works, who cares! Don't present childrens toys in an elegant, understated design. The design should be instantly recognisable for what its representing. I'd like you to love it but not at the expense of it working.
:: Don't waste valuable menu space on pages that aren't important.
Having links to your terms and conditions or privacy policy pages is essential, but don't waste valuable header menu space on them. They can be in the footer and work just as well.
:: Don't try to be different for difference's sake
I constantly hear clients want their website to be different. I try to impress upon them that a lot of placements are done because they are expected by your client. Side menu's, hamburger menu's on desktop pages or lack of imagery in the header won't help your website work. Menu's, header images and other placements are there for a reason. They work. Don't dismiss them off hand. Listen to your designer.
:: Tell your clients WHY they would contact you.
Leading your contact form with a short intro about why you client might contact you will help them know they can ask any question. "Get in touch to chat about how a new design can increase your sales" or "We can co-ordinate with you a wedding of your dreams. Get in touch to find out how".
:: Keep the content going
Google is not going to show their clients a website that has had no updates since 2017 when there are so many other options. Remember they are a business too so its up to you to stay relevant and on point and the only way to do that is with new and current content. That's where blogs come in....
BONUS TIP:
Ensure your error pages are customised to your business personality. How about this one from Cascade Designs. They have a new one now but I love this one, especially the "Baaack". Some people are so clever!
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About Jenny
I started my IT career in Database Administration and .Net coding. While I LOVED that work, I realised very quickly that I also wanted a life. To be a top end coder or DB Admin, you have to comit your downtime to constantly learning and evolving and while that is also something I love, I wanted it to be my work and not my life. So I morphed my love of design with my knowledge of all things SEO and moved into building small business websites.
Why small business websites? I'm a small business myself and I know how hard it can be so I wanted to give my clients a great service, with an approachable point of contact where no question was a "stupid question".
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