Importance of a Website Design
There is little doubt that search engines have replaced the Yellow Pages. If consumers want to find a business, even just a business’s phone number, they are searching on the Internet. Search engine usage is not limited to the computer savvy; consumers from 10 years old to 80 years old use the Internet on a daily basis.
Whereas your business used to be one line in the phone book, now your business’ website is a visual presentation of your company’s vision, culture, and products and services. Let’s face it, the marketplace demands instantaneous information, resulting in a less patient consumer. Your website should immediately appeal to your potential customers. A recent study conducted in Canada found that business literally has milliseconds to grab a consumer’s attention before their minds form an opinion*. You should think of your website as a storefront. What does your website say about your business?
Too Much is Too Much
Many businesses provide too much information that is lost on their potential client. Information overload causes your “hook” or marketing message to become lost in a sea of information, resulting in your potential customer clicking off your site and looking at your competitor’s website. Keep it simple! Don’t make your customer work to do business with you. Your potential customers want easy to use information about your business and an easy way to contact you. Think of shopping at the mall. It’s always a better experience when you find what you are looking for and when you have a helpful salesperson. Your website’s design and content are key to customer conversions.
Website design is also very important. If you walked into the grocery store and found the milk with the dog food, how would you feel? Customers like things to make sense. There is an expectation that the milk will always be with other milk items and that the dog food will be found in the pet care aisle. People expect the same kind of shopping/information gathering experience on your website. Organized website design results in consumers clicking through to multiple pages on your website, thus they stay on your site longer.
Mobile Ready
Obviously, your website design should convey the culture and vision of your company. Your website design should be simple, clear, and represent your company. Since the majority of consumers are finding your website with their smartphone or tablet, make sure your website is mobile-ready. Some studies suggest that over 55% of all searches are done on mobile devices. Further, bounce rates are close to 60% when a business’ website is not mobile responsive. Isn’t it annoying when you constantly have to enlarge and scroll a non-mobile ready website?
If you are not sure if your site is mobile-ready, give us a call. We are the experts in website design, from content creation to mobile readiness. If you are not using technology to maximize your business outreach, you are falling behind. Playbook Public Relations, LLC can help you stand out from the crowd and attract more business this year with great website design.
Sally Dee, President
Playbook Public Relations, LLC
*BBC News Jan 16th, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4616700.st
