When you’re an entrepreneur, you know you need a website. It’s been a long time since websites were optional for businesses, but there are a lot of websites out there. So, how do you make sure that you have a quality website that stands out from the crowd?

CLARITY

People need to know who you are and what you do in as few words as possible. When you’re an entrepreneur, it’s easy to go on and on about what you do, because you’re passionate! But potential clients want copy short, sweet, and CLEAR. Obviously, there are exceptions to this depending on the industry you’re in, but for the most part, your website should limit lengthy paragraphs. Say it with me friends: short, sweet, and CLEAR.

NAVIGATION

There are two kinds of people in the world, scrollers (those who just keep scrolling till they find something they want) and tabbers (those who skip ahead and search for what they need using the tabs and links you provide). You must keep both in mind when writing and designing your website to be sure you’re reaching as many potential clients as possible. You don’t want to lose them just because your site was designed for a different kind of “Googler”. Setting yourself apart can be as easy as providing a great (and simple) user experience.

VIDEO

The rise of video isn’t limited to social media these days. People expect quality video content pretty much everywhere they go. Short form video content is the new king, so budget for quality production and be strategic on where to use video on your site to best get across your message. Studies show that video keeps people on websites 50% longer, so use this to your advantage!

BRANDING

Follow your brand guide, and if you don’t have a brand guide, create one prior to web design. Quality websites must have quality visuals, so your site should follow the pre-approved guidelines your brand guide sets for you. This may include but is not limited to: logo, hex codes, fonts, photography, and more.

VISUALS

Your visuals go beyond your headshot and stock images, in fact, you may consider investing in a separate photoshoot focused solely on images to utilize for your website. Stock images are great, but they’re still stock images that anyone can use. Having images that belong to you and show the direction and visual feel of your brand is a great way to set yourself apart from the competition.

MOBILE

It’s no longer mobile vs. desktop. It’s mobile and desktop. You’ve got to have a site that looks fabulous and is easy to navigate in both formats. Make sure the template and designer you’re working with can do both.

UPDATE

Keep your site up to date. You should never have a month go by where you don’t dive into your site for a routine check-up. Update that blog, make sure your plug-ins look good, security is in place, etc. And if doing a monthly check-up is out of your comfort zone, consider hiring someone.

CLICK HERE to learn how to maximize SEO for your business website!