Save Your Website: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

As the saying goes: first impressions are everything. This can be applied to life in many ways, from face-to-face interactions to digital ones, including how consumers feel about your website. Once a webpage loads, users will form an opinion in 50 milliseconds, or 0.05 seconds. That’s not a lot of time to make a case for your product or service, but luckily – websites can be updated and redesigned to better serve their purpose. If your website is less than impressive, it could be due to some of these common mistakes:

It’s overwhelming.

We’ve all seen them – websites that are so busy we develop headaches trying to navigate them, or we simply decide it’s a battle we’re disinterested in and hit the > back < button immediately. To get the most from your website, it has to be designed with strategy and aesthetic in mind.

Data shows 38% of people will stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive. For a business’ website, this means it’s important to effectively utilize the space by including relevant text and images that appeal to your target audience. Overcrowding the space with irrelevant material can decrease the website’s overall effectiveness and overshadow the brand image and messaging you’re trying to convey.

You’re lacking an effective call-to-action.

Research shows 70% of small business websites lack a call-to-action on their homepage. This missed opportunity can turn prospective leads into lost leads very quickly. Calls-to-action are crucial for websites because they give users a guide, serving as the gateway between customers and the business. Clear and concise calls-to-action are great for generating leads and increasing revenue, something no business owner wants to miss out on.

Your contact information is MIA.

One of the main purposes of an effective website is to serve as a resource for new and existing customers. While there are many reasons for users to visit your site, getting in touch with your business is an important one. Once on a company’s homepage, 64% of visitors want to see the company’s contact information. In fact, if users can’t find contact information or a phone number, 44% will leave the website, often to seek out a competitor. Your business’ contact information is something users are regularly seeking out, so it’s important to make it readily available.

Insights and data aren’t being collected or reviewed.

A website is an investment for a business and like any investment, you want to see a return. Perhaps the biggest mistake business owners make when it comes to a website is not equipping it with Google Analytics. This great, not to mention free tool, can be used to track user behavior on websites. Tracking this data allows you to make data-driven decisions for your business. Insights, including where users are coming from, how they are navigating the site, and where they are dropping off, provide a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at behavior. This allows you the opportunity to make well-informed decisions when it comes to increasing the overall effectiveness of your site.

It isn’t mobile-friendly.

The new wave of technological advancements has changed the way users are interacting with businesses online. In this day and age, if you’re not mobile – you’re not competing. Mobile devices account for nearly two of every three minutes spent online and more than 40% of online transactions are done on a mobile device. Mobile use is so popular 40% of people will choose a different search result if the first is not mobile-friendly. Even if your business is more traditional in its marketing efforts, embracing the mobile trend is essential to growth – 62% of companies who designed their website for mobile platforms reported increases in their sales. Bottom line: you need to be mobile-friendly in 2019.

Your website is the digital face of your company and it’s important to make a first impression that resonates. Whether you need updates to a current site or are ready for a brand new, fully-optimized website, Business House is here to help. Contact us today to get started!