Guide To Developing An Effective Website For Your Business

No matter the industry you are in or the type of business you do, having an effective website is an absolute necessity. It is even more essential now considering social distancing guidelines and limited physical movement of the people. A website will enable your customers not only to easily make purchases but also to find useful information about the products they are looking for. Unfortunately, according to SME Digital Health Index 2019, only 87% of SMEs in Ireland have an online presence.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Developing Your Business Website

59% of consumers will prefer shopping elsewhere if their preferred retailer doesn’t have an online presence. However, it is not just about having any website as long as you have an online presence. An outdated website could also end up costing you. Some common website mistakes that could end up ruining your lead generation and sales  include:

• Poor user interface and user experience which leads to high bounce rates.
• Lacking clear call-to-action.
• Lack of clarity in the landing pages.
• Poor navigation.
• Lack of contact information.
• Expired security certificates.
• The website not being mobile-friendly.
• Poor domain authority.
• Low keyword density
• Lack of prominent branding.
• Use of low-quality visual images.

That is why you should ensure that your website has a better design, smart features, and security certificates. It should have improved user interface with relevant iconography, better interaction flows, and better user experience while maintaining simplicity.

Factors To Consider When Developing Your Website

The purpose of a website to your business is to make potential customers prefer doing business with you instead of your competition. Your website should bring you leads and sales. To achieve this, your website should have the following qualities:

1. A professional appearance

The design of your website should have a professional look. It should be customized to your business needs and target audience. You cannot achieve a customized professional look by using downloaded web templates for your website. Instead of a do-it-yourself pre-built website template, you should consider hiring an experienced web designer to develop your business website.

2. Quality informative content

The surest way to drive visitors off your website is to fill it with sales content. It shows that you are more interested in their money than taking care of their needs. A good website should provide relevant, up-to-date information for your niche. Besides making a purchase, your web visitors are also looking for informative content that will guide their purchasing decisions. For example, if you are in the finance industry, giving them content on tax rebates is value addition.

3. Easy-to-find contact information

Just because they online do not mean that customers will always complete the transaction on your website. This is why you need to ensure that your website has all your contact details. These should include your business phone number, email address, and physical location of your store. You can also integrate Google Maps on the page. If you are not a 24-hour business, you should include your business hours to save customers the frustrations of calling outside work hours and going unanswered.

4. Integrated online payment options

59% of consumers want to be able to make online purchases. You are at risk of losing them if you don’t make it easier for them to purchase your products on your website. It is advisable to integrate a good shopping cart on your website and provide online payment options such as PayPal, Skrill, and debit or credit cards.

5. Security certificates

The internet is a dark place. Your customers need the reassurance that their private information such as credit card details and physical address are safe on your website. That is why it is necessary to install security certificates on your website. You should put the Secure Site certificates in prominent locations on your website so that visitors can know that they are protected. In addition to that, you can go into detail about your website’s security measures in the FAQ section.

6. Search Engine Optimization

A good website is only effective if it is optimized for search engine rankings. You need to place yourself before your prospects when they search for products or information on your niche. Search engine optimization is the most effective way to bring organic traffic to your website. You can do this by using the appropriate keywords, title tags, and metadata, among other things. You can also use paid search marketing to get yourself before your target audience. With the right SEO strategy, your website can be visible to the right people and increase your leads and conversion rates.

7. Social media integration

Integrating your social media pages on the website is a requirement nowadays. It is not something you can afford to miss out. Social media presence adds legitimacy to your business and improves your SEO strategy. Besides that, it allows you to increase your market reach beyond your locality.

8. Quality web hosting

Most people ignore this, but your choice of web host is just as important as the website itself. While there are lots of free web hosting services available, it is not the ideal choice for your business. First of all, you cannot customize your domain name to your company’s name. Instead, your website URL will be a subfolder of the web host’s domain name. There is also an increased risk of experiencing excessive downtimes. It is much better to pay for web hosting and receive quality services with dedicated customer service in the event of any problem.

How Much Will It Cost To Develop A Smart Website?

A smart website is your gateway to high-quality leads and increased conversion rates. A poorly-designed website is more expensive than not having a website at all because it will hurt your credibility.  While most small businesses cite a lack of resources for failing to invest in a smart website, it is much better to put aside funds for investing in one. The return-on-investment is massive and cannot be ignored. 73% of businesses say that having an online presence increased their lead generation and sales. How much will it cost you to develop a smart website for your business? On average, here’s how much a smart website will cost you:

• A domain name at Register365 for €4.99 per year.
• Web hosting at Siteground– one of the best web hosting companies for €0.33 per month (coronavirus special offer).
• Monthly maintenance services can cost you between €50 to €60 per month.

Depending on the type of website you want, a WordPress site containing up to 25 pages with artificial intelligence and smart features can go for between €1000 and €2500. An e-commerce site will depend on your requirements, type of products on offer, and the purpose of your website. An e-commerce site could go up to €15,000.

Other costs you might incur include logo creation, graphic design or photography, and additional security features.

Factors That Influence The Cost Of Website Development

While the above calculations will give you an average estimate of how much it will cost you to develop your website, different factors may influence the cost. Some of the significant factors that will impact the cost of your website development include;

• The experience and speciality of the team building your website. Experienced web developers are likely to cost more than starters. Similarly, web developers who have specialized in creating e-commerce sites for businesses in your niche will most likely charge higher rates than general web developers.
• The components and features of your website. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to website development. Your needs and the features you need to be integrated may affect the pricing. Websites with more advanced functionalities cost more.
• Content creation. While most businesses try to cut costs by creating their own content, it is advisable to hire professional copywriters to create high-quality content that will build your brand and attract traffic. Quality content helps with SEO which gives your website visibility.

Some businesses, especially SMEs, feel that the cost of website development is too high for them. But the return on investment is massive if you are willing to overlook the costs. It is a sacrifice worth making, especially now that businesses are moving online. Trusting your website development to a professional is the best business decision you can make this year. Get in touch with us for smart website solutions.