When running a business you are likely to want the best possible return on investment from your website. Taking some time to go through the web design, mobile design and content can significantly improve the user experience and ensure that your customer is happy and more willing spend money when visiting your site.
1. Update the goal for your website
When creating a website, most web designers will ask you what your goal is. Although you might have had a goal in mind when creating the website in the first place, this can change. As your business changes and your business’ goal changes, so should your website. The goal of your company should always be evident from your website. If your aim is to sell more coffee, then make sure you let that show on your website through updates on special offers, events and future sales. Your goal should be clear and concise and you can often shorten it straight down to quantitative measures. It is important to always keep track on your goals, so that you can reassess where you want your website to take you and set new aims as you hit your targets.
2. Let your website design appeal to your target customer
Your goal should tie in nicely with your knowledge about your target customer. Knowing who your customer is, what they like and dislike and how they shop is basic research for any business, but ensuring you have the knowledge about their online habits can greatly increase your ROI. Get feedback from your customers and see what they think about new ideas. Also, remember that just because your competitors are doing something it does not mean you have to do the same. Being unique and using the elements you know works for your customers will bring you more business than being a copycat.
3. Ensure your website is easy to navigate
If items are difficult to find or your website is impossible to navigate, potential customers are likely to bounce of your page quickly. Ensuring excellent usability and good navigational menus will help you retain customers and increase the chance of them finding what they want, and in turn, make a purchase. Cleaning up your website by removing things about the design that is confusing or misleading will warrant increased business and a better user experience and return custom. You must keep menus and content informative so that the customer have all the tools and knowledge in order to make the best possible purchase for them. If the customer is happy they are much more likely to come back, and the amount of time it will take you to clean up your content and navigation on the website is well worth the investment.
4. Invest in a mobile site
Another way of making a small investment in your website that can reap great returns is by having a mobile site designed. A mobile site is a version of your website that is easy to navigate on smart phones and can often allow your customers to purchase items or services on the go. Having a good mobile site can make a significant difference to your business profit, and mobile designs are usually not very expensive. A general rule is that they should be very similar in design to your normal website so that the customer feels familiar with the site and can get what they want just as easily.
5. Continuously improving your website design
The design of your website might be completed, however that does not mean that your website is finished. The most profitable websites are constantly renewing themselves, looking for new ways to reach their target audience and utilising the language and tools used by their target audience to expand and develop the site further. A page that never changes will soon be seen as out of date and irrelevant to the user. If you are selling products through your website you should keep images and descriptions up to date as well as ensuring you have a system in place for updating the stock level. This is an easy way of providing that little bit of information to your customer that could make a huge difference. Some websites use a countdown when there is less than 10 or 20 items left in stock, other simply post a statement saying ‘low in stock’. This type of website design can drive the consumer to buy more than they normally would. Keeping the customer informed is the best way of creating a relationship to them and it will ensure they feel valued by your business.