5 Key Elements Every Business Website Should Have
When designing a website, it’s important to ensure that as well as making the site visually appealing to visitors, user experience and ease of navigation is also considered. The design process should encompass more than just picking colours, font faces, and images.
Good web design should ensure that users can find what they want when they need it and that what they’re looking for can be easily found.
But which website elements should every business page have online? Here are some ideas…
1. Site Architecture
The website's architecture is the foundation of the design process, as it will determine how users will interact with the website. A well-thought-out site architecture includes the navigation, the layout, and the structure of the website’s pages. Its goal is to ensure users can navigate intuitively.
A well-designed website architecture will make it easier for visitors to find what they need and help ensure that the website is optimised for search engines. Meanwhile, the architecture should also consider being optimised for search engine visibility, increasing the website’s chances of ranking.
2. Home Page
The home page serves as the starting point for visitors to the website. It should be designed to be inviting and engaging, showcasing the most important elements of the website, including the primary navigation, a hero image, an introduction, and content.
The home page should also be designed to provide an overview of the website, with links to the other pages and content. It should be designed to be readable and accessible, considering the user's needs. Well-designed home pages reduce bounce rate and increase the amount of time users spend on a website.
3. Call to Action(s)
A call to action (CTA) prompts a reader or user to take a specific action. It is used to help close the gap between a potential customer and the desired outcome e.g. completing an enquiry form. CTAs are commonly used on landing pages, blog posts, and other web pages to enourage users take a specfic action.
CTAs should be designed to be attention-grabbing and relevant to the user’s customer journey. Effective CTAs should be concise and clear, contain actionable language, and be visually appealing. They should also be placed strategically to be visible and easily accessible.
4. FAQ Page
A FAQ page on a website answers commonly asked questions about a product or service. It is designed to give customers quick access to the company's offerings. FAQ pages can be used to address customer inquiries, reduce customer service costs, and improve customer satisfaction.
FAQ pages should be organised into categories to make them easy to navigate. Each question should be concise, and the answers should be complete and easy to understand. FAQ pages should be regularly updated to ensure that the information is accurate.
5. High Quality Content
Excellent content is content that is thought-provoking and inspiring. It is information that is so compelling that it encourages readers to take action or explore a topic further. Quality content includes in-depth articles, videos, podcasts, and infographics.
However, content should be well-researched, well-written, and well-presented. It should also be timely, relevant, and engaging. It should come from facts, as websites should be responsible for informing the public through content.
Conclusion
All business websites should contain certain standard elements to ensure they become functional for users. Creating an effective business website requires more than just a few pages of content and a few pictures.
While many elements go into creating an effective website, there are essentials that every business website should include, ensuring seamless user experience and more. Consult a web designer for more information on how to build usable and functional websites.
Winn-Brown & Co. is a Squarespace agency offering web design and development services in the UK and beyond. We help brands deliver unforgettable customer experiences.
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