It’s important to make sure that your website looks amazing. It’s the first impression your potential customers have of you and your business after all. But, it’s not just about making sure that your website looks good on the surface. In order to ensure that your website is successful, there are some features that you have to have in order to be functional for you and your customers.
Every website is different and will have different features based on its purpose, but there are certain features that every successful website needs to have. Here are 10 of the most important features that you should integrate into your website:
1. A clear purpose or mission statement
Your website needs to have a clear purpose that is easy for visitors to understand. This could be something as simple as providing information about your business or promoting a specific product or service. Without a clear purpose, your website is likely to confuse and frustrate visitors, which will hurt your chances of conversion.
Be clear about what you’re selling, why people should buy from you, and what sets you apart from your competition.
2. A well-designed layout
Your website’s layout should be well-designed and easy to navigate. Visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily, without having to search through a maze of pages. A well-designed layout will also help to improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO), as it will be easier for search engines to crawl and index your site.
You’ll want to make sure that that layout is consistent throughout the website, too. If you use bar navigation on your landing and “about us” pages, but then drop-down menus on every other page of your website, that’s not consistent. If your customers get confused about what type of navigation to expect on each page, it will only lead to frustration which will then make them leave your website.
3. Relevant and high-quality content
Your website’s content must be relevant to your target audience and offer something of value. It should be well-written and free of any grammar or spelling errors. If you’re selling products or services on your website, your content should also be persuasive and encourage visitors to take action.
This content can be anything that is relevant to what your website is about. For example, if you have a blog, your content could be blog posts and photographs. If you have an eCommerce website, your content could be product descriptions and creative product photography; and if you have a portfolio website, your content could be case studies or project summaries, depending on what you do and want to show the world.
Check out 10 Tips for Every Content Creator and How to Make A Video for Your Shopify Store for more inspiration and ideas about content you can post on your website and social media!
4. Optimization for search engines
If you want your website to be successful, it needs to be optimized for search engines. This means using the right keywords and phrases in your content so that it ranks high on search engine results pages (SERPs). It also involves making sure your website’s code is clean and error-free, as this can impact your website’s crawling and indexing.
How can you make sure that your website is optimized for search engines? Start by doing your keyword research and then incorporating those keywords into your website’s content, titles, and tags.
5. A call-to-action (CTA)
Your website should have a CTA that is clear and easy to spot. This could be a button that says “Buy now,” “Sign up for our newsletter,” or “Download our free e-book.” Your CTA should be relevant to your website’s purpose and target audience, and it should be placed in a prominent location on your website so that visitors can’t miss it.
A Call to Action can really help to drive conversions on a website by giving visitors a clear next step to take. Without a CTA, many visitors will simply leave your website without taking any action.
6. Social media integration
Social media is a powerful tool that can help to promote your website and increase its traffic. Make sure your website includes social media buttons or links so that visitors can easily share your content on their favorite platforms. You can also use social media to create a community around your brand and connect with potential and current customers.
By making your social media more accessible to your potential customers, you’re making sure that they have access and can follow along with you as you share your journey and show off new products and projects from your company. It allows them to interact with you on more than just a purchase/customer service level and can create loyalty and brand ambassadors if that’s a marketing route you want to take.
7. A mobile-friendly design
With more and more people using mobile devices to access the internet, it’s important to make sure your website is optimized for mobile. This means having a responsive design that automatically adjusts to fit any screen size. It also involves making sure your website’s content is easy to read on a small screen and that your website loads quickly on mobile devices.
Most people are searching and shopping on their phones now. Shopping on a laptop or desktop computer, while still relevant, just isn’t utilized as often as it used to be. If you want to make sure your website is successful, it needs to be mobile-friendly.
8. Customer testimonials or reviews
If you have happy customers, make sure to showcase their testimonials or reviews on your website. This social proof can help to build trust with potential customers and encourage them to do business with you. Testimonials should be real and relevant, and they should be placed in a prominent location on your website.
Testimonials are a really important part of building trust with potential customers. But do you know the best way to present your happy customers’ testimonials? By video, of course! Read about 10 Reasons Why a Testimonial Video will Increase Your Sales Today.
9. A contact form or live chat
Your website should have a way for visitors to contact you, whether it’s a contact form, live chat, or email address. This is important so that visitors can get in touch if they have questions or problems. It also helps to build trust and improve your customer service.
Any contact form or live chat should be easy to use by anyone. If your website is for a business, you should also make sure to include your business’s contact information. Such as your address, phone number, and email address; in case there’s an issue with your website’s technology or someone needs accessibility access.
10. Security features
If you’re selling products or services on your website, you need to make sure it is secure. This means having an SSL certificate to encrypt sensitive information like credit card numbers. It also involves making sure your website is regularly backed up so that you don’t lose any data if something goes wrong.
Security features could be as simple as an SSL certificate for eCommerce websites. Others might want to consider website backups, two-factor authentication, or malware scanning. Depending on the size and type of website, the security needs will vary.
These are just some of the essential features that every successful website needs to have. If you make sure your website has all of these things, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your business goals.
How Can I Make Sure that My Website Has the Right Features?
You can build a website on your own very easily these days. From site builders like WIX to open-source content management systems like WordPress, there are plenty of options available. However, if you want to make sure your website has all the features it needs to be successful, it’s best to work with a professional web design company.
C&I Studios offers Website Design services to an array of different businesses and individuals. We will be able to help you determine which features your website needs and how to implement them in the most effective way possible. We also offer other services from content creation to film production, and production gear rentals.
If you’re looking for a professional company to help you build or maintain your website, or for any other creative marketing venture, drop us a line!