Are you in the process of creating a new website for your business? Want to know the features you should include to make your small business a success?

We Build Ideas share the common features you should consider in this infographic.

They break things down into the following sections:

• Home page
• Footer area
• Service / product pages
• About page
• Blog page
• Contact page
• Other inner pages

Check out their infographic for more detail.

 

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for the success of any small business. A well-designed website serves as a virtual storefront, representing your brand and attracting potential customers.

Whether you’re creating a new website or looking to enhance an existing one, it’s crucial to understand the key features that make for an effective and engaging online platform. In this blog post, we’ll explore 70 essential web design features that can contribute to the success of your small business website.

 

Home page – Above the Fold

• Domain Name: Choose a domain name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember. It should ideally be short, relevant, and memorable.
• Logo: Incorporate a professionally designed logo that represents your brand identity. Your logo should be prominently displayed on the home page.
• Tagline: Craft a concise and compelling tagline that communicates your unique value proposition. It should capture the essence of your business and resonate with your target audience.
• Top Menu: Implement a clean and intuitive top menu that allows visitors to navigate your website easily. Include important pages such as “Home,” “About Us,” “Services,” “Blog,” and “Contact.”
• Phone Number or Link to Contact Details: Display your contact information prominently, either in the top menu or the header section. This makes it convenient for visitors to reach out to you.
• Main Menu: Create a comprehensive main menu that provides a clear overview of your website’s structure. Categorize your pages logically to enhance navigation.
• Sticky Menu: Consider implementing a sticky menu that remains visible as users scroll down the page. This ensures easy access to the menu and improves user experience.
• Main Heading: Include a captivating main heading that grabs visitors’ attention and conveys your core message. Make it visually appealing and aligned with your brand style.
• Short Blurb: Craft a concise and persuasive blurb that provides a brief overview of your business. Use compelling language to engage visitors and entice them to explore further.
• Call-to-Action Buttons: Place strategically positioned call-to-action (CTA) buttons throughout your home page. These buttons should prompt visitors to take desired actions, such as “Learn More,” “Get Started,” or “Contact Us.”
• Banner Image: Incorporate an eye-catching banner image that visually represents your brand and showcases your products or services. It should be relevant, high-quality, and attention-grabbing.

 

Home page – Below the Fold

• Crucial Business Information: Below the fold, provide essential business information, including your address, phone number, email, and a brief summary of your offerings. This allows visitors to quickly find key details.
• Introduction Video: Consider embedding an introductory video that provides an engaging overview of your business. Videos can capture attention and deliver information effectively.
• Reviews: Display positive customer reviews or testimonials to build trust and credibility. Include the reviewer’s name, photo (if available), and a short snippet of their feedback.
• Accolades: Showcase any awards, certifications, or industry recognition your business has received. This reinforces your expertise and sets you apart from competitors.
• Services & Products: Highlight your core services or products on the home page. Use clear and concise descriptions to communicate their value and benefits to potential customers.
• Quality Content: Offer informative and engaging content that educates your audience about your industry or addresses their pain points. High-quality content helps establish you as an authority and encourages repeat visits.
• Readable Fonts: Use legible fonts that are easy to read across different devices and screen sizes. Avoid overly decorative or obscure fonts that can hinder readability.
• Enquiry or Online Quote Form: Include a user-friendly form that allows visitors to inquire about your services or request a quote. Keep the form simple and collect only essential information.
• Recent Blogs: Display a section highlighting your latest blog posts. This keeps your website fresh and encourages visitors to explore your valuable content.

 

Footer

• Newsletter Signup Form: Integrate a newsletter signup form in the footer to capture leads and grow your email subscriber list. Offer an incentive, such as a free guide or exclusive content, to encourage sign-ups.
• Contact Information: Include comprehensive contact information in the footer, including your address, phone number, and email. This ensures visitors can easily reach out to you from any page.
• Business Hours: Specify your business hours in the footer, particularly if you have a physical location. This helps visitors understand when they can expect a response or visit your establishment.
• Footer Menu: Create a secondary menu in the footer that includes important links to various pages on your website. This aids navigation and ensures users can access key information from any page.
• Links to Social Media Profiles: Provide links to your social media profiles, allowing visitors to connect with you on platforms they prefer. Use recognizable social media icons for easy identification.
• Online Chat: Consider implementing an online chat feature to offer real-time assistance to visitors. This can improve customer satisfaction and increase conversions.

 

Services Pages

• Readable URL: Optimize the URL structure of your services pages to be descriptive and user-friendly. Use clear keywords that accurately represent the content of each page.
• Breadcrumb Navigation: Implement breadcrumb navigation to help users understand their location within your website’s hierarchy. This aids navigation and provides a sense of context.
• Page Title: Craft compelling page titles that accurately reflect the content on each services page. Use keywords that align with your target audience’s search queries.
• Child Service Pages: If you offer multiple services, create child pages for each service under the main services page. This allows for more detailed information and easier navigation.
• Quality In-Depth Content: Provide comprehensive and informative content on each services page. Explain your offerings in detail, highlight unique selling points, and address common customer questions or concerns.
• Link to Other Pages: Include relevant internal links to guide visitors to other pages on your website. This improves navigation and encourages users to explore further.
• Gallery of Work: Showcase examples of your work or projects to demonstrate your capabilities. Use high-quality images or videos to visually represent the outcomes you deliver.
• Testimonials: Display testimonials specific to each service or product to highlight customer satisfaction and successful outcomes. Authentic testimonials build trust and confidence in your offerings.
• Client List: If applicable, feature a list of notable clients or companies you have worked with. This reinforces your credibility and attracts potential clients from similar industries.
• Content Offer: Create valuable content offers, such as e-books or guides, that are relevant to each service or product. Offer these as downloadable resources to capture leads and demonstrate expertise.
• Enquiry or Online Quote Form: Include a user-friendly form on each services page to encourage inquiries or quote requests. Make it easy for potential customers to express their interest.

 

About Us Page

• Personalized About Us Page: Create a compelling About Us page that tells your brand’s story and showcases your values. Use a personable tone and include photos of your team to foster connection.
• Team: Introduce key members of your team, including their roles and backgrounds. This humanizes your business and fosters trust by showing the faces behind the brand.
• Client List: Similar to the services pages, include a client list on your About Us page to highlight your track record and industry experience.

 

Blog

• Educational Posts: Publish blog posts that educate and inform your audience about relevant topics in your industry. Share valuable insights, tips, and best practices to position your business as an authority.
• Search Function: Implement a search function on your blog page to help users find specific topics or articles. This improves usability and encourages visitors to explore your blog further.
• Sidebar: Utilize a sidebar on your blog page to display featured posts, categories, or recent articles. This provides additional navigation options and encourages engagement.
• Internal Links to Services or Products: Include internal links within your blog posts that direct readers to relevant services or product pages. This drives traffic to key offerings and enhances conversions.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your blog posts for search engines by using relevant keywords, meta tags, and descriptive headings. This improves your website’s visibility in search results.
• Social Media Share Buttons: Incorporate social media share buttons on each blog post to encourage readers to share your content on their preferred platforms. This expands your reach and drives traffic back to your website.
• Comment Feature: Enable a comment section on your blog posts to foster engagement and encourage discussions. Respond to comments promptly to build relationships with your audience.

 

Contact Page

• Business Contact Information: Provide complete and accurate contact information on your contact page, including your address, phone number, and email. Make it easy for visitors to reach out to you.
• Hours of Business: Clearly state your business hours on the contact page to manage visitor expectations. If you operate in different time zones or have specific availability, mention those details as well.
• Contact Form: Include a user-friendly contact form on the page to facilitate communication. Keep the form simple and request only essential information.
• Captcha or Anti-Spam Feature: Implement a captcha or other anti-spam measures on your contact form to prevent spam submissions. This ensures that genuine inquiries reach you.

 

Other Inner Pages

• Privacy Policy Page: Create a dedicated page that outlines your privacy policy and data handling practices. This helps build trust with visitors and demonstrates your commitment to data protection.
• FAQ Page: Develop a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page that addresses common queries and concerns. This reduces support inquiries and provides helpful information to visitors.

 

Other Things to Consider

• Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure your website is fully responsive and adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, including mobile devices. Mobile-friendly design is crucial for a positive user experience.
• Hamburger Menu on Mobile: Implement a hamburger menu icon on mobile devices to save screen space while providing access to the main menu. This improves mobile navigation.
• Browser Compatibility: Test your website on different browsers and ensure it functions correctly across all popular options. This guarantees a consistent experience for all visitors.
• Google Analytics Integration: Integrate Google Analytics to track and analyze website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. This data provides valuable insights for optimizing your website’s performance.
• Google Search Console Integration: Connect your website to Google Search Console to monitor its indexing status, search appearance, and search traffic. This helps you identify and address any issues that might impact your visibility on search engines.
• Optimize Website Speed and Performance: Ensure your website loads quickly to prevent visitors from abandoning it due to slow loading times. Compress images, minify scripts, and optimize code to improve performance.
• Browser Caching and Minifying Scripts: Leverage browser caching to store static resources on visitors’ devices, reducing load times for subsequent visits. Additionally, minify JavaScript and CSS files to reduce their file size and improve loading speed.
• Local Business Structured Data: Implement schema markup to provide search engines with structured data about your local business. This helps search engines understand and display relevant information in local search results.
• Fast Hosting: Choose a reliable and fast hosting provider that ensures your website loads quickly and performs optimally. Poor hosting can negatively impact user experience and search engine rankings.
• Security: Implement robust security measures to protect your website and visitor data. Use SSL encryption, regularly update your software, and employ strong passwords to prevent security breaches.
• Site Backup: Regularly back up your website to safeguard against data loss or technical issues. This ensures you can restore your website to a previous state if necessary.
• Easy to Manage: Choose a content management system (CMS) that is user-friendly and intuitive. A CMS with a simple interface makes it easier for you to manage and update your website content.

 

Things to Avoid

• Automatic Music in the Background: Avoid autoplaying music or videos on your website, as it can be disruptive and annoy visitors. Let users choose when they want to engage with multimedia content.
• Don’t Use Flash: Flash technology is outdated, and most modern devices no longer support it. Avoid using Flash for any elements on your website to ensure compatibility across all platforms.
• Do Not Upload Videos to the Webserver: Instead of hosting videos on your own server, use third-party platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. Uploading videos directly to your web server can slow down your website and consume valuable resources.
• Moving Slider: Refrain from using auto-scrolling or moving sliders on your home page. They can distract visitors and make it difficult for them to focus on your key messages.
• Don’t Launch and Forget It: Building a successful website requires ongoing maintenance and updates. Regularly monitor your website, fix any issues, and keep the content fresh to provide an optimal user experience.

 

Conclusion

Building a successful small business website requires careful consideration of various elements, from the design and layout to the content and functionality.

By incorporating the 70 features discussed in this blog post, you can create a website that engages visitors, promotes your brand, and helps you achieve your business goals.

Remember to continuously monitor and improve your website to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape.