Getting an awesome website is within your reach.

Do You Have an Awesome Website?

Every awesome website shares some characteristics.

Do you have to improve your website? With a little bit of preparation and foresight, your site can truly sparkle. It can make you money and save you cash. So here are 5 things your website should have. Make it awesome!

5. Contact Details on Each and Every Page of Your Awesome Website

This seems simple, but a lot of businesses miss this. Incorporate the contact number you want customers to call for sales questions. The best place is at the top of each page. Include a clickable “e-mail us!” button that either launches an email client or links to your contact form.

4. A Blog

Every kind of social media marketing and other online marketing needs high quality content. So if you’re thinking of any online marketing initiative, you should start with a blog. In order to get maximum SEO benefit, your blog should be listed under your domain (something like www.yourcompany/ blog) rather than off-site through a service like Blogger.com.

A blog can help your small business in so many ways that you may be crazy if you’re not considering a blog for your company.

Benefits include:

• search engine optimization (SEO)
• communications channel for your company that creates content shareable on social websites such as Facebook and Twitter
• a way to establish your business as an expert in your industry and connect with your customers

3. An SEO Strategy that Targets Your Products and Services

The prospects who know your business name can find your website. So optimizing your site in order that prospective customers can discover you via Google when they search “your small business’s name” isn’t really necessary. Naturally you should include your business name on your website and in the metadata, but the fact is that your company’s name is going to be on your web site so much that you probably can’t help but be located on Google for it. Instead, concentrate on generic terms that prospects who may not know your business are looking for.

2. Testimonials or Case Studies

Prospective clients should trust you before choosing to work with you. Use your website to establish your reputation and to share your knowledge and record keeping clients happy. Often, a testimonials page is one of the most-visited pages on sites we create for our clients. When you do get testimonials, ask your customers for approval to use their actual names. Real endorsements from recognizable community members mean a lot more than an anonymous testimonial.

If you case studies on your site, come up with a consistent, concise format to explain what issue your company addressed and what method you went through to get there.

1. Photos or YouTube Videos of Your Work, Your Building, or Your Team

Customers love visuals. And they like to see that you know what you’re doing. If your business provides a service such as landscape design, custom cabinetry or IT cable clean-ups, show before and after photos of your work. And if you don’t have a portfolio (take some pictures) but meanwhile, you could show your impressively maintained fleet of trucks and equipment.

If your service is anything less tangible, such as insurance or life coaching, show images of your friendly staff and your clean, comfy office. Better yet, include video. If you don’t have any one of these kinds of photos, think about featuring visuals of the recognizable landmarks from your area to show you belong to the community.

Bonus: Social Media Accounts for Your Awesome Website

If you’re active in social media, include a web page (or an area on the Contact page) where you specify the accounts you have plus how your business uses them. Check out how this will help your company leverage the power of the internet and social media and really promote your awesome website.