web design for
small business
How to clearly present your business online
Introduction
You’re probably got something great to sell or perhaps a service that people genuinely need (unless you’re selling oatmeal raisin cookies, in which case… how dare you). More to the point of this article, if you don’t already know by now, having a website for your business is kind of a must. However, it’s not enough to just have a website. Your website needs to do something for your business.
So, how do you get a website to do good business for you? You design it in a way that entices people to engage with your product or service. We’ll break down just how to do that in what we call the “Three C’s” of web design for small business.
#1: CLARITY
The first C, Clarity, refers to how clearly your business offering is communicated, particularly in the hero section of your website (ya know, the big part that people see when the page first loads). This is the part of your site that visitors see first, making it crucial for setting the tone and expectations. A clear and concise message helps users understand what your business does and what it stands for within seconds of landing on your page. This is not the time to be cute. If your business delivers cookies (hopefully chocolate chip), then your hero section needs to say, “chocolate chip cookies delivered to your door.” Clarity triumphs over cleverness.
All in all, use straightforward language and ensure that your design is not overcrowded with elements. The goal is to present a clean layout where users can easily navigate and grasp your business’s value proposition without confusion. When in doubt, use the “caveman test.” If you can’t grunt the messages presented on the page in simple language, you need to rework the messaging.
#2: CONTENT
To get people to your site is one thing, but what will you give them when they arrive? Content is a cornerstone element of a great website. It helps it show up better in search engines and provides so much more value than an empty billboard site. Content could be anything from blog articles and tips to interactive elements that enhance user engagement (like a loan calculator on car dealer websites… love playing with those little calculators). Good content is key to keeping visitors interested and encouraging them to explore more of your site. It’s key that your content is relevant, useful, and consistently updated to meet the needs of your audience. If you can do that, you’ll not only retain visitors but also establish your site as a credible source of information, which can lead to increased trust and more sales.
**Example site content below from thecarforme.com**
#3: CTA (CALL TO ACTION)
Finally, we come to a huge thing that many people miss (or at least underutilize). If you want your customer to take an action, you have to call them to action. Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, scheduling a consultation, or making a purchase, your CTA needs to be obvious and easy to locate. A common mistake is not including enough CTAs or making them too subtle. As a rule of thumb, place a CTA anywhere a visitor has gathered enough information to see the value in what you’re offering. If you think you’re being too pushy with your CTAs, you probably aren’t. It’s better to be slightly assertive than to miss out on potential customer engagements.
YOUR NEXT STEPS...
Once you can get your website to a level of intense clarity, helpful content, and actionable next steps, your business has a real fighting chance online. With all of that said, this can be overwhelming if you’re wrapped up in the day to day of running your business. If you found this content helpful, you can reach out to us by clicking the button below! We’d love to chat about your business and how we can help present it clearer online.