7 Essential Website Improvements for Small Businesses: Boost Your Online Presence

Whether you're just starting out or looking to revamp your online presence, this post will walk you through seven crucial improvements. By implementing these strategies, either yourself or with the help of a webmaster, you can not only attract more website traffic but also provide a better experience for your visitors, ultimately contributing to the growth of your business.

1. Mobile Responsiveness: Catering to the On-the-Go Audience

Go Mobile or Go Home

In today's digital age, a mobile-responsive website is no longer optional. With more people browsing on smartphones and tablets, your website must adapt to different screen sizes. This means your content should be easily readable and navigable on any device. A mobile-friendly site not only caters to a broader audience but also boosts your ranking in Google search results.

All Squarespace websites are mobile-responsive and the new 7.1 Fluid Engine allows us to customize how webpages look on mobile.

2. Speed Matters: Fast-Loading Pages Win

No More Waiting Games

Slow-loading websites are a major turn-off for visitors. To retain website traffic and improve user experience, focus on optimizing your website's loading speed. Compress images, minimize HTTP requests, and use caching. These steps can significantly reduce loading times, keeping your audience engaged and reducing bounce rates.

And as we noted in an earlier article, the faster your website is, the smaller its environmental footprint!

A primary contributor to CO2 emissions is data transfer. This is the act of sending data between two points via networks or the internet. Every time someone visits your site or downloads content from it, there is an increase in data transfer, which generates more CO2 emissions. By incorporating eco-friendly design principles into the development of a website we can help reduce this footprint. And speed a website up at the same time. Read omre about Greening your Website here.

3. User-Friendly Design: Simplicity is Key

Design with Your User in Mind

A user-friendly design is about creating an intuitive and enjoyable experience for your visitors. This includes a clean layout, easy navigation, and readable fonts. Remember, a well-designed website not only looks good but also helps users find information quickly and easily, enhancing overall engagement.

Here at Goodwin Creative, we’ve learned how users navigate a website, especially on their first visit, and we design to ensure our customer’s message will be seen clearly.

4. Content is King: Keep it Fresh and Relevant

Engage and Educate Your Audience

Quality content is at the heart of every successful website and at the heart of Google 2024 as well! Regularly updating your site with fresh, relevant content can attract and retain visitors. From informative blog posts to exciting product updates, your content should provide value and resonate with your target audience. Fresh content keeps your website favourable in Google's eyes and ultimately in your customers’ eyes.

In 2023, more and more people learned how to use AI to create content for their websites. In our publishing department, we have seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of content. But at the same time, AI generated content can be a bit vacant, more like candy than genuine nutritious food! For 2024, we highly recommend using AI (chatGPT is the our fav) to help you generate content for your website, but be sure to step in and modify the articles. Your customers want to hear from you and learn from your lived experience, not a robot.

5. SEO: Your Gateway to Better Visibility

Climb the Google Ranks

If your website can’t be found on the first page of Google, it’s unlikely people will visit and learn about your amazing services and products. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for improving your website's visibility on search engines. Giving close attention to you meta description tags, alt tags, page titles, internal links, alt text, and image optimization will increase your chances of appearing in top search results, driving more organic traffic to your site. We’ve written a few introductory articles to SEO - you can find them at the link.

6. Security: A Non-Negotiable Priority

Safeguard Your Digital Space

In an era where cyber threats are rampant, securing your website is imperative. This includes having an SSL certificate, which not only protects sensitive data but also improves your Google ranking. Regular security audits and updates are also crucial in maintaining a safe and trustworthy online environment for your customers.

This is one of the primary reasons we choose Squarespace for our customers here at Goodwin Creative. With its all-in-one approach to web design and hosting, you are off the hook for security audits and updates! And you’re given an SSL certificate as well which you can see if you look up at your URL in the browser bar and there’s a locked padlock icon.

7. Interactive Elements: Engage and Connect

Interactive = Involving

Interactive elements like chat support, feedback forms, and social media links can significantly enhance user engagement. They provide a platform for real-time communication and feedback, making your visitors feel valued and connected. This not only improves user experience but also fosters a sense of community around your brand.

And finally, it’s important to note that mproving your small business website is a continuous journey that requires attention to detail and a deep understanding of your audience's needs. By focusing on mobile responsiveness, loading speed, user-friendly design, quality content, SEO, security, and interactive elements, and periodic ‘freshen up’ campaigns, you can create a website that not only attracts more traffic but also provides a memorable experience for your visitors.