Running a small business in today’s world is no small feat. In order to stay ahead of the competition it is best to be on top of how you are marketing your business, especially when it comes to running a website. If you do not have a website that will attract and hold your customers’ attention, you are in jeopardy of falling behind your competitors.

Without a website, you are missing an incredible opportunity to engage and connect with your customers. In order to ensure you are doing what is best for your business, here are some of the best web design tips when designing a website or your small business:

Your website should reflect your brand. What are you trying to sell? What do you want your customer’s first impression to be? Be sure to keep your design fresh, simple, and unique. If your site looks similar to others, especially your competition’s, then you risk he chance of being forgotten, instead of making that all-important lasting impression. Your homepage should do all of these things, while appropriately representing your brand and your message you wish to communicate to your customers and visitors.

Showcase your products and services. As with any product regardless if it is on the shelf or on the Internet, you have only a few seconds to capture your audience’s attention. In order to effectively do so, your services and products need to be easily found on your homepage in order to ensure there is no confusion to the customer, or difficulty finding what they are looking for. Easy navigation is a must and will help to provide your visitors with a user-friendly experience and keep them from leaving your site for another.

Make your content count. Content rules when it comes to finding your website amongst all the others in the search engines. Quality content and links on your website are key to helping your chances of being found in search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Since content does need to be fresh in order to be effective, it is important to keep all your information up-to-date and incorporate content rich items such as blogs on your site.

Use responsive design. In a world where smartphones and tablets rule, it is critical to ensure your website can be easily accessed by these types of devices. It is best to consult with a professional web design firm if you are interested in incorporating responsive design into your website.

Windy City Web Designs is a leader in web design and development, specializing in building search engine friendly websites, taking businesses to the next level. Contact us to get started on a unique solution to fit your business’s needs.