Building a website is expensive, and no one can relate to this as much as small business owners. After all, if you want to build a website, you better have at least a thousand dollars in your pocket. Of course, costs can go as high as $145,000 on average.
Given that small business owners make around $72,489 per year, allocating so much money for just the website might feel like a waste. Yet, for the sake of staying relevant on the digital side of things, small businesses need to make these investments.
All that being said, just setting up a website and making it live on the internet won’t cut it. Small businesses too must compete with their bigger counterparts in the digital battlefield. That means these small ventures must ensure that their websites stand out, but how?
1. A Clean and Engaging Design that Keeps Visitors Interested
Does your website have a cluttered and outdated look? Then you risk making your business seem unprofessional. Instead, why not opt for a sleek, clean, and modern design? Such a design tells visitors that you care about their experience.
Balance is key when it comes to website design. You also want a site that’s visually appealing without overwhelming people with too much text, too many images, or unnecessary distractions.
Aesthetics aside, the website’s layout should also make sense. Visitors should be able to navigate smoothly, find what they need in seconds, and never feel lost.
If you’re making the website all by yourself, and don’t know how to balance the aesthetics and functionality, use an AI website builder. As explained by Hocoos, using AI website development tools is super simple. You just have to answer a few questions or provide prompts, and the AI will do the rest.
The AI web development process reduces the load on you or your development team. Such AI-powered website design and development tools are ideal for small businesses with tight budgets.
2. Mobile-Friendliness That Makes Browsing Effortless
Did you know that over 96 percent of our earth’s population connects to the internet using mobile devices? You know what that means? If your business site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re in a lot of trouble.
A website that doesn’t adapt to different screen sizes? Now that’s just frustrating to use. Lack of such adaptability means tiny text, buttons, and images that are hard to interact with. The result: your customers get frustrated with the website and click away within seconds.
A responsive design ensures your site looks and works great on any device, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or even a television. This means easy scrolling, readable text, and buttons that don’t require a magnifying glass to press.
3. Clear and Compelling Calls to Action That Guide Visitors
A good website doesn’t just sit there looking pretty; it tells visitors what to do next.
Want your visitors to book a service? Want them to sign up for a newsletter? Looking to persuade them to make a purchase? If your answer is yes to all of the above, your call-to-action (CTA) buttons need to be clear, direct, and persuasive.
CTAs should stand out visually, but more importantly, they should make people feel like clicking is the natural next step. If your CTAs aren’t easy to find, you’re making it harder for people to become your customers.
4. Fast Load Times That Keep Visitors from Clicking Away
People are impatient online. If your website takes more than a few seconds to load, most visitors will hit the back button and move on. Slow sites feel outdated and untrustworthy, and they create frustration before a visitor even has a chance to see what you’re offering.
Speed matters. Large images, excessive plugins, and bad coding can slow your site down, but fixing these issues can dramatically improve user experience. Faster load times mean visitors stay longer, browse more, and are more likely to convert into customers.
Google also factors site speed into search rankings. A slow website doesn’t just turn away potential customers; it also pushes you further down the list in search results. That, in turn, makes it even harder for new people to find you.
A small business website isn’t just a box to check off your to-do list. It’s one of your most powerful tools for attracting and keeping customers. If your website is missing any of these features, it might be time for a refresh. Because in today’s digital world, a great website isn’t optional – it’s essential.
