What Makes A Website Great?

There are billions of websites in the world today. With such a staggering number, it is a tough task to stand out in this crowded space. All good websites have some key features such as an outstanding design, easy navigation, and great performance. A website, just like mobile apps, is a powerful tool of communication for businesses. Whether your website is a professional or recreational one, it’s a great way to stay connected with your customers and promote your business while building credibility. 

Websites play a significant role in the growth and success of your digital business. That’s because 85% of consumers use the internet to find local businesses. Without a web presence, you potentially lose out on these prospective customers. The paradigm shift in consumerism means that people are using the internet to find new businesses that can cater to their needs. In this digital age websites, social media, apps and third-party review sites have become vital for all businesses to thrive.

Today, there are multiple web development tools and templates available that would help you put together a website with relative ease. But first, let’s discuss why it is important to build a website and how to build a great one.

Why should you build a website?

A website is a representative of your business on the web.
The website acts as an advertising medium for your business, showcasing your products & services.
It helps to increase the credibility of the business.
Websites make it easier for your customers to find you.
Business websites can help you monitor and manage your online reputation.

What makes a website great?

There are some very important factors that you need to consider when building a website.

Purpose
The purpose and objective of the website should be clear from the get-go. You need to set clear goals about what you want to accomplish through the website. All functionalities should be created while keeping this in mind.

Simple navigation
Creating websites with simple navigation is the key to success. Simple navigation which is user-friendly and intuitive in nature makes it easier for visitors to look around and also helps with the SEO of the site. The most important call to action buttons should always be at the top of your site or vertically at either side. Simple and logical navigation adds to positive user experience. At Alkye, we help our clients build & maintain successful websites & deliver all of the following steps.

Content
The best way to keep your users to stay on your website is through great content. It’s important to create high quality and relevant content that caters to your target audience. Keep the content original and freshen it up regularly. Writing articles and blog posts on trending keywords or topics that are of great interest to your target audience is also a productive way to increase user engagement.

Design
The design of a website is of utmost importance because it’s the first impression you make on your users. A web design that is visually stunning, polished and responsive on multiple devices/platforms is essential for attracting customers and retaining them. A good design should always take into consideration the brand’s profile and user experience. Every little detail- colour scheme, fonts, graphics, resolution of photos and videos, are all very important to build a great website.

Performance
The performance of your website is a vital factor for customer engagement and retention. Slow websites have higher bounce rates because users don’t like waiting for more than 3 seconds for a site to load. Hence it is important to optimise the site to sustain high performance. Good websites always perform optimally and never crash. 

SEO
SEO will help drive quality traffic to your website. An organised website with great web design, outstanding content & high performance is void if the website is invisible to your target audience. Optimising your website will help to build your customer base and drive the growth of your business. SEO will help you become an authoritative figure across all search engines and give you a competitive edge. At Alkye, we can optimise your website and help you rank higher on SERP.

Security
Security of your website should always be a priority. Encrypt all data to protect your customers’ information and prevent the site from being hacked. A secure website helps to build trust and retain customers. You can install SSL certificate, anti-malware software & complicated passwords and regularly create backups to ensure safety. Undertake a monthly retainer service with the firm that builds your website once the site is live to ensure that it continues to perform.

Personalisation
Customers expect a certain level of personalisation from businesses. You can deliver personalisation through personalised content, recommendations based on individual preference, loyalty programs, demographic-specific content etc. Personalisation makes your customer feel valued and that helps to drive user engagement and retention.

Chat mechanisms
On-site chat mechanisms are a great way to enhance customer interaction and drive conversion. It’s an additional level of customization that can answer questions that visitors may have and also help them to find relevant information on the site. Communication is the absolute key to prevent and reduce negative user experience. 

Final Thoughts

A business website that’s well built and functions smoothly help boost your credibility and trust among your visitors. For a website to be successful, it needs to be beautiful while being exceptionally user friendly. Businesses should take into consideration all the factors mentioned above to turn their websites from good to great. Websites can really help drive traffic and the growth of your business. So it’s definitely an investment that’s worth every penny. Feel free to contact us now at Alkye to inquire about how we can build and maintain the website that’s right for your business.