Do you have a lead generating, high-performing website, or is it more like a business card? In today’s digitally driven economy, if your website isn’t producing leads for your business, it’s like having a sales team that doesn’t take sales calls. There is so much potential for any business in today’s economy to drive leads online, but many business owners and entrepreneurs leave a lot of money on the table by having an outdated, underperforming website.
Think of your website as the hardest working employee you have, one that never needs time off and works 24/7. According to a GE Study conducted in 2019, 81% of people research a product online before purchasing.
So that begs the question: how can you make sure that they find you when they are doing their research? And more importantly, when they get to your website, how can you improve your chances of sealing the deal?
I’m glad you asked. Here are 6 must-haves for a high-performing website.
Modern, Intuitive Web Design
A clean design will help you direct visitors’ attention to the most important elements of your site – your messaging, your products, and your call to action. When your website is optimized for conversion, your content is well structured and promotes engagement which creates a better experience for the user. It’s also a great way to highlight your unique value proposition. The GE study also found that 51% of people said they will leave a site that has no photos or customer reviews. Using professional-looking photos and testimonials will also help build trust and develop a relationship with prospects.
Messaging: Tell Visitors What They Want to Know
In over twenty years of working with web content and design, I have noticed a tendency for business owners and leaders to want to communicate the details that THEY care about rather than the information that the customer cares most about. The information you care most about is usually things you are very proud of, or special features of the product or service you offer. The trouble is that promoting that information first means that your customers may have to dig deeper to learn what’s in it for them.
A Compelling Call to Action
Your call to action should stand out from the rest of your page and be easy to find. Make sure you provide a clear action for your visitors to take, such as “Sign Up Now”, “Buy Now” or “Schedule a Consultation”. You also want to use persuasive language that will encourage visitors to take action.
Contact Information, Forms & Links That Work
It’s important that you provide visitors with multiple ways of getting in touch, whether it is a contact form, phone number, or email address. Make sure that all of the links and forms are working so there are no broken links. You should also make it easy for visitors to share your site on social media.
SEO Strategy & Search Visibility
Search engine optimization (SEO) is perhaps one of the most important aspects of a high-performing website, and having a good SEO strategy can help you improve both your rankings in search results and the visibility of your business online. In addition to optimizing content with relevant keywords and phrases, it’s also important to have a link-building strategy in place. This will help you get more traffic from other websites that are related to yours. [Check out these SEO best practices]
Product & Service Pages
Your product and service pages should be easy to access, informative, and visually engaging. Include all of the important details that your customers need to know when making a purchase decision. This includes descriptions, photos, customer reviews, and any additional content that will help your visitors better understand what you offer. Make sure you use clear calls to action throughout so customers know how they can buy or contact you for more information.
These six must-haves for a high-performing website should give you some ideas on how to make sure your website is working as hard as it can for your business. When it comes to website design, the most important thing is to make sure that you provide an enjoyable and informative experience for your visitors. With these tips in hand, you’ll be on your way to a high-performing website that can help you drive leads and create conversions.
Good luck!
