When asked to create a web design, one of the primary considerations that a web design agency will have, is the type of business the website is for. It stands to reason that a website for a local landscape garden company is going to be different for a self-help consultant who works for clients all over the world.
Given that there are likely to be more local business owners reading this than those looking for clients on another continent, we are going to focus on what it takes to make a great web design for a local company so that it achieves the aims that its owners have for it. There are ten in all, so let us get started.
#1: A Design Suitable For A Local Business
This might seem like a no-brainer, but you would be amazed how many local businesses have a web design that is inappropriate for their business sector and their target audience. It needs to be responsive for mobile users, provide great user experiences, so that means a clean layout, and include clear calls to action.
#2 – Easy Navigation
Touching on user experience again, your web design needs to have navigation that anyone can understand, and use to visit the other pages on your website. All it takes is a simple menu at the top or side of each page.
#3 – An ‘About Us’ Page
You want to boost your local credentials whilst at the same time create a connection with visitors by letting them know that real people are running and working in your business. Give them a history of your business, highlight any outstanding achievements, and use photographs to boost the effectiveness of your ‘About Us’ page.
#4 – A ‘Contact Us Page
Local businesses rely heavily on communicating with their prospects, so you must give anyone visiting your website and interested in finding out more about your products and services a chance to connect with you. A ‘Contact Us’ page asking for their name, email address and telephone number is ideal for this.
#5 – A Blog
Content is essential for retaining visitors, generating trust, and for Google rankings. There is no better way to create content on your website than by having a blog and posting high-quality blog posts to it regularly.
#6 – An Adaptable CMS
As your business grows you are likely to need your website to grow and adapt too. This is why using a CMS like WordPress, which provides the means to grow your website and add functionality to it, is the perfect solution for local businesses that want to expand.
#7 – Social Proof
Today’s online consumers are experts at researching before they buy which is why social proof is essential on your website. Reviews, testimonials, and case studies can all give your prospects the reassurance they need that your business is ethical and can be trusted based on the social proof from previous clients.
#8 – On-Site SEO
Any professional web design will include everything required to ensure that the website’s onsite SEO is in place and set up exactly how Google wants it. This can often be the difference between a local business website ranking on page 1 or page 10.
#9 – Security Protocols
Online security is a huge concern to businesses and consumers alike, so your web design must take account of that. At the very least it should have an SSL certificate so that HTTPS appears in the browser bar to satisfy both Google and visitors to your website, that it is secure.
#10 – Google Analytics Integration
Much of what you will have done with your web design will boost its SEO, but without data, you will never know how much more it can be improved. This is where integrating your website with Google Analytics is key, as you will be able to pinpoint the good and bad of your onsite SEO and know what to fix.