Not that long ago, it was totally acceptable for most businesses not to have a website and not too long before that, the Internet didn’t even exist. I admit to remembering those times!
Today however, if you are running a business venture of any sort, failing to have a website is almost an unforgivable sin and your chances of success will be severely hampered.
For better or for worse, the majority of people are likely to find your business first and foremost via your website, and even if they encounter you in a physical space first, you can be sure that they are going to Google you in order to see what the Internet has to say about you.
So it better be good but even more importantly you need to be easy to find by using Local SEO techniques.
Business web design can sometimes be a pretty tricky thing, and as there are lots of nuanced, specific details that you can opt to emphasise and focus on, choosing which way to go can often cause a few headaches.
However the basic key features of an effective and professional website should be, are pretty straightforward to get a handle on.
Here are the 3 key features of an effective website you should be focusing on.
Concise, Solution Focused Content
Obviously your website needs to have written content, as this is one of the primary ways in which people communicate what their business is and what it can offer potential customers or clients.
That being said, though, many people ramble on endlessly in their written content, and fill their websites with endless sales pitches, meandering diatribes, and impromptu bursts of storytelling.
When a prospective client or customer visits your website, they are not interested in reading a novel. ( Unless you sell novels.) What they are interested in is finding a solution to a problem they are experiencing. ( Not having the right outfit for an event is definitely classed as a problem that needs solving! )
The writing on your website should be concise, and solution focused. You should clearly identify what the potential problem is that your reader may be facing, and should detail how you can solve that problem.
Don’t use two words if one will do. Make your content easy to read and understand.
Fast Loading Times, And Good Performance Across Multiple Devices
You could be offering the very best service or products in the world, and maybe have the very best content writers in the world on your website, but if your website is riddled with autoplay video ads and pop-ups, loads at a snail’s pace, and doesn’t work properly on mobile devices, you are doomed.
These days, everyone expects websites to load quickly, and to be easy to view on smartphones and tablets, as well as desktop computers. Come on we all know we are becoming more and more impatient as life seems to move faster by the day.
This is a basic user experience issue. Make sure that your website is impeccable in these areas, otherwise you are bound to chase plenty of people away before being able to show them what you have to offer.
The Absence Of Scare Marketing (And Irritating Sales Pitches)
Fundamentally, marketing is just the art of informing people about the service or product you offer, and letting them know how that service or product can help them out.
In practice, though, many marketers are more than a bit unscrupulous, and rely on irritating, drawn out sales pitches, and scare-marketing tactics.
If you find yourself using all-caps, bolded, underlined text on your website, and warning people that their lives are going to crumble into ashes if they don’t use your services, you are on the wrong track altogether.
People absolutely hate that kind of stuff, and no matter how good of an idea it may seem, it’s not.
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Final Thoughts
If you haven’t already got a website for your business then you need one now. If you already have one but are looking to improve it, then focus on the 3 key features of an effective website above and you will go a long way in making the right impression.
If you have found this post useful then please do me a favour and give it a share on your favourite social media platform. Sharing is Caring.
As ever if you have any questions or want to share your own thoughts or experiences, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Please be aware that this post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click on one and then make a purchase, I will earn a commission but it will not cost you any more.
I’m in total agreement with you concerning these three features you have listed here. I feel every site should have a purpose when its being established and it should he a helpful reason, else, its just another waste of space on the internet. Also there are some site who have some contents that are not beneficial to those visiting the site. The idea of leading time should also be put into consideration and most importantly there are sites that are data consuming when accessing it, this could be a reason why people stay away from ones site as well. Best regards.
Hi Benson and thanks for your thoughts on this subject.
There are lots of reasons for people to switch away from our business websites. It is our job to make sure that people want to stay and read and hopefully buy.
I agree with you about all three aspects of having an effective site, especially about site speed. Website speed is on of the key features in todays SEO, at least that’s what experts claim. Apparently, search engines are looing at site speed among first things. If it’s slow, down goes the ranking, no matter how good your content is. Any advice on how to speed up a site so I don’t loose rankings?
Speed is vital both from the point of view of the search engines and the user. Speed is determined by many things.
First you need to ensure you have excellent hosting with great speed capabilities. I host my sites with Wealthy Affiliate. The second part is down to your choices of theme and the images you choose and use. Make sure you have Google Analytics and Webmaster tools on your site and they will give you all the analysis you need to ensure your site is up to speed so to speak.
Hi Karen, this is a great article, I like to have a 3 point plan to focuse on. I can see that your website has to see your “shop” right? What you said about being impeccable on your website it´s so true, because people “feel” some “monkey business” when the website it´s not professional.
I always wondering about the “Sacarcity” tactic. Some authors talk about this as a good thing. How do we know if it is “too much”?
Me too I want to create my business a website but I had no knowledge about the features of an effective website but with this information I have got to know the the features and with this content I have got to know that a good website should be clear that is to say it should be with straight forward content
Thank you for the information I have learned a lot. I must say that is true; I had left a website before because it was full of autoplay video ads and pop-ups and loaded at a snail’s pace. I also hate it when it doesn’t work correctly on my mobile phone because I use it the most. I want my website to be better, and I want people to like it. I think I got it covered with content, and scare marketing (which I don’t use).I will try to work on the speed of the site. Do you have any suggestions on how to do it?
I actually use a tool within Wealthy Affiliatewhich comes with my hosting, but as long as you have Google Webmaster tools installed on your site then Google will flag up any issues you may have and point you in the right direction.
If you don’t have it installed then take a read of my post which will take you through the process.
I have a brand new website and I’m still building it, I have been adding more contents, but from what I have got from the third feature that I shouldn’t try to advertise too much in my page. Or I shouldn’t add too many affiliate links to my contents.
You are right that too much advertising and too many Affiliate links can put off your readers but also Google. There is a balance to be made but being helpful with your content trumps any attempt to sell.
Benson
atI’m in total agreement with you concerning these three features you have listed here. I feel every site should have a purpose when its being established and it should he a helpful reason, else, its just another waste of space on the internet. Also there are some site who have some contents that are not beneficial to those visiting the site. The idea of leading time should also be put into consideration and most importantly there are sites that are data consuming when accessing it, this could be a reason why people stay away from ones site as well. Best regards.
Karen Noone
atHi Benson and thanks for your thoughts on this subject.
There are lots of reasons for people to switch away from our business websites. It is our job to make sure that people want to stay and read and hopefully buy.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Ivan
atI agree with you about all three aspects of having an effective site, especially about site speed. Website speed is on of the key features in todays SEO, at least that’s what experts claim. Apparently, search engines are looing at site speed among first things. If it’s slow, down goes the ranking, no matter how good your content is. Any advice on how to speed up a site so I don’t loose rankings?
Karen Noone
atHi Ivan and thanks for visiting my site,
Speed is vital both from the point of view of the search engines and the user. Speed is determined by many things.
First you need to ensure you have excellent hosting with great speed capabilities. I host my sites with Wealthy Affiliate. The second part is down to your choices of theme and the images you choose and use. Make sure you have Google Analytics and Webmaster tools on your site and they will give you all the analysis you need to ensure your site is up to speed so to speak.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Pablo
atHi Karen, this is a great article, I like to have a 3 point plan to focuse on. I can see that your website has to see your “shop” right? What you said about being impeccable on your website it´s so true, because people “feel” some “monkey business” when the website it´s not professional.
I always wondering about the “Sacarcity” tactic. Some authors talk about this as a good thing. How do we know if it is “too much”?
Thank you for this great info!
Pablo
Karen Noone
atHi Pablo and thanks for reading,
The scarcity tactic is new to me but I will find out more, so thanks for the info.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Mugalu Mansoor
atMe too I want to create my business a website but I had no knowledge about the features of an effective website but with this information I have got to know the the features and with this content I have got to know that a good website should be clear that is to say it should be with straight forward content
Karen Noone
atHi Mugaloo and thanks for reading,
I am pleased I could be of help.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Katja
atThank you for the information I have learned a lot. I must say that is true; I had left a website before because it was full of autoplay video ads and pop-ups and loaded at a snail’s pace. I also hate it when it doesn’t work correctly on my mobile phone because I use it the most. I want my website to be better, and I want people to like it. I think I got it covered with content, and scare marketing (which I don’t use).I will try to work on the speed of the site. Do you have any suggestions on how to do it?
Thank you for your help.
Have a nice day.
Karen Noone
atHi Katja and thanks for reading my post.
I actually use a tool within Wealthy Affiliatewhich comes with my hosting, but as long as you have Google Webmaster tools installed on your site then Google will flag up any issues you may have and point you in the right direction.
If you don’t have it installed then take a read of my post which will take you through the process.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Hmandour
atThank you so much for this helpful information.
I have a brand new website and I’m still building it, I have been adding more contents, but from what I have got from the third feature that I shouldn’t try to advertise too much in my page. Or I shouldn’t add too many affiliate links to my contents.
Karen Noone
atHi Hamandour and thanks for reading,
You are right that too much advertising and too many Affiliate links can put off your readers but also Google. There is a balance to be made but being helpful with your content trumps any attempt to sell.
Wishing you every success.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen