Are you looking to create a website? Are you wondering which features are necessary? Your website will represent your business in the online space. So you wouldn’t want to lose potential customers by having a site they don’t understand and can’t navigate. As with any website, there are key elements to improve its functionality and efficiency. Here are some of the must-have features that you can incorporate into your website today.
Domain Name
For your clients and customers to find your website, you need to have a domain name. This is one of the first steps one has to take when creating a website. Your domain name, together with other detailed information, makes up a unique address called a URL for visitors to access any page on your site. Pick a domain name that your visitors can easily find and remember. You may also need to be creative with your domain name, especially if what you had in mind is already taken. Make it simple and easy.
Company Name
Having a company name displayed on your website goes without saying. It’s how people can identify your business to know whether they are at the right place. Your company name should be displayed at the top of your homepage where it can easily be seen by your visitors.
Logo
While some businesses can do well without a logo, it’s still advisable to have one. Any sort of graphics creates a long-lasting image in the mind. You may find that some people won’t be able to remember a company by name but will immediately recognize their logo. So think of your logo as an investment. Make it small, easy to remember, and ideally, place it at the top of the homepage beside your company name.
Description
As a start-up company, having a short description of what your business is all about will go a long way in helping your visitors gain better insight into the nature of your business. This can be added to an About Us page along with other useful information about your company. If you have a tagline, you can place this near your company name and logo at the top of the website as well.
Navigation Bar
The navigation bar is the part of your website that allows visitors to access information and other sections of your website in one place. It allows them to move from one page to another with ease or scroll down to the next section. The navigation bar can be placed either vertically on one side of the page or horizontally across the top of the page.
Call to Action
A call-to-action button is a must-have feature on your website. It’s how you can convert visitors into leads simply by guiding them to perform a specific action. It can be anything from “Subscribe” or “Join Now” or “Book Us”, to whatever your business is offering. Use action verbs that can easily pique one’s interest and make the button eye-catching. Place it where your visitors will see it and you’ll have a call-to-action that your visitors can’t resist!
Search
To provide more information and to make it easier for your visitors to access it, add a search bar. For even more ease in site navigation, place it at the top of your homepage and other pages where it can quickly be accessed.
Live Chat
With the advancement in technology, you can now incorporate live chat into your website. With the use of live chat software, your visitors can get top-tier customer service instantly. To make things more efficient, you may prompt your visitors to chat for anything they need after they have been on the site for a certain period.
Social Media Icons
There was a time when social media just wasn’t a thing yet and it wasn’t as necessary for businesses to create and manage accounts as it is now. Today, social media has become an essential tool for any business hence the need to include their icons on your site. Make sure that these icons are not just there for show but are linked to your social media accounts.
Contact Form and Information
Adding your contact info is another must-have as this is how people can reach you either through calls, texts, emails or by visiting the physical location of your business. A contact form is a more direct method as clients just need to fill in their contact details and queries in an online form. Once this information is saved and you have received the query, you can then respond directly to their email.
About Page
Your visitors need to know your story and learn more about your business. An about page is the best way to tell your story, mission, vision, and even explain short biographies of your team members. This helps your visitors engage with your site more and understand your business better.
SEO Tool
Search engine optimization tool is a must-have feature for your website if you want it to rank at the top in search engine results. Incorporate on-site and off-site SEO to increase traffic to your site.
Web Hosting
For people to be able to see your site, it needs to be hosted by a web hosting provider. This shouldn’t give you any problem when you using a website builder however as they will host your site for you.
Site Analytics
To be able to track your visitors, you will need to have site analytics. You can opt to use Google Analytics to automatically collect data and you can use it to better their experience on your site. Aside from Google Analytics, there many other web analytics tools for you to choose from. What's important is that you have one.
Over to You
Website creation can be a long and daunting process but believe us when we say that it will all pay off in the end. One thing to note is that trends are constantly changing so you are required to stay up to date in order for your website to succeed in the online world. If you are not conversant with web development, it might be better to seek the expertise of a professional.
