Having a website that works for both you and your customers is imperative. There are many different
types of website out there and it can be difficult to know exactly what you want. Continue reading for
our guide to ensuring that you create and maintain an effective website.
Know what you want
Look around other people’s websites and make a list of features you like and ones you definitely hope toavoid. This can be really enlightening when it comes to knowing how you want yours to work, its
features and what content you would like it to contain. Looking at competitors’ websites can also be
useful. Making a note of the specific features they have will probably give you a decent idea of what
your requirements will be. Of course, yours would look entirely different as it is important to carry off your branding throughout everything you do, but it will certainly offer a good foundation on which to build.
Seek advice from a professional
Enlisting the help of a website builder is certainly advisable for a novice. They will be able to do all the hard work for you when it comes to web design. Whether you wish to have them maintain the website on a long-term basis is another consideration. This is entirely dependent on your type of business and how frequently the website will need updating. There are also website builders online which beginners can use. However, it is vital to note that the outcome is not always very professional. A little knowledge can go a long way, which is why website creators can afford to charge a lot for their services.
Update regularly
Stumbling a website, but noting that it was last updated in 2016 is off putting to many people.
Seeing that little effort is put into ensuring that the information is accurate and, indeed, that the products are evolving will make potential clients wonder about the quality of your service. Even if the products do remain almost the same, it is important to give updates on a regular basis. Consider having a blog section to your website, which can be used to divulge information about new services, share any exciting news you might have, awards the company has won perhaps. It can also be used to gush about how well things are going and any partnerships you may have formed with other local companies or projects you are supporting within the community.
Be Aware
Signing up to things like website uptime monitoring will mean that you are on the ball when it comes to your site. Being aware of any problems it may be encountering is vital. If the website is down for a prolonged period of time, knowing this and acting upon it is never a bad thing. Information your clientele via social media would be a good idea. Not only does this share the information, keeping them informed about what is happening, but it also shows that you are on the ball.
