In today's business environment, a company without a great website is already far behind the competition. A business without any online presence might as well be invisible.
According to a study by FleischmanHillard, 89% percent of consumers use search engines on a regular basis when making buying decisions. Companies that are not online are missing out on a huge number of potential sales. In order to increase sales, and improve your profitability, you need to get online as quickly as possible.
There are a lot of choices out there for building business-oriented websites -- from inexpensive DIY template-based solutions to full-service site creation and management agencies. It can be confusing for business owners who lack experience online to choose which type of website is the best for them.
Often the website decisions wind up being made based on the cost. Inexperienced owners typically spend a few hours reviewing different website options, and then choose the most inexpensive website solution which looks good. While a visually appealing website is important, there is more to a profitable website than simply appearances. Cheaper website solutions may look great, but typically they lack the backend tools which drive a website to success.
What a Quality Website Needs to Succeed
Ninety-seven percent of customers consider the quality of a company's website when forming an opinion about a company and its products. When choosing a website solution for your company, you need to consider:
SEO
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is critical for your site to become successful. SEO uses keywords and other techniques to encourage sites like Google, to display your website higher in their listings when users perform a search. Search engines want to provide their users with the best, most unique and helpful websites. Cheaper template-based websites are often poorly coded, and perform badly in search engine results. Poor SEO is the number one profit killer for websites.
A Great User Experience
Providing an easy-to-navigate website is essential for a good user experience. Every business is different, and each requires a custom menu system that is specifically designed for its needs. Making it as easy as possible to find information quickly, and to make a purchase without frustrating a customer are keys to success.
Amazing Analytics
The ability to measure the effectiveness of your website is critical to making the changes necessary to improve its performance. Cheaper website options usually can't provide the analytical data companies need to really understand how the site is performing. High-end websites give companies multiple ways of understanding how customers interact with their websites, and provide clues to which parts of a site are working and which aspects still need tweaking.
Top-Notch Security
As in any business environment, trust is critical. A secure website is important for establishing trust with your customers. Whether you are taking orders online, or simply building a customer base, any breach of your website's security is devastating. Unfortunately, many lower-cost website options are vulnerable to hacking, and other cyber mischief. A custom-built website is often a more secure alternative.
Marketing Essential provides clients with professional, high-end websites which convert browsers into buyers. To learn more about how a custom website design from Marketing Essentials can help increase your company's sales, contact us today at 419.629.0080, or request your free website analysis below.
