For a small business, a website is crucial to maintaining an effective online presence. Several aspects must be considered during the website design process. In this blog post, we will discuss in detail the most important elements of a small business website, and we will talk about which pages are mandatory, what tools can be used to track website traffic, how to choose the right domain, and the importance of privacy policy and data security.
Considerations When Assembling a Website
1. Define Your Goals
Before starting the website creation process, it is essential to define its purpose. Do you want to increase sales? Or do you want to provide information about your services? Maybe both? The goal will determine the structure and content of the website.
2. User Experience (UX)
The website should be user-friendly. Simple navigation, quick loading times, and a mobile-friendly design all contribute to a positive user experience. It is crucial that visitors can easily find what they are looking for.
3. Content Quality
Content should be informative, well-written, and free of spelling errors. We recommend using Grammarly for text checking, which is available as a browser extension too, providing feedback and editing suggestions while you write. Use attractive images and graphics to make the content visually engaging. Avoid uploading blurry or too-small images.
4. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The website should be optimized for search engines so that potential customers can easily find it. Use relevant keywords, write meta descriptions, and ensure a proper link structure. APK Web Solutions can assist with this.
5. Security
Especially if you handle online transactions, website security is paramount. Using an SSL certificate is essential, but it is also worth implementing other security measures, such as regular security updates and security plugins. Do not forget regular backups – if you frequently modify your site, perform backups at least once a week.
Now let’s see what are the most important elements of a small business website.
Mandatory Pages
These are the most important elements of a small business website
1. Home Page
This is often the page we promote on social media, and it is where our visitors typically land first. Therefore, it must be well-structured and visually appealing. Include a brief introduction to your business and highlight your key services or products. Be sure to prominently display contact information in the footer.
2. About Us Page
This page should provide a detailed description of the business’s history, mission, and values. People like to know who they are dealing with, so a personal tone is recommended. Include a review section if there are positive evaluations; emphasize them on this page (e.g., if you have reviews on Google, display them on your site in some form). If you do not have reviews, start collecting them, as many visitors base their decisions on reviews. Trustpilot is an excellent platform for collecting reviews – start gathering them today!
3. Services/Products Page
Provide detailed descriptions of the services or products offered. Use images, videos, and user testimonials to give visitors a clear picture of what you offer.
4. Contact Page
Potential clients need to reach you easily. Include your contact details, email address, phone number, and a contact form. If you have a physical location, include a map. Ensure that the email and phone number are clickable, encouraging immediate email sending and dialing when clicked on a mobile device.
5. Blog
A blog allows you to regularly publish fresh content, which helps with SEO and keeping clients informed. Write about business-related news, and industry trends, and share useful tips. Aim to write at least four articles a month on relevant topics to ensure a good ranking in search engines.
6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Page
This page helps answer common questions, reducing the burden on customer service. Both visitors and the service provider benefit if the most important information is easily accessible on the website.
7. Privacy Policy Page
The website must include information on how the site collects, uses, and protects visitors’ data. Privacy policies are mandatory and ensure that the business complies with local and international data protection laws, such as the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). Key elements include:
– What types of data are collected
– How these data are used
– How the data are protected
– The visitors’ rights regarding their data
– How to contact us with privacy-related questions
For WordPress sites, there are many excellent plugins available today that automatically generate the necessary privacy policy pages based on the website’s functions (e.g., CookieYes).
Other elements of a small business website
Tools for Tracking Website Traffic
1. Google Analytics
This is one of the most popular tools for tracking website traffic. It provides detailed data on the number of visitors, traffic sources, user behavior, and much more. The data display depends on which events are linked for tracking (e.g., purchases, adding to cart, cart abandonment, etc.).
2. Google Search Console
This tool helps monitor the website’s performance in Google search. It provides information on indexing, search queries, and potential errors. It shows how many people clicked on the site, where visitors come from, what search keywords they use, how often our pages appear in the search engine, and ranking in the search results.
3. Hotjar
Hotjar uses heatmap analysis and visitor behavior recordings to help understand how visitors use the site. This can be useful for improving user experience.
4. Yoast SEO
This WordPress plugin helps optimize content for search engines and tracks SEO performance. The plugin is free for basic use, but the Pro version offers more options for optimizing page descriptions based on professional suggestions.
How to Choose the Right Domain?
1. Keep It Short and Memorable
A short, memorable domain name helps customers find you easily. Take your time coming up with the right domain name. If you have an idea, check its availability here: Domain Check.
2. Use Relevant Keywords
If possible, the domain name should contain keywords related to your business, which can help with search engine optimization.
3. Avoid Complicated Characters
Do not use hyphens, numbers, or special characters, as they make the domain name harder to remember and type.
4. Check Legal Issues
Make sure that the chosen domain name does not infringe on trademarks or other legal issues.
5. Think Long-Term
Choose a domain name that will remain relevant in the long term, even if the business expands or changes.
A well-designed and maintained website can be a highly effective tool for a small business in terms of online presence and customer acquisition. A professional-looking website with the right content and tools can help the business grow and succeed. Do not forget the privacy policy to ensure your website complies with legal requirements and protects visitors’ data.