Is Your Website Behind Your Competition?
The one constant thing about the internet is that it is ever-changing. You may wish that the digital world would slow down so you can keep up, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. If you have an outdated website or one with an ineffective design, it may be time to update your website with the must-have features for 2020.
No need to worry about the latest design trends or flashy diversions. Those are fun but aren’t always necessary for a website to work well. You do need to have the features people are looking for online in 2020. For instance, most people expect websites to have a map. The map helps consumers find a store or place of business quickly and easily on their mobile devices.
Read on to learn more about the elements you need to include on your website in 2020.
Top Features Your Website Must Have in 2020
Maybe you don’t have a website or you have one that is bare-bones. It is time to get that website updated with the qualities that make a website functional and useful to internet users. Here are some additions you should include on your website before 2020 comes to a close.
Contact Page
Your website should have a contact page. It’s something users have come to expect and it’s a bare minimum requirement for a website to be functional. Visitors need to know generally where you are located, what your address is, and how to contact you.
Map and Directions
These days, users are looking for maps on a company’s website. They want to be able to find your location easily, especially when they are on the go, so they can pop in when it’s convenient for them.
Most people aren’t going to hunt around for your location. If your business is not easy to find, they will go somewhere else. A map also helps Google locate your business so you can be found on Google Maps when search engine users perform a search.
Useful Photos
Photos of your business’s storefront or other photos that can help your customers obtain your services, find your location, or get the information they need are necessary.
When a customer knows what your storefront looks like, this greatly improves their experience. You don’t want customers or clients to be in a bad mood when they arrive at your door. Make it easier for them to find you. This improves customer satisfaction from the very beginning.
Responsiveness
It’s an absolute requirement that your website be functional and responsive. It needs to load properly and without delay. Customers don’t care much about a fancy website. They are easy—they just want one that works.
Security
A secure site is more necessary than ever before. Hackers are out there, and they can damage your business and your brand in a huge way if customers’ information gets hacked. You need to invest in site security so your business will be protected from the baddies out there.
Social Buttons
Including links or buttons to your social channels is easy but important. You want your website to be a hub connecting to other branches of your brand. Maybe you have an Etsy store, a Pinterest board, and a huge following on Instagram. You want all of those social media platforms to be connected to your website so users can get an immersive experience and an understanding of what your business is all about and why they want to be a part of it.
Live Chat
People move faster and faster these days, and they want to be able to get information without long wait times on an automated system. Sometimes, they aren’t in the mood to talk to a human, so a chat feature can be a helpful improvement to your website. Live Chat allows people to obtain information rapidly and can free up phone calls and other communication channels for more important conversations.
Mobile-First Design
Websites today must be designed for the mobile user. People perform a lot of digital interactions on their smartphones, and your website has to be functional for mobile users. Make sure any website changes you make work well and look great on a mobile device.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
You may not be an SEO expert, but you need to have at least a basic understanding of how to incorporate SEO on your website. Add relevant keywords and include phrases in your content that someone who is using a search engine would type.
For instance, if you own a flower shop in Kansas City, you may want to incorporate keywords and phrases into your website copy like:
- Flower shop in Kansas City
- Kansas City flower shop near me
- Where is the nearest flower shop in Kansas City?
Marketing and Branding Details
You want your website visitors to recognize your brand, so if you don’t already have branding, you will want to add that to your website. A few examples of branding elements:
- A company logo
- Color scheme
- Identifiable themes
- Mascots
- Taglines and jingles
Whatever marketing and branding elements you want to add, make sure you make them unique and be consistent.
Calls to Action
Finally, websites need calls to action, or clear direction, throughout your website’s different pages so that site visitors will know what steps to take on your site. Should they fill out a form, call your office, add a coupon to their cart, or checkout now? Make sure you use calls to action to help consumers or clients take those next steps you want them to take.
Get Help With Website Design and Development
Not every business owner can design, build, and secure a website on their own. They need to team up with a company that can perform those services on their behalf, and perform them well. At Digital Division, we have a team of expert web designers, content writers, website developers, and SEO specialists who can not only implement these top 2020 features on your website but can also maintain your website and update it regularly.
Learn more about how Digital Division can help you get the website your company needs to be successful by calling our office now.