Gone are the days when a pretty Welcome image and a killer About section did all of the heavy lifting for your website. In this digital age, successful websites–the ones that actually convert–require a more thoughtful strategy and a well-rounded foundation.

Here are three super important things your website absolutely needs to thrive:

1. An unbeatable UX/UI

Ever visit a website and just know how to get around? That’s the power of great User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) at play!

• User Experience (UX) is all about how people feel when they’re on your site. Is it easy to find what they’re looking for? Does everything just make sense? A fantastic UX means happy visitors who stick around longer and are more likely to do what you would love them to do, like buy something or reach out.
• User Interface (UI) is the pretty face of your website – the layout, colors, fonts, and buttons. A well-designed UI looks professional, grabs attention, and smoothly guides users through your content.

Why it matters for your business: When your website is a joy to use, you’ll see more engaged visitors, more sales, and a stronger brand that people remember!

2. Flexible Hosting

Every great website needs a cozy, reliable home, and that’s what hosting provides. But not all hosting is created equal! For your small business, you want a provider that gives you more than just a spot on the internet.

• Reliability is non-negotiable: Your website needs to be up and running 24/7. If it’s down, you’re missing out on potential customers and sales. Choose a host known for being dependable and having stellar customer support.
• Speed is your friend: No one likes a slow website! Speedy loading times keep visitors happy and even help your site show up higher in search results.
• Freedom to customize: As your business evolves, your website will too. Look for hosting that lets you tweak things, add cool new features (like plugins), and easily grow as you need more space or power. Steer clear of “website builders” that might box you in if you think you’ll want more control later.

Why it matters for your business: Great hosting means your website is always there, super fast, and ready to adapt as your business blossoms!

3. Alt Text is Your Secret Weapon!

Here’s a little secret weapon that often gets overlooked: Alt text (or “alternative text”). It’s a short description of an image on your website, and it’s a big deal for two reasons:

• Making your site welcoming to everyone: For visitors using screen readers (which help visually impaired people browse the web), alt text describes your images so they don’t miss out on any visual information. It makes your site more inclusive and accessible!
• Helping Google “see” your images: Search engines can’t actually look at pictures. They rely on alt text to understand what an image is all about. When you use good, descriptive alt text with relevant keywords, your images can pop up in image searches and even boost your overall search engine ranking.

Why it matters for your business: Adding alt text shows you care about all your visitors and gives your website another little push to be found by more people online!

By focusing on these three key areas, you’ll be building a fantastic foundation for your small business website – one that attracts and turns visitors into leads!

Want help bringing your website to its highest potential? Let’s chat!