If you have a website for your small business, you need to make sure it’s helping to make you money – not losing you customers!
Your website is your ‘shop window’. Whatever type of business you’re running, your window needs to be sparkling clean and dazzling. Think about how you use the web?
What puts you off a website when you’re shopping, or looking for a place to eat? Ask a few friends and family members what puts them off.
Take an honest look at your website. Does it put people off?
Small businesses need all the help they can get
Let your customers, staff, volunteers, service users help you get your offer right.
The best way to get your shop window right is to ask your existing customers. Don’t expect very high response rates, but whatever people tell you be sure to listen. Be prepared to change your own ideas (including favourite colour schemes) if everyone else hates them!
Listen to your customers
There are some great resources around to help you get started, but you can get going quickly by just starting to ask everyone you know has used your website. Friends and family often don’t hold back, but don’t get upset – their comments could really help.
If you run a not-for-profit organisation, ask everyone you can what they think of your website and social media channels. Find out what kind of information they want – and give it to them.
How often you ask people what they want from your small business depends on what you sell and how often people buy. If you’re selling food, ask often. Get feedback on new products and services before you commit to extending your range.
Avoid these mistakes and your website will stop putting people off and keep them reading and buying.
3 mistakes that are killing your small business website
Not enough information
If a visitor to your website can see what they think they’re looking for but don’t have all they need to take the action you want them to – sign-up, buy, join – they’ll leave.
If you’re selling, answer the questions you think potential customers will ask. Use your customer feedback to make sure you’re getting it right.
Spelling and poor grammar
It’s true that we can’t all be great writers. And, if you’re doing things quickly the chances of a ‘typo’, words getting swapped around by mistake, increase.
But typo’s and poor grammar look bad.
Does it really matter you might say, if you’re business is selling car tyres?
You’re right. If people want a tyre, they might not care if your grammar is less than perfect, but they may associate that lack of attention with a similar disregard for the quality of your tyres.
If you want people to pay you for a service provided by a professional – whatever you do – then you need to look professional. So, no spelling errors and the best grammar you’ve got.
Dead pages
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If you don’t have any testimonials, why would you have a page for them on your website? Think about how you feel when you click on a link to find an empty page. It’s frustrating, it’s lazy and it will lose you customers.
Unless you’re a completely unique business, or can stand to lose customers – don’t have blank pages on your site. Hide pages you’re working by keeping them in draft.