6 Common Mistakes in Websites-Going Digital in 2015

Most businesses have a website of some kind, and whether you have “bricks” as well, these “clicks” are vital to maximising the growth of your business. So why is it that your website may be a dusty, dated, shop window of olden day equivalent?

1. Be clear about your objectives

Do you want your website to be there as an extension of your business card or will it play a key part of generating your online sales? Whichever one it is, make sure that the whole website helps achieve those objectives or it could cost you a lot of money and customers too. Remember your online presence is your brand too, so unless you are selling dusty shop windows(!), it makes sense to have a clear and clean look and feel to your website.

2. Aim at your target audience

Who are the visitors you would like to access your website? Focus the homepage in particular to get their interest which means meeting their needs…..quickly and easily.

3. It has to be responsive

Otherwise known as mobile-friendly, this means that the look and feel adapts depending on the device used to access it. For over a year, mobiles and tablets have been used to access websites far more than desktops. Since 21st April 2015, Google SEO rankings have meant that non-responsive websites will automatically be lower in search rankings …. no matter how good the quality and relevance of your content!

4. Keeping it fresh

When searching for possible website developers last week as we were preparing a website brief for a client. On one Home Page we noted that the date of their “latest news” was dated 12 months ago, this was sufficient for them not even to make the tender invite stage. The good news is that it doesn’t have to take much time or effort at all to ensure that your content is fresh and updated, and it makes a real difference to any visitor arriving at your Home Page too.

5. Avoid neglect through CMS

“Getting” a website can be seen as a tick box exercise – once it’s developed and published, you can sit back and move onto the next action point on your agenda. WRONG! It is just the star. A good website is a living “shop window” and only when it’s up and running properly, will you start to realise all the areas you’d like to change. Likewise, as your products, services, pricing and business evolve, so your customers do too.

6. Analyse it

It’s fundamental to understand how your website is performing. Just like having a physical shop, where knowing how many people come into your shop, or do they just stop to look in the window is key? And once inside, how long they stay and what they buy is exactly the same online. Google Analytics for instance, shows you exactly who is visiting your website which when linked with other information, gives you the key insights necessary to grow your business further.

Get in touch to see how Zoe Griffiths Consultancy Limited can help you ensure your website is really helping make your business grow! Call us on 07771 917093 or visit www.zoegriffithsconsultancy.com