How Can You Improve a Small Business Website Effectively?

Sneha Hull | December 15, 2021 | 181 views

Improving a Small Business Website
Having a small business website is a vital component in today's competitive business world. Likewise, a small company website is equally critical to surviving in the competitive business climate. However, simply having a company website is insufficient. You must ensure that your website is successful for potential clients to contact you.

Around 71% of small businesses have a website (Fit Small Business).

Small companies are sometimes ignorant of the advantages of having a website. So let us take a look at the benefits of having a company website.
  • A larger audience reach
  • Low-cost website building
  • A simple online promotion
  • Gaining insight into customers through user behavior tracking
  • Increasing brand presence and recognition

Several website builders  for small companies  create websites with greater customization. For example, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Zyro, and Weebly are popular among others.

"If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business."

- Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft

38% of people will stop interacting with a poorly designed site (Fit Small Business).

By following these simple guidelines, you may differentiate your website from the rest of the leading websites and develop an ideal promotional small business website.

Tips For Building Effective Small Business Website


Select Your Domain Name Carefully


Small companies usually struggle  to decide on a domain name for their websites. However, your domain name is the internet address for your website,  so you should give it proper attention. So, to create a unique domain name for your website, follow these tips.
  • Keep your domain name unique, memorable, and short
  • Choose one or more keywords that represent your site
  • Keep  an  accessible domain name

Register Your Domain


Purchasing a domain name is an excellent way to strengthen your online brand and is critical for small businesses. First, create a small business website and register your domain name to ensure that potential clients can easily locate you.

Having a domain name is critical for a company for the following reasons:
  • Enhances your business's professional credibility
  • Establishes your firm as technologically knowledgeable and forward-thinking
  • Improves your search engine ranking
  • Expands your brand's marketability globally
  • Increases your brand's visibility

Establish An Internet Store


Create an online store for your business by developing an eCommerce website.  It can increase your earnings. Individuals may make purchases regardless of their location or time of day. The online retailer expands its consumer base by reaching out to people  worldwide. Each click on an online store provides significant insight into the purchase process and paves the way for marketing opportunities.

According to Statista, over 263 million American customers purchase online every year—roughly 80% of the population—and this number is expected to grow to 291.2 million by 2025.

Make Your Navigation Manageable


Maintain a streamlined and straightforward site navigation to prevent your visitors from losing interest in the page. When potential consumers visit your small business website, you want them to remain for an extended period and be able to locate what they're searching for.. Therefore, your navigation should be straightforward.

Often, this is an overlooked part of your website's UI design. But having an orderly and easy-to-follow navigation system is highly advantageous to the entire user experience.

Include a Call to Action


A call to action button on your business website is critical. It serves as a springboard  that converts visitors to leads and then to conversions. An influential call to action on the landing page or every page of your website can prove to be one of the best marketing tips for small businesses. The call to action encourages visitors to take many actions. Which includes clicking on a link, downloading information or a whitepaper, contacting  live chat for further  details on the desired product or service, or booking a free demo.

Ensure your call to action is easy, inviting, and catchy.

Include Social Sharing Button and Social Proof


Any business's reputation and trustworthiness are highly dependent on the contributions of its existing clients. Therefore, it benefits your business since visitors to your website will place a higher premium on the ratings and testimonials of your best customers. This may be accomplished by including textual or video testimonials from your consumers and their presentations on your page. Additionally, you can highlight industry accolades and certifications relevant to your specialization.

Additionally, you may include a social sharing button at the bottom of each web page. This enables visitors to spread the word about the page via their social media platforms. Consequently, your content is liable to go viral on various social media platforms.

Here is one such success story of KeyNest, how an improved and effective website enhances its performance.

KeyNest


KeyNest is a startup business that specializes in vacation rental property management. Squarespace served as the Content Management System (CMS) that aided them in developing a stunning website. The design was simple, allowing readers to concentrate on the site's content and simplify navigation. In addition, the KeyNest website has a live chat feature that links users with the startup's customer support team. This tool aids in resolving any potential concerns.

Above is an excellent example of how an improved website, with the help of some popular website builders, enhances the website performance. This has led to more visibility and growth of that organization.

Conclusion


Improving your business website is an ongoing process around the whole business journey. However, the above tips can help you make your average small business website into the best small business website. It is a cumbersome process, but a well-designed website is the talk of the town for potential customers. Remember that your small business web design is critical to retaining visitors.

FAQ:


What makes a good website?

A good website is one that is well organized, visibly pleasing, easy to navigate, uncluttered, and professional. Visitors should find the content relevant to their search. A good business website should also be technically stable and secure.

How can small businesses improve their website?

There are seven easy steps to improve a small business website. They are:
  • Select your domain name carefully
  • Register your domain
  • Establish an internet store
  • Make your navigation manageable
  • Incorporate a call to action
  • Include social sharing button and social proof
  • Insert keyword-rich headings

What do I need to build a website?

Website building goes through a process.  To name a few:
  • Select a website builder or application, or platform
  • Register a domain
  • Select a domain
  • Register a domain email address
  • Create and edit your website using a design template
  • Purchase website hosting with superior technical assistance

Spotlight

LeadMD

LeadMD is the #1 performance marketing consultancy that leverages best-in-class technology to make your vision actionable and your outcomes measurable. Breaking down the typical siloes of technology and strategy, LeadMD collaborates with clients to increase revenues, align teams and engage ideal customers. We’ve helped more than 3,500 high-growth companies succeed by building revenue engines that scale on top of marketing and sales platforms like Marketo , Adobe, Salesforce.com and dozens of others.

OTHER ARTICLES
SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE, INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

5 Tax-Related Resolutions for Smarter Small Business Accounting in 2020

Article | July 29, 2022

Accountants working with small businesses often play the role of business advisors, especially when it comes to educating their clients about tax regulations and reducing their tax bill by taking all legitimate factors into account. We’ve gathered four tips that accounting professionals can use as a check-list to give to their small and mid-size business owner clients looking to make better financial decisions this year.

Read More
TECHNOLOGY, SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

7 BIGGEST ENTREPRENEURIAL MISTAKES

Article | June 30, 2022

This is the first post in a seven-part-series detailing the biggest entrepreneurial mistakes business owners make. The series will run over the next few weeks so check back to learn more. These are the 7 Biggest Mistakes I have seen entrepreneurs and companies make that can devalue their Intellectual Property (“IP”) portfolio, damage their brand, or sink a deal. If you are considering turning your idea into a business, read this carefully first. There are other mistakes you can make, but these are the deal-breakers. Any one of these can cost you big bucks, credibility in the eyes of investors and potential partners, and ultimately lead to evaporation of the value of your idea.

Read More
SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

How to Report Revenue on a Small-Business Credit Card Application

Article | August 24, 2022

When filling out the “revenue” portion of a small-business credit card application, you want to make your small business or side hustle look its very best without stretching the truth. But revenue can swing dramatically from year to year, and credit card applications often don’t spell out what you should or shouldn’t include when reporting it. So what counts as an honest, just-the-facts answer? Generally, in credit card applications, issuers want to know your verifiable gross revenue from the previous year.

Read More

Simple Security for Every Small Business

Article | February 10, 2020

If you’re a business owner you really have your hands full, every day, with the minutiae of running your business, balancing your books, orders, employees, scheduling, inventory, servicing customers, payroll, taxes well, you get the idea as you’re living it every day. You might read that and think that I’m crazy, and that you do take security into account, and your office and systems are secure. Frequently, it’s not in the day to day operation of your business which is why we have statistics like this: In the first 6 months of 2019 alone, over 3,800 data breaches were reported, with over 4 billion records being exposed as a result. If you broke it down evenly, that would be over 20 million records stolen every single day this year.

Read More

Spotlight

LeadMD

LeadMD is the #1 performance marketing consultancy that leverages best-in-class technology to make your vision actionable and your outcomes measurable. Breaking down the typical siloes of technology and strategy, LeadMD collaborates with clients to increase revenues, align teams and engage ideal customers. We’ve helped more than 3,500 high-growth companies succeed by building revenue engines that scale on top of marketing and sales platforms like Marketo , Adobe, Salesforce.com and dozens of others.

Related News

SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

IRIS Software Group Acquire Apex HCM to Expands its US Business

IRIS Software Group | March 02, 2023

IRIS Software Group (IRIS), a leading global provider of accountancy and payroll solutions, recently announced the acquisition of a leading provider of cloud-based HCM enterprise software for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms and payroll service bureaus (PSBs), Apex HCM. Apex's software, which was founded in 2008, is utilized by over 250 CPA firms and PSBs across the America to provide payroll services to more than 40,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its comprehensive HCM suite allows CPAs and PSBs to provide their SME clients with recruiting, onboarding, time and attendance, and benefits administration software through a cloud-native platform. The acquisition of Apex is a significant step in IRIS' international expansion. The combined business provides payroll services to more than one million employees and 130,000 SMBs in the United States and Canada. "We are delighted to welcome Apex to the IRIS family. This acquisition continues our successful journey providing leading software to PSBs and CPA firms – a market which IRIS has been serving for decades in the UK and we are rapidly expanding in the Americas region," said Elona Mortimer-Zhika, CEO of IRIS. (Source – Business Wire) The announcement follows a prosperous year of expansion for IRIS across the Americas. IRIS achieved a 28 percent increase in sales in 2022 as it successfully executed its ambition to supercharge the company's operations in the U.S. through mergers and acquisitions, innovation, and senior hiring. AccountantsWorld, myPay Solutions, Conarc, and Doc.it are among recent strategic acquisitions. About IRIS Software Group Headquartered in Slough, Berkshire, IRIS Software Group is one of the largest privately held software organizations in the United Kingdom and a global provider of mission-critical software. IRIS provides finance, HR, and payroll teams, educational institutions, and accounting firms with software solutions and services that streamline operations and allow professionals to focus on their passions. By streamlining, automating, and offering insights on routine mission-critical processes for businesses of all sizes, IRIS ensures that its customers can look to the future with clarity and confidence.

Read More

SMALL BUSINESS TRENDS

BILL Extends Its Commitment to SVB-affected SMBs

BILL | March 15, 2023

On March 14, 2023, BILL, a leading financial automation solutions provider for small and midsize businesses (SMBs), announced new offerings for businesses impacted by the recent events involving Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). These new programs are aimed at helping SMBs remain fully operational during this challenging time. BILL's new offerings include programs to enable business continuity for existing customers who are also SVB customers. The first program is BILL balance, a secure and convenient way for customers to store and move funds in order to make quicker payments to vendors to any bank in the US with no additional fees. The second program is pre-approval for a Divvy line of credit, which allows small businesses to quickly pay bills using an existing or new Divvy corporate card. The third program is the ability to connect SVB debit cards to BILL Pay By Card, allowing customers to access their funds immediately and use them to pay vendors. For the next 30 days beginning March 14, BILL will reimburse all pay-by-card transaction fees made with SVB debit cards. In addition to the above three programs, BILL is also offering a new three-month free trial of the BILL platform for any businesses looking to improve control, efficiency and visibility of their financial operations. BILL's core products and services can also assist SMBs in streamlining financial processes, improving financial controls and visibility, and providing users with access to capital. On the BILL platform, SMBs can automate payables and receivables workflows, manage cash in and out with an array of quick and safe payment offerings, and access business credit and control expenses with Divvy's Spend and Expense Management Platform. All of these offerings are part of BILL's ongoing commitment to automating the future of finance so that businesses can thrive, particularly during challenging times like those facing SVB customers. About BILL BILL is a financial automation software company that provides solutions to small and midsize businesses (SMBs) to streamline their financial operations. The company's mission is to automate the future of finance, so businesses can thrive by providing a platform that simplifies and automates financial processes.It offers a suite of products and services that enable SMBs to automate payables and receivables workflows, manage cash in and out, access business credit and control expenses. These services include ACH, card, and international transfers, as well as the ability to store and move funds securely and conveniently using BILL balance. In addition, it integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, making it easy for businesses to manage their financial operations in one place.

Read More

SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

Melio Announces Integration with Xero to Sync Payments Data

Melio | January 25, 2023

On January 24, 2023, Melio, the industry-leading B2B payments platform for small businesses, announced a new integration with the cloud-based accounting software platform Xero. Through this integration, Melio's small business clients will be able to seamlessly sync their accounts payable and receivable data with Xero, therefore saving time on bill payments, facilitating reconciliation, and enhancing insight into incoming payments. Melio's co-founder and CTO, Ilan Atias, said, "This two-way sync with Xero will help small business customers better understand how much money is going in and out of their accounts at a time when it is critical to keep a close eye on cash flow." He explained, "Moreover, this integration will help save customers time and simplify the bill-paying process while providing them with more visibility and control over their day-to-day finances." (Source – PR Newswire) The United States is home to 33.2 million small businesses, which accounts for 99.9% of the nation's businesses. This integration will enable these businesses to spend less time on accounting and more time growing their businesses. In addition, small business bills, payments, and invoice information will be seamlessly synchronized across the two platforms, saving time typing data into separate accounts and eliminating the guesswork of matching charges to open invoices. The VP of Partnerships, Americas, at Xero, Carol Haverty, stated, "Melio's integration with Xero offers tremendous value to our accounting and bookkeeping partners and their small business clients." She also said, "Melio and Xero have a shared vision of championing small business. We look forward to helping our customers streamline workflows and save time with this integration so they can focus on growing and running their business." (Source – PR Newswire) This is Melio's fourth synchronization with an industry-leading accounting software vendor, extending the company's track record of collaborating and integrating with financial institutions, software providers, and markets. About Melio Melio is a market-leading B2B payments technology firm that helps small and medium-sized businesses send and receive payments rapidly and without hassle, thereby improving their cash flow and productivity. Melio, one of the fastest-growing B2B payment platforms in the United States, is revolutionizing the transfer of funds between businesses. It serves banking institutions and software firms that want to provide accounts payable and receivable solutions to small business clients. The company was founded in 2018, with headquarters in New York, a research and development facility in Tel Aviv, and headquarters in Colorado for the western United States.

Read More

SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

IRIS Software Group Acquire Apex HCM to Expands its US Business

IRIS Software Group | March 02, 2023

IRIS Software Group (IRIS), a leading global provider of accountancy and payroll solutions, recently announced the acquisition of a leading provider of cloud-based HCM enterprise software for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms and payroll service bureaus (PSBs), Apex HCM. Apex's software, which was founded in 2008, is utilized by over 250 CPA firms and PSBs across the America to provide payroll services to more than 40,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its comprehensive HCM suite allows CPAs and PSBs to provide their SME clients with recruiting, onboarding, time and attendance, and benefits administration software through a cloud-native platform. The acquisition of Apex is a significant step in IRIS' international expansion. The combined business provides payroll services to more than one million employees and 130,000 SMBs in the United States and Canada. "We are delighted to welcome Apex to the IRIS family. This acquisition continues our successful journey providing leading software to PSBs and CPA firms – a market which IRIS has been serving for decades in the UK and we are rapidly expanding in the Americas region," said Elona Mortimer-Zhika, CEO of IRIS. (Source – Business Wire) The announcement follows a prosperous year of expansion for IRIS across the Americas. IRIS achieved a 28 percent increase in sales in 2022 as it successfully executed its ambition to supercharge the company's operations in the U.S. through mergers and acquisitions, innovation, and senior hiring. AccountantsWorld, myPay Solutions, Conarc, and Doc.it are among recent strategic acquisitions. About IRIS Software Group Headquartered in Slough, Berkshire, IRIS Software Group is one of the largest privately held software organizations in the United Kingdom and a global provider of mission-critical software. IRIS provides finance, HR, and payroll teams, educational institutions, and accounting firms with software solutions and services that streamline operations and allow professionals to focus on their passions. By streamlining, automating, and offering insights on routine mission-critical processes for businesses of all sizes, IRIS ensures that its customers can look to the future with clarity and confidence.

Read More

SMALL BUSINESS TRENDS

BILL Extends Its Commitment to SVB-affected SMBs

BILL | March 15, 2023

On March 14, 2023, BILL, a leading financial automation solutions provider for small and midsize businesses (SMBs), announced new offerings for businesses impacted by the recent events involving Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). These new programs are aimed at helping SMBs remain fully operational during this challenging time. BILL's new offerings include programs to enable business continuity for existing customers who are also SVB customers. The first program is BILL balance, a secure and convenient way for customers to store and move funds in order to make quicker payments to vendors to any bank in the US with no additional fees. The second program is pre-approval for a Divvy line of credit, which allows small businesses to quickly pay bills using an existing or new Divvy corporate card. The third program is the ability to connect SVB debit cards to BILL Pay By Card, allowing customers to access their funds immediately and use them to pay vendors. For the next 30 days beginning March 14, BILL will reimburse all pay-by-card transaction fees made with SVB debit cards. In addition to the above three programs, BILL is also offering a new three-month free trial of the BILL platform for any businesses looking to improve control, efficiency and visibility of their financial operations. BILL's core products and services can also assist SMBs in streamlining financial processes, improving financial controls and visibility, and providing users with access to capital. On the BILL platform, SMBs can automate payables and receivables workflows, manage cash in and out with an array of quick and safe payment offerings, and access business credit and control expenses with Divvy's Spend and Expense Management Platform. All of these offerings are part of BILL's ongoing commitment to automating the future of finance so that businesses can thrive, particularly during challenging times like those facing SVB customers. About BILL BILL is a financial automation software company that provides solutions to small and midsize businesses (SMBs) to streamline their financial operations. The company's mission is to automate the future of finance, so businesses can thrive by providing a platform that simplifies and automates financial processes.It offers a suite of products and services that enable SMBs to automate payables and receivables workflows, manage cash in and out, access business credit and control expenses. These services include ACH, card, and international transfers, as well as the ability to store and move funds securely and conveniently using BILL balance. In addition, it integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, making it easy for businesses to manage their financial operations in one place.

Read More

SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

Melio Announces Integration with Xero to Sync Payments Data

Melio | January 25, 2023

On January 24, 2023, Melio, the industry-leading B2B payments platform for small businesses, announced a new integration with the cloud-based accounting software platform Xero. Through this integration, Melio's small business clients will be able to seamlessly sync their accounts payable and receivable data with Xero, therefore saving time on bill payments, facilitating reconciliation, and enhancing insight into incoming payments. Melio's co-founder and CTO, Ilan Atias, said, "This two-way sync with Xero will help small business customers better understand how much money is going in and out of their accounts at a time when it is critical to keep a close eye on cash flow." He explained, "Moreover, this integration will help save customers time and simplify the bill-paying process while providing them with more visibility and control over their day-to-day finances." (Source – PR Newswire) The United States is home to 33.2 million small businesses, which accounts for 99.9% of the nation's businesses. This integration will enable these businesses to spend less time on accounting and more time growing their businesses. In addition, small business bills, payments, and invoice information will be seamlessly synchronized across the two platforms, saving time typing data into separate accounts and eliminating the guesswork of matching charges to open invoices. The VP of Partnerships, Americas, at Xero, Carol Haverty, stated, "Melio's integration with Xero offers tremendous value to our accounting and bookkeeping partners and their small business clients." She also said, "Melio and Xero have a shared vision of championing small business. We look forward to helping our customers streamline workflows and save time with this integration so they can focus on growing and running their business." (Source – PR Newswire) This is Melio's fourth synchronization with an industry-leading accounting software vendor, extending the company's track record of collaborating and integrating with financial institutions, software providers, and markets. About Melio Melio is a market-leading B2B payments technology firm that helps small and medium-sized businesses send and receive payments rapidly and without hassle, thereby improving their cash flow and productivity. Melio, one of the fastest-growing B2B payment platforms in the United States, is revolutionizing the transfer of funds between businesses. It serves banking institutions and software firms that want to provide accounts payable and receivable solutions to small business clients. The company was founded in 2018, with headquarters in New York, a research and development facility in Tel Aviv, and headquarters in Colorado for the western United States.

Read More

Events