It’s not uncommon for small business owners to get so focused on their day-to-day tasks that they let the upkeep of their website slide. Now that many of us are forced to work from home, reduce our hours or shut the doors temporarily, we have the perfect opportunity to give our websites some much needed attention. That’s why we’ve created this list of ten tips for improving your web presence. The first five are things you can do today. The next five will take more time and persistence.
Five Tips for Improving Your Web Presence Today
1. Verify NAP consistency
NAP is the acronym for name/address/phone. It is critical to your local organic search ranking that your name, address and phone number be listed consistently throughout your website and on every other place where you appear on the web. This includes all your social media, directory listings, and other websites. Google uses matching NAPs as proof of credibility.
2. Register and optimize your Google My Business listing
Google My Business is a free and easy-to-use tool to manage your online presence across Google services, including Search and Maps.
3. Optimize Your Social Media
If you’re on social media, there are probably things you can do to make your page better. Start by updating your profile photo and About Us description. Include your contact information and web address. Use interesting, high quality, unique images and hashtags with every post.
4. Add contact information to every page of your website
Google likes when you make it easy for people to contact you. Your site visitors will appreciate it, too.
5. Make it as easy as possible for people to contact you
Some users want to send an email, others prefer to fill in a form, others like to use the phone and still others will want to send surface mail. Provide more than one way for potential customers to reach you and you will be rewarded.
Five Bigger Things to Improve Your Website
6. Get to know your own site
Improving your website will improve your web presence. All too often we hear from our clients, “I never visit my own website.” What!? Your website is your 24/7 salesperson. Most people are going to see your website long before they get to know your business. Would you ever consider hiring someone sight unseen to be the most visible representative of your company? First impressions matter. Bonus points: do your best to navigate your website the way a potential customer would. Remember, your website is for them, not for you.
7. Visit your competitors’ websites
Once you become familiar with your own website, visit the websites of your competitors. What are they doing better than you are? Are they offering services that you should consider providing? What are they doing less well that you can capitalize on?
8. Start an FAQs page
Write down the 10 questions that you are asked most frequently by customers and potential customers alike. Then write a comprehensive answer to each question, including links to other pages on your site where they can find more detailed information. Adding this FAQs list to your website should reduce the number of phone calls you receive with the same-old questions, and it will help qualify your leads.
9. Get better pictures
Whatever your business, good professional images rather than stock images or no images will do a better job of reflecting the true spirit of your company.
10. Work on your keywords
Knowing the keywords that potential customers use to find the kinds of things you offer is crucial to getting found online. Every page of your website should focus on a unique keyword.
Your website is an important factor in driving new business and nurturing loyal customers. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to let a website get out of date. Don’t let that happen to yours. Not only is it important for human visitors, but the more frequently you update your website, the more frequently a search engine will visit and reindex your site.
Now that you’ve read our tips for improving your web presence and your website, you’re on your way to driving new business.
Learn more about our web design and development and search engine optimization services. Call 518.392.0846 or email [email protected].