10 Simple Small Business Website Tips

One of the most important aspects of your small business is probably also one of the most overlooked: your website. Even if you don't have a lot of resources to devote to your site, there are some easy ways to make an impact. Whether you're just starting out or have been around for decades, here are nine tips that will help you make sure your site stands out in a sea of competitors (plus some bonus tips on how to save money while doing it):

1. Keep your content simple.

Keep your content simple.

A website is a marketing tool, not a place to get lost in the fine details. Your goal is to attract new customers and keep current ones engaged, so make sure your site doesn't take too long to load or push visitors away with an overabundance of information. Keep things short and sweet by using bullet points, visuals and clear fonts - think of it as an elevator pitch for the web!

2. Focus on mobile users.

If you haven't been paying attention, mobile usage has exploded in recent years. In fact, it's estimated that more than half of all web traffic will be from smartphones and tablets by the end of this year.

As such, if you want to make sure your business is visible on the internet, you need to make sure that people can access your website no matter where they are or what kind of device they're using. If a visitor wants to come see your restaurant but can't get onto their phone or tablet because your site isn't optimized for mobile devices (and trust us—you don't want that!), then they might just leave without visiting at all.

Fortunately for you, there are plenty of tools available out there that can help make sure this doesn't happen—the first step would be finding someone who knows how these services work (like us) and getting them set up right away!

3. Build trust by adding reviews and testimonials.

One of the most important ways to build trust with your website visitors is by adding reviews and testimonials from actual customers. It's no secret that people often make purchasing decisions based on other people's experiences, so if you're able to show off positive feedback from real clients, it can have a substantial impact on how confident potential customers are in making their own purchase decisions.

But getting those reviews isn't always easy! You'll want to make sure that whoever you ask for a review has actually used your products or services before leaving an honest review—and there are plenty of ways to do this:

• When someone places an order through your online store, send them an email thanking them for doing business with you. Then ask if they'd be willing to leave a few sentences about their experience using or interacting with your company (we use MailChimp here at HubSpot). If anyone declines this request outright (and we've never had anyone do this), follow up again later and ask why not? The answers will tell us whether there are some basic issues we need to address before moving forward (e.g., bad communication practices) or whether our products just aren't right for certain people (and we should think about pivoting).

• Use social media platforms like Facebook Messenger where possible because these platforms are built around sending messages between friends instead of broadcasting posts out into the world at large like Twitter does—which makes it much easier for someone who trusts their friend enough

4. Make sure your website looks great on mobile devices, too.

Mobile website design is important. Mobile traffic is on the rise, and if you want your business to remain competitive in a mobile world, it’s essential that your website looks great on mobile devices.

To make sure your site looks good on all devices, be sure to use updated technology that makes it responsive—that means adjusting the layout and design of certain elements depending on the size of the screen viewing it. For example:

Your homepage may look different on a desktop than what users see when they visit from their phones or tablets. A responsive layout ensures that each device gets an optimized experience, even if its size is smaller than what you can fit onto a screen or larger than what would normally fit comfortably within one page of text.

5. Keep the navigation simple.

The navigation is the most important part of your design, and it should be easy to use. The best way to make sure that happens is to keep it simple:

Make sure all the links are easy to read and don't have too many colors. If a visitor gets confused by your navigation, they're less likely to stick around and do business with you.

Keep the number of links low so they don't overwhelm visitors who are trying to read through their options. They'll appreciate having fewer choices in front of them—and will end up making a purchase more quickly because there won't be so many options for them to digest!

6. Use high-quality images to tell a story.

Use high-quality images to tell a story.

Images can be the difference between your website being just another business website and a captivating piece of content that tells your story visually. The images you use should be crisp, clear, and relevant to the page’s topic. They should also be consistent with your brand, as they will help define how customers perceive you online.

7. Make it easy for customers to contact you.

Make it easy for customers to contact you.

Ensure your contact information is easy to find, and include the following:

• Phone number

• Email address

• Facebook page

• Twitter handle

Also include these options, if appropriate:

• Google Business Profile
• LinkedIn page
• Yelp page

8. Write an engaging "About" section.

Your "About" section is the perfect place to start. It should be clear, concise and well-written, but it's also one of the most important parts of your website. Anytime a visitor lands on your site (including from search engines), they'll be greeted with an introduction to your business and who you are.

Most importantly, this section needs to be easy to find!

9. Pay attention to the small details.

When it comes to website development, don't overlook the little details. If you focus on making sure your website is easy to navigate, easy to read and understand, easy to use and find—and if you're smart about how you design your site—you'll be well on your way toward building a site that people will want to visit.

10. Your website is the face of your company--make sure it's a good one!

Your website is the face of your company. Make sure it’s a good one!

Your website should be easy to find, easy to navigate, easy to use and shareable; it should also have up-to-date contact information and be easily updated.

Conclusion

We hope that our tips have helped you get started with your own website. Remember, it's important to keep things simple and focus on making sure your site works well across different platforms.

With a little time and effort, you can build an amazing online presence that will help you grow your business!