Websites created in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s all look very different, and when a customer happens upon a website from another era, they can immediately tell. If your business website is from a different decade, or even has just not had a lot of sprucing up in the recent years, there are a few valuable new website features that could dramatically increase the impact of your site.
Mobile Optimisation
In 2016, more people were using mobile phones and tablets than regular computers to surf the internet, according to BGR. Unfortunately, many older websites either don’t load or load with tiny type on mobile phone screens, deterring the phone user from continuing to search the site. Forms and videos that may be very useful on a laptop or desktop computer will not appear or malfunction, increasing frustration. These days, most businesses choose to have their website “optimised for mobile,” which makes the site able to recognise and respond when it is being viewed on a mobile phone.
Online Scheduling
If you struggle with filling cancelled appointment slots or have clients who delay in scheduling, one method for filling in the gaps is to offer online scheduling availability. A study by Kyruus has shown that many people prefer being able to schedule an appointment online, including a large majority of young people. Online scheduling also gives different people in your practice access to the schedule in a way that keeps you nimble and booked as fully as possible. No matter how your business incorporates scheduling, an online feature on the website is valuable.
Content Linked to High Search Engine Listing
Many businesses have a wealth of how-to knowledge to share, so keeping articles or blog entries is just a natural fit for your website to add value for web visitors. However, there is an additional benefit to this content: the more keywords related to your business that your site contains, the higher it will list on search engines when people look for your service or product in your area or expertise. The content should still be informative and strong, but having keyword-driven blogs or articles can make it much easier for new customers to find you.
Use Social Media to Connect to Customers and Reviews
Social media is now one of the ways that can drive customers to you and help customers share their feelings about your business. By having a social media page, you are able to create an online following of your business, drumming up loyalty among your customers who share their enthusiasm about your practice by “liking” or “following” your page. Having recognisable social media icons on your website shows that you are more broadly engaged with your customers in more interactive ways. This can also springboard your forays into social media marketing with targeted ads.
Images and Videos Ready to Go
Adding high-resolutions images and informative video can help your customers connect to your brand, but one important aspect of web design is to avoid having so many photos and videos that the site does not load quickly. An experienced web designer can help you balance the need for high quality, sharp imaging with the need for a load time that gets people what they want quickly.
Responsive Design For the Future
Web changes come all the time, so more and more the goal is not to respond only to the needs of the present with a website redesign. Rather, you want to incorporate changes that will make the website able to handle future changes and technological developments. Responsive Web Design has begun the process of helping people see a website as adaptive, able to appear on a variety of screens, and possibly with features that are activated by the different places where it is being viewed.
Websites are more than simply a way to check the hours of an office; rather, they give customers confidence that they will have an easy and positive experience. Reach out and contact us to work on a comprehensive plan for your web design changes.
