3 Reasons Your Small Business Needs a Website

Are you weighing the decision to invest in a website? If you feel hesitant because technology isn't your strong suit, you're not alone. Many small business owners share this concern. However, a well-designed website is crucial for your business's growth and for attracting your ideal clients, especially when social media falls short. Here are three compelling reasons why your small business needs a website:

Visibility

First and foremost, having a website significantly improves your online visibility. The more places you appear online, the greater your chances of improving your search engine ranking, or SEO. When potential customers search for services or products you offer, a website ensures that your business appears in search results, making it easier for them to find you. While social media platforms can help, they often have limitations when it comes to reach and discoverability. By investing in a website, you create a dedicated space for your brand, filled with relevant keywords, content, and information that can boost your rankings on search engines like Google. This increased visibility can lead to more traffic, more inquiries, and ultimately more sales.

Credibility

Secondly, a website helps establish credibility for your business. In today’s digital age, consumers often conduct thorough research before making a purchase. A professional website allows you to shape your own narrative and present your brand in the best light. Unlike social media, where posts can quickly get lost in the feed, a website provides a stable platform to showcase your offerings, share testimonials, and communicate your brand values. You can present your story in a polished manner, including details about your products, services, and the unique aspects of your business. This helps build trust with potential clients, making them more likely to choose you over competitors who may not have an online presence.

Productivity 

Lastly, most user-friendly website platforms come equipped with essential tools that can enhance your productivity as a business owner. Features like email integration, scheduling tools, invoicing systems, and content management capabilities streamline your operations and allow you to focus on what you do best—running your business. These platforms often provide templates and easy-to-use interfaces, meaning you don’t need to be a tech expert to create a functional and appealing website.

Bonus

Tip: Many of these platforms also include free email marketing options. In fact, research indicates that email marketing can yield an impressive return on investment, with some studies showing a return of $42 for every dollar spent. This makes it a powerful tool for nurturing leads and maintaining customer relationships.

In Conclusion

Having a website is not just a nice-to-have; it's an essential component of your business's success. It enhances your visibility, builds credibility, and improves organizational efficiency. Embrace the opportunity to invest in a website, and watch how it transforms your business.

How to give Feedback to get the website of your dreams

Your input is invaluable as your website takes shape. Providing thoughtful, specific feedback helps ensure the final product aligns with your vision and delivers an excellent user experience. But giving feedback on web design can feel overwhelming—where do you start? Here’s a quick guide to help you share feedback that’s both actionable and effective.

First, Two Quick Tips:

1. Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story will separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

2. Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Start with the Big Picture

Before diving into details, take a moment to consider how the overall website aligns with your brand:

• Does it reflect your brand’s tone and style?

• Is the navigation clear and easy to follow?

• Does the homepage immediately communicate what your business offers?

Example Feedback: “The homepage layout looks great, but the overall tone feels too casual. Can we make it more polished to match our brand?”

Focus on Specific Web Elements

Here are key elements to review and suggestions on how to frame your feedback:

Colors - Feedback Example: “The color palette looks cohesive, but the call-to-action buttons could use a brighter shade for better visibility.”

Fonts - Feedback Example: “The font style is on-brand, but the size on the mobile version seems too small. Can we increase it for readability?”

Images - Feedback Example: “The header image is eye-catching, but the team photo feels outdated. Can we replace it with a more recent one?”

Content - Feedback Example: “The About Us section is clear, but the tone feels too formal. Let’s make it more conversational.”

Layout - Feedback Example: “The layout flows well, but the Services section feels crowded. Can we add more spacing between the columns?”

User Experience (UX)

Think about how customers will use your site and feel while they’re on your page.

• Is the navigation easy?

• Are buttons and links highly visible?

• Does the site load quickly on your computer and phone?

Example Feedback: “The navigation bar is easy to use, but the dropdown menu options feel overwhelming. Can we simplify them?”

Be Constructive and Collaborative

Instead of simply pointing out what’s wrong, share why something doesn’t work and suggest alternatives:

• “The blog page looks great, but the text is hard to read against the background. Could we use a lighter background or a darker font color?”

• “The footer feels empty. Can we add links to our social media accounts or a newsletter signup?”

Give Feedback Early and Often

Timely feedback avoids costly revisions later. Aim to review deliverables promptly and communicate your thoughts as the project progresses. This ensures you and your designer stay aligned throughout the process.

Providing clear, constructive feedback doesn’t have to be stressful. No website is perfect at launch, and that’s okay! Focus on getting the core functionality and design right. Additional tweaks and updates can always be made post-launch. By following these steps and collaborating with your designer, you’ll help create a website that perfectly captures your brand and delights your audience.

Ready to get started? Contact me or email me today for expert web design services!

The Ultimate Web Design Dictionary

This post outlines essential web design terminology to support small business owners, whether you are taking on the project themselves or collaborating with a professional. It will be periodically updated to reflect emerging trends and best practices. Understanding these terms will empower you to make informed decisions, enhance your online presence, and foster clear communication with their design teams, leading to a successful web design experience.

1. Alignment

The positioning of text or elements on a page (e.g., left, right, centered, justified).
Sentence: "Let’s make the text left-aligned for readability."

2. Alt Text

Descriptive text for an image, used for accessibility and SEO.
Sentence: "Don’t forget to add alt text to the image for screen readers."

3. Backend

The part of a website not visible to users, where developers manage data and functionality.
Sentence: "The backend needs to connect properly to the database."

4. Call-to-Action (CTA)

A button or link prompting users to take a specific action, like "Sign Up" or "Learn More."
Sentence: "The CTA should stand out with a bold color."

5. Content Management System (CMS)

A platform for creating and managing website content without needing to code.
Sentence: "We’re using Wix as the CMS for this project."

6. Domain

The address people type into a browser to access your website (e.g., www.example.com).
Sentence: "You need to purchase a custom domain for your brand."

7. Favicon

A small icon that represents a website and appears in the browser tab.
Sentence: "Let’s create a favicon to match the logo."

8. Footer

The section at the bottom of a website, often containing links, copyright info, and contact details.
Sentence: "We’ll include your social media links in the footer."

9. Frontend

The part of a website visible to users, including the design and interactive elements.
Sentence: "The frontend needs to look sleek and responsive."

10. Grid

A layout structure that organizes elements into rows and columns.
Sentence: "Using a grid will keep the design neat and balanced."

11. Header

The top section of a website, often containing the logo, navigation menu, and contact info.
Sentence: "The header should remain fixed when scrolling."

12. Hero Image

A large image on the first page of a website.
Sentence: "The hero image should be larger."

13. Hover State

The effect or change that occurs when a user hovers over an element, like a button.
Sentence: "Add a hover state to make the buttons feel interactive."

14. HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

The code that forms the structure of a website.
Sentence: "We’ll edit the HTML to fix the layout issues."

15. Justified

Text alignment where both sides of a paragraph are flush with the margins.
Sentence: "The body text looks better justified."

16. Landing Page

A standalone webpage designed for marketing purposes, often tied to a campaign.
Sentence: "The landing page should focus on one call-to-action."

17. Layout

The arrangement of elements on a webpage, like text, images, and buttons.
Sentence: "Let’s refine the layout to highlight the testimonials."

18. Navigation Menu

Links that help users move between pages on a website.
Sentence: "Add a dropdown to the navigation menu for subcategories."

19. Page

An individual document on a website with its own unique URL.
Sentence: "The About page will have your company’s story."

20. Placeholder

Temporary text or images used in designs before final content is added.
Sentence: "Replace the placeholder image with a product photo."

21. Responsive Design

A design approach that ensures websites work well on all devices and screen sizes.
Sentence: "We’ll test the responsive design on mobile and tablet views."

22. Section

A distinct part of a page, often divided by background colors or spacing.
Sentence: "We’ll add a testimonial section below the hero image."

23. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Techniques to improve a website’s visibility in search engine results.
Sentence: "Make sure the site is optimized for SEO with keywords and alt text."

24. Sidebar

A vertical column often placed on the side of a page to display additional content or navigation.
Sentence: "Let’s add a sidebar for blog categories."

25. Slider

A rotating display of images or content, often used in galleries or featured sections.
Sentence: "The homepage slider should highlight your top products."

26. Template

A pre-designed layout that can be customized for a website.
Sentence: "We’ll use a clean, modern template for your design."

27. URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

The full web address used to access a specific webpage.
Sentence: "The URL should be short and easy to remember."

28. UX (User Experience)

How users interact with and feel about a website.
Sentence: "Improving the UX will reduce the bounce rate."

29. UI (User Interface)

The design and visual elements users interact with on a website.
Sentence: "The UI needs to be intuitive and accessible."

30. Wireframe

A simple sketch or blueprint of a website’s layout before design elements are added.
Sentence: "We’ll start with a wireframe to map out the content."