Top 3 Tips for Small Business Websites

Written by David Rhoderick on July 15, 2018

Small businesses today need an online presence. Even if it is just to provide hours of operation and your business’s phone number, it can help you get clients in the door or on the phone. At Artlytical Media, we’ve worked with a few small businesses and local non-profits so we realize that as a small business owner, you are looking for an effective but low-cost solution to this new business need. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when figuring out what to build:

1. How are you most effective with customers?

Ask yourself what you do best. Do you sell your product best via phone or do you need your client to be somewhere in-person. Is it something that can be sent over the web either digital or via mail? This decides what makes sense for what your site should “do”. The more a site “does”, or allows users to make changes and enter information, the more complexity needed and the longer it takes to develop.

A site that “does” a lot could be something like an online store. The site needs eCommerce capabilities, which can be pre-built, but may take longer to customize and test. Another example would be a page with a customizer, or even a page with virtual reality. However, if you want to get customers on the phone, you really just need to advertise your services and provide a way to get in touch. If you are clear with your developer or yourself (if you decide to create your own site) with what functionality you need, you can get what you need for your budget.

2. How technical are you?

If you are the kind of person who knows a thing or two about HTML or coding, perhaps you could make what you need yourself. If you still want something fancier than you can make but know your way around a little code, you could choose a WordPress (or similar CMS) theme or have a custom one made. Those types of frameworks can require a little knowledge of code than say a website builder, your third option, like Wix or Squarespace. These builders allow you to drag and drop elements and design websites with virtually no programming knowledge. And of course, if you really don’t mind being hands off, you could hire an agency to handle it for you. The advantage is, while it is more expensive, your site may be more up-to-date and may be optimized for searches in Google and Bing.

3. Don’t neglect any social media or related accounts

One easy way to get into hot water is to neglect starting an account on Yelp or Instagram. At the very least, you are protecting your brand in the case that someone else decides to take your business name as their account time. On the positive side, it gives your business a better chance of being hit on web searches. Small businesses can also increase their reach and draw in customers by having active accounts on networks. For example, if you make sandwiches, perhaps posting images of your best sandwiches every day could create a following and advertise your product. Other networks like Yelp and TripAdvisor allow customers to leave reviews, which builds trust in your business.

If you take these tips into consideration, you’ll get just what you need while not breaking the bank. If you’d like to get in touch with us about your business, you can send us a message on our contact page.