A website is essential for every business. However, local business owners frequently lack awareness of crucial website features and standard practices for web design.
Typically, getting your website put up for you by a web design agency or freelancer is a smart choice. However, it is clear that many providers are unfamiliar with your products and may lack the necessary sales skills.
Because of this, creating a website requires teamwork.
While a well-designed website can increase revenue, a mediocre or poorly-designed one will cause you to lose out on potential clients. You should have a fundamental understanding of what you must have on your website and what you must avoid as an owner of a local business.
We have compiled a list of the top 17 must-have features for local business websites to simplify things.
Clear and Engaging Home Page
The home page serves as the virtual front door of your website. It should feature a clear and compelling headline, visually appealing images, and concise information about your business, ensuring visitors understand your offer and why they should choose you.
Additionally, consider incorporating a prominent call-to-action button on your home page, encouraging visitors to take immediate action, such as making a purchase, booking an appointment, or subscribing to your newsletter. This will drive conversions and help you capitalise on the initial interest generated by your captivating home page.
Contact Information and Business Hours
Make sure your contact information, including your phone number, email address, and physical address, is prominently displayed on every page. Additionally, clearly mention your business hours to avoid any confusion.
To enhance convenience for your customers, consider adding a clickable phone number and email address, allowing visitors to contact you with a single click directly. Furthermore, consider including a map or directions to your physical location to make it easier for customers to find and visit your business.
Services or Product Listings
Create a dedicated page to showcase your services or products. Provide detailed descriptions, pricing, high-quality images, and special offers to entice potential customers. Incorporate customer reviews or testimonials on the services or products page to build trust and credibility.
Additionally, consider including a clear and visible call-to-action button on each product/service description, guiding visitors towards making a purchase or inquiry.
Online Booking and Appointment Scheduling
For businesses that offer appointments or bookings, integrate an online booking system to streamline the process. This feature allows visitors to schedule appointments conveniently and eliminates the need for phone calls or emails.
You can also consider sending automated appointment reminders to customers, reducing the chances of no-shows and improving overall customer satisfaction.
Testimonials and Reviews
Display testimonials and reviews from satisfied customers to build trust and credibility. Include customer testimonials, star ratings, and review snippets on your website to showcase positive experiences.
To further enhance the impact of testimonials and reviews, consider featuring them prominently on your home page or creating a dedicated testimonial section. This will allow visitors to easily access and be inspired by the positive feedback from your satisfied customers.
Mobile-Friendly Design
Ensure your website is fully optimised for mobile devices. With most internet users browsing on smartphones and tablets, a mobile-friendly design will enhance the user experience and accessibility.
Optimising your website for mobile devices not only improves user experience but also boosts your search engine rankings, as search engines prioritise mobile-friendly websites in their mobile search results.
About Us Page
Tell your brand story and introduce your team on an engaging About Us page. Share your mission, values, and what sets you apart from competitors. This page humanises your business and helps establish a connection with your audience.
Consider adding visuals on your About Us page, such as team photos or videos, to add a personal touch and foster a sense of familiarity and trust with your audience.
Customer Support
Offer various customer support options like live chat, contact forms, or a dedicated customer support page. This feature lets visitors easily contact you with their queries or concerns.
To further enhance customer support, consider integrating a chatbot feature that can provide instant responses and assist visitors with basic inquiries, ensuring round-the-clock support and improving overall customer satisfaction.
Clear Navigation
Ensure your website has a clear and intuitive navigation menu that helps visitors quickly find the information they are looking for. Organise your content into logical categories and use descriptive labels for easy navigation.
Incorporate a search bar within the navigation menu to allow visitors to easily search for specific information or products, providing them with a seamless browsing experience.
Social Media Integration
Integrate social media buttons on your website to encourage visitors to follow and engage with your business on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. This helps build an online community and expands your reach.
Consider displaying social media feeds or testimonials directly on your website to showcase real-time updates and social proof and encourage visitors to explore and connect with your brand across multiple platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Create a comprehensive FAQ page that addresses common questions and concerns your customers may have. This not only saves time for both parties but also establishes your expertise and reliability.
Regularly update and expand your FAQ page based on customer feedback and evolving needs to ensure that it remains a valuable visitor resource and serves as a self-service support tool, further enhancing customer satisfaction.
Blog or News Section
Maintaining an active blog or news section allows you to share industry updates, insights, tips, and other valuable content. This positions your business as a knowledgeable resource and improves search engine optimisation (SEO).
Additionally, encourage visitor engagement by enabling comments on your blog posts, fostering discussions and building a community around your brand, which can contribute to increased website traffic and brand loyalty.
Call-to-Action Buttons
Strategically place call-to-action buttons throughout your website to guide visitors towards desired actions. Whether it’s a “Buy Now” button, “Contact Us” form, or “Subscribe” option, these buttons facilitate conversions.
Optimise your call-to-action buttons by using compelling copy, contrasting colours, and strategic placement to create a sense of urgency and drive higher click-through rates, ultimately boosting your conversion rates.
Local SEO Optimisation
Optimise your website for local search by including location-specific keywords in your content, meta tags, and URLs. This helps your business appear in local search results, boosting visibility to potential customers in your area.
Additionally, consider creating location-specific landing pages or dedicated sections on your website that highlight your services or products with specific cities or regions, further increasing your relevance and visibility in local search results.
Visual Content
Incorporate high-quality images, videos, and infographics to engage your visitors visually. Visual content will more likely capture attention and convey information effectively, enhancing the overall user experience.
Consider optimising your visual content for faster loading times, ensuring that images and videos are compressed and appropriately sized without compromising their quality. This will provide a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience for your visitors.
Security and Privacy
Prioritise the security and privacy of your website visitors. Implement SSL encryption, display trust badges, and include a privacy policy to assure users that their data is safe and their privacy is respected.
Regularly update your website’s security measures and plugins to protect against potential vulnerabilities, and consider conducting regular security audits to ensure the ongoing safety of your visitors’ data. Prominently display any industry certifications or security seals to further instil confidence in your visitors and differentiate your website as a trusted and secure platform.
Analytics and Tracking
Integrate website analytics tools like Google Analytics to track visitor behaviour, measure website performance, and gain valuable insights. This data will help you make informed decisions to improve your website and marketing strategies.
Use the data and insights gathered from website analytics to identify trends, understand user preferences, and optimise your website’s performance. This will ultimately drive higher engagement, conversions, and overall success for your local business.
Build a Feature-Rich Website for Your Local Business with Digital Rescue
A well-designed and feature-rich website is vital for local businesses to thrive and succeed. By incorporating the top 17 must-have features discussed in this article, you can create a compelling online presence that attracts and engages potential customers. From clear and engaging home pages to local SEO strategies, each feature plays a crucial role in enhancing user experience, building trust, and driving conversions.
Remember, your website is the virtual storefront of your business. It serves as a powerful tool to showcase your services, products, and brand identity. By leveraging these must-have features, you can establish a strong online presence, expand your reach, and gain a competitive edge in your local market.
Partner with Melbourne’s leading web design agency, Digital Rescue, to take your local business website to the next level. With our expertise in creating captivating and user-friendly websites, we can help you bring your vision to life and drive tangible results for your business. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create a website that stands out from the competition and captivates your target audience. Get rescued today and elevate your online presence!
