Blog post by: Sam Haucke, BPM Marketing Intern
First impressions are key not only for people, but also for businesses. In this day and age, people often get their first impression about a business based on the business’ website. If a website is difficult to navigate and if the information they are seeking is not easily accessible, they will move on to a competitor’s website to find what they are looking for.
Also, if you are encouraging customers to make purchases your website, a professional-looking website is definitely must. On more than one occasion, I have gone to a business’ website to buy a product I saw in an ad or heard about through word of mouth and have changed my mind. Why didn’t I buy the product from the website? I didn’t buy from the website simply because the design of the website had me questioning the business’ legitimacy. Consumers have certain expectations when they go to purchase a product online, and if those expectations aren’t met, consumers will move on.
So what does a professional website look like? A professional website is:
· Easy to navigate – This means a web trafficker will be able to easily find what they are looking for without a lot of clicking or digging.
· A complete website – Every tab will direct web traffickers to the information it is describing. One mistake many businesses make is creating an online photo gallery or video gallery but not uploading any images or video.
· Filled with quality images and graphic design – One easy way for your website to look outdated is through its images and design. If it’s been five or even ten years since you last updated your website design, it’s definitely time to consider modernizing it. Also, if your website was created using Flash, it’s very possible you are turning away prospective clients. While Flash websites can work effectively and look very attractive on a computer, Flash is not compatible with mobile devices. This means mobile users will not be able to access your website.
Website design and functionality are always evolving. It’s important to keep up to ensure prospective clients aren’t passing you by!
