Keep your website performing well when you outsource website development
Outsource website development to increase traffic and drive conversions.
Every twenty-first century business needs a website. But is your website really working for you? Or could it be doing more? In this blog, we talk to our web developer Jennie about ways to make your website work to grow your business.
Why is a basic website not enough?
Jennie: A basic website is often false economy. If you’re going to invest time and money in having a website – whether you make it yourself or outsource website development – you might as well invest a little more and make it work for your business. Your website could be helping your business to build its reputation, or actively driving growth by providing downloads or an online version of your core business.
My website doesn’t interact with a booking platform. Do I need to start a new website from scratch?
Jennie: No, you don’t need to start again. A great thing about a website is that it’s an evolving, organic business asset. It’s really easy to make changes like adding a booking platform, ecommerce software or any other features.
These features will help your business to deliver its products and services online – it’s well worth using them to enhance your website and grow your business.
What else can I do with my website to improve user experience and increase conversions?
Jennie: Sharing website content on your social media is a great way to show Google and potential customers that you’re a credible business. Posting blogs and web pages to your social channels is excellent for increasing your visibility and creating ways for your customers to interact with you.
Many businesses create downloadable and gated content. Quality content enables you to share your expertise, while also strengthening your relationship with a potential customer. For example, if you write an ebook with your top tips for succeeding in your sector, you can make it available to download in return for the web visitor joining your mailing list. Once on your mailing list, you can communicate with them regularly, building your relationship and gradually encouraging them to buy your product or service.
Navigation is also a crucial aspect of user experience that can significantly impact how users interact with your website – make sure it works on mobiles and tablets as well as computers. A simple, intuitive navigation menu with clear, descriptive labels shows users exactly what to expect when they click. Try to think like a visitor to your website and organise your content in a logical way that makes it easy for someone to get the product or service you offer.
A good website should also be optimised for search engines so Google can easily find it. Check out our SEO infographic here.
How much content should I share on my website?
Jennie: This is a common question. It can be hard to decide whether you should demonstrate how much you know by sharing your expertise, or keep it to yourself so your clients can’t manage without you.
However, in reality, there will always be people who choose to do something themselves to save money. And there will always be people who know that paying an expert like you to do or provide something will have the best results. This is why you never need to worry about how much inside knowledge you share.
Bear in mind that your potential clients and customers don’t necessarily need to know all the detail of what you do. For example, I don’t write excited social media posts about new WordPress plugins. I care because they help me make better websites, but I know my followers don’t! My followers would much rather see a link to a website I’ve worked on that looks good and works well.
“How long should my content be?” is another frequently asked question. Long content (1000+ words) is good for SEO, but your ultimate goal should be converting a person, not an algorithm. Don’t write so much that they get bored! Instead, try for “just enough” which is about 500 words. Remember too that you can provide basic info on your main web pages and use your blog to go into more depth.
Outsource website development to Get Ahead
If you think your website could be working harder, Get Ahead can help! Web developers like Jennie love helping business owners get better results from their websites. They’re full of practical ideas that really make a difference. Contact your local regional director to find out more.
