The How of Business – Small Business Website Episodes
These episodes (and webinars) of The How of Business podcast are on the topic of Small Business Websites and Online Search – helping you build and maintain a website that helps your business get found by customers online, and that represents and builds your small business brand. From the essential components of an effective small business website, to what you need to know about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and organic search as a small business owner.
5 Search Engine Optimization Tips for Small Business Owners. 5 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tips for small business owners, to help your small business get found online. Adam Kirk, founder of Oostas, shares five actionable tips for business owners (not technical) to improve your organic search engine (including ...
Website Basics for Small Business. Website Basics for Small Business. Understanding the basics of websites for small business and online marketing. In this episode of The How of Business podcast, Henry Lopez and David Ristuccia discuss the basics of websites for small business. As a small business owner, where ...
Domain Names for Your Small Business. Choosing and protecting your Domain Name (website address) for your small business with domain expert Andrew Allemann. Andrew will share his diverse entrepreneurial journey, and his insights and tips on domain names (website addresses, web address, URL, etc.) from a business owner perspective ...
SEO and Google My Business Page with Adam Kirk. How to improve your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and use your Google My Business Page to help your small business get found online. Adam Kirk, founder of Oostas, shares his tips and advice. For most of us, we ...
Online Marketing Year-End Update with Adam Kirk. Online Marketing Year-End update for small business. What’s new and emerging in online marketing for small business owners. Small business marketing expert Adam Kirk is back on the show to share his insights and tips. It’s all about valuable content with your ...
Free Website Health Check Webinar with Adam Kirk Free Website Health Check Webinar with Adam Kirk Did you miss the live webinar? We invite you to watch the recording below: Tools referenced in this webinar: Here is ...
Websites for Small Business – What to consider?
Creating an effective informational website is crucial for a small business, as it often serves as the first point of contact with potential customers. Here are key elements to consider for an effective small business website:
- Clear and Concise Messaging: Your website should clearly state what your small business does, its value proposition or elevator pitch, and what sets it apart from competitors. Avoid jargon and keep the language simple and direct.
- User-Friendly Design: The design should be clean, professional, and easy to navigate. Ensure that it’s intuitive for users to find the information they need. A cluttered or confusing website can deter potential customers. Steve Krug, a renowned expert in web usability and the author of “Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability” says “the first law of usability is that the web page should be obvious and self-explanatory. When you’re creating a site, your job is to get rid of the question marks.”
- Mobile Responsiveness: With an increasing number of users accessing websites via smartphones, your site must be mobile-friendly. This means it should look good and function well on devices of all sizes.
- Fast Loading Speed: Website speed is crucial for user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). Ensure your site loads quickly to reduce the bounce rate and improve engagement. One tip is to reduce the sizes of the images on your website to increase load speeds.
- High-Quality Content: Provide valuable content that engages your audience. This could include blog posts, how-to guides, FAQs, and detailed descriptions of your products or services. Quality content can also improve your search engine rankings.
- Contact Information: Make it easy for visitors to contact you. Display your contact information prominently and consider including a contact form for easy communication.
- SEO Optimization: Use relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and alt tags to improve your website’s organic search visibility in search engine results. Local SEO is particularly important for small businesses targeting a local customer base.
- Social Proof: Include testimonials, case studies, or customer reviews to build trust and credibility with your audience. Getting your customers or clients to review your business on Google is also essential.
- Call to Action (CTA): Guide visitors towards taking an action, such as signing up for a newsletter, scheduling a consultation, or making a purchase. Clear CTAs can help convert visitors into customers. You should have a clear call to action at the top of your website home page.
- Regular Updates: Keep your website updated with the latest information about your products, services, and company news. An outdated website can give a negative impression and will not be as highly ranked by Google. Consider adding a blog to your small business website, and posting relevant content at least monthly.
- Security: Ensure your website is secure, especially if you handle customer data or transactions. Use HTTPS and keep your site’s software updated to protect your small business against cyber threats.
- Analytics: Use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s performance. This data can provide insights into visitor behavior and help you make informed decisions to improve your site.
Your small business website is often the first impression potential customers will have of your business, so it’s important to make it count. Regularly review and update your website to ensure it remains effective and aligns with your business goals. If you need help building or updating your website, we recommend considering our trusted partner Oostas. Oostas offers website development, SEO services, and digital marketing survives for small business owners.