3 Simple Ways To Kickstart Your Website In 2020

For most small business owners, getting traffic to your site is hard enough. So once people do find you, keeping them engaged and clicking through is critical. Unfortunately, 38% of visitors bolt from a website due to poor web design. What does that mean? It's time to make some changes.

Here are three easy ways to design a better online experience for your customers:

1. Make your site responsive (mobile-friendly). (Yes, we're moving into 2020 but there are still sites out there that are not responsive) Having a responsive website is not a luxury. It's a necessity. In July of this year, Google started indexing all new websites mobile first. This means if your visitors still have to perform the 'pinch and squeeze' on their smartphones to view your site, your search rankings could be penalized. Not sure if your site is mobile-friendly? Test it here.
2. It's not all about you. Today, more than ever, your messaging needs to resonate with your audience. This means replacing the majority of the "We do this" and "We're great at that" by shifting the focus on your customer. Why are they looking for you in the first place? What pain are they experiencing? Make sure they feel understood because that builds trust. Once they trust you then they are more comfortable buying from you. Writing copy that connects with them builds that trust. Incorporate words and phrases they use when addressing their issues and concerns on your website. If they feel like you're in their head, you've written great copy.
3. Say "Thank You". Sometimes the smallest gestures have the biggest impact. Sending someone to a thank you page after they fill out a form or sign up for an offer from your website is a great way to connect and engage with your new contact. Not only are you showing appreciation for them but it also provides another touchpoint for interaction with your site. You can provide a link to your blog, include a discount code, or links to other relevant information within your site. Just like any other page on your site, this shouldn't be a dead end.

Kickstart this new decade with these three simple website practices. They provide a good start to a solid online foundation as well as poise your business for future online growth.