Does Your Website Have These Four Key Elements?

Websites don't seem to be such a complicated thing. Besides the actual building of the thing itself, the layout and content are quite simple, right?

Not so much. In fact, the simplicity of a website is where things get very complicated. Taking everything there is about your business and throwing it onto the internet in an easy-to-follow format can be time-consuming, frustrating, and near impossible.

But, the key is not to overanalyze things. Take a step back from being a part of your business and think in terms of a consumer. What is it that they need to know? Why would they be on your site to begin with? What would they look for? How would the look for it?

Here are four basic must-haves every good website needs.

Contact Information

Do you have your address, phone number, and company email on your website somewhere and is it easy to find? You'd be surprised to learn just how many companies forget this crucial element and how many more bury it within many layers of their site. A customer would rather shop elsewhere then dig around for your contact information. Don't include it in a dropdown menu somewhere and don't leave it on the side of your site hoping someone will notice it. Place it at the top of your page so it's easy to spot and easy to reach.

Simple Navigation

In line with contact information, your navigation should be as straightforward and as simplified as possible. If you sell a unique product or service, this may prove to be more difficult. This is the point at which you take a step back and really think about why someone would be on your site. What are they looking for and how can you help them find it? Don't overcomplicate things because you want your site to be unique and interesting. It will just come off as confusing and annoying.

Pleasing Content

All written content should be focused on customer needs and basic product information. It shouldn't be too difficult to understand (around the 5th-grade reading level) and should feel like you're speaking directly to the person that landed on your site. Stay away from phrases such as, "Our practice has been around for 15 years and we are highly skilled professionals." Instead, rewrite it to read more like this, "Are you looking for a practice to call home? A doctor you can trust and a staff you can rely on? With 15 years' experience, we can give you the quality of care you always wanted."

Basic Information

People don't have time to read a novel and they don't really care about the specifics of your product. They want the basics - to know everything they need to know about your product quickly and with very little effort. Stick with a few core features of your product or service and make sure they stand out.