What to keep in mind while building a website for your business
We’ve built countless websites for businesses across various industries, and from our experience, we’ve learned that the key to a successful business website isn’t just about an eye-catching design or over-the-top graphics; it is actually much more. It is about creating a smooth, intuitive journey for your visitors; from the moment they land on the homepage to the point where they take any action whether it’s getting in touch or making a sale.
When it comes to designing a website, the structure matters. A well-structured website shows professionalism and makes it easier for your audience to find what they're looking for and to convert. Below are some crucial points perfected here at Harbourfront Web Designs over the years.
Clarity and Purpose of the Business Website
Before you start thinking about aesthetics, it’s important to establish the core purpose of your website. Every element, from the layout to the graphics and texts, should work toward supporting that purpose.
Who’s Your Ideal Customer?: This is one of the first questions we ask businesses. Your site needs to speak directly to your target customers. What are they looking for when they visit your website? Are they seeking services, learning about your brand, or trying to get in touch? The audience helps decide the entire structure.
Set Clear Objective: Do you want more inquiries, subscriptions, or the sale of a certain product? Your website should be designed around this intention. For instance, if the purpose is to generate leads, then prominent CTAs {calls-to-action} like "Contact Us" or "Request a Quote" should be front and center, leading the visitor down the funnel in no time.
Clean Design and Easy Navigation
In practice, simplicity works wonders; over-the-top design would only overwhelm your users and make the path to conversion even longer. That is why we always recommend a minimalist approach.
Logical Structure: The structure of your website should make sense for your visitors. Organize your site so that the most critical pages are easy to find on the homepage. Clear, intuitive navigation makes it simple for visitors to browse through and reach what they need quickly.
Focus on Mobile Responsiveness: over 70% of average website traffic usually comes from mobile users. A site that isn’t mobile-friendly will lose its credibility quickly. Our design approach ensures that your website looks and functions beautifully across all devices, adjusting content and layout to provide a flawless user experience.
The Importance of Strategic CTAs
Let’s talk about Calls-To-Actions (CTAs). These are more than just buttons—they’re key drivers of action on your site. Over the years, we’ve learned that strategically placing your CTAs can make all the difference in whether or not a user converts.
Actionable Phrases: Use concise action-oriented phrases for your CTAs, phrases such as “Get Started,” “Request a Free Quote,” or “Contact Us Now” work far better than ambiguous terms like “Learn More.”
Funnel the FLow: CTAs should be logically placed throughout the site, aligning with the natural flow of the user’s journey from header to footer. For example, when the user is scrolling down on the homepage and learning about your business, they should see calls to action at opportune moments, such as directly after reading about your services or having viewed a testimonial.
Crafting a Goal-Oriented Structure
The structure of your website impacts everything from SEO optimization to user experience. A very common mistake is bombarding a visitor with too much content or some tricky scroll layout. Our advice? Keep it clean, do not underestimate the power of an organized hierarchy.
Homepage Focus: The homepage is where first impressions are made, and it needs to deliver a clear message about who you are and what you offer. We often place high-value content like key services, and testimonials here, along with your primary CTAs.
Headline: you should aim to place a clear, engaging headline that incorporates a primary keyword related to your business or service. Think of it as your introduction to visitors and search engines alike. For example, instead of a generic greeting like "Welcome to Our Website," opt for something keyword-rich and direct, such as "Toronto’s Premier Web Design Agency Specializing in Custom SEO Services." The hero section should also include a straightforward call-to-action (CTA) and perhaps a brief subheading that reinforces your offering, allowing users to immediately understand your expertise while search engines pick up on essential keywords.
Logical Flow: From the homepage, guide users to deeper sections of the site, such as your services page, case studies, or blog. Make sure users don’t have to hunt for the information they need. For example, a "Services" tab at the top of the page can handle subpages outlining each service in detail.
Testing and Optimization Before Launch
At Harbourfront Web Designs, we always remind our clients that "no website is complete until it’s been thoroughly tested". A sleek design means nothing if the buttons don’t work or the page takes too long to load.
Speed is Key: We ensure that every site we build is optimized for the fastest loading times. Slow websites lose visitors' interest, and even Google doesn't like ranking slow websites.
Test Your CTAs and Forms: All things, from submission forms to buttons, should work smoothly. Test your CTAs, contact forms, and other interactive resources before launching to ensure they are functioning as they should and verify the contact information is correct and working.
At Harbourfront Web Designs, experience has taught us that a well-structured website, clear navigation, and strategically placed CTAs make the difference in converting visitors to customers. We have helped businesses of all kinds design visually stunning websites that are geared towards results.