What Makes a Great Website (and What Your Business Might Be Missing)
Your website is often the first impression potential clients or customers have of your business. In just a few seconds, they’ll decide whether they trust you, want to learn more, or move on. A great website isn’t just about looking good—it’s about being clear, functional, and designed with your audience in mind.
Here’s what makes a great website—and what your business might be missing.
1. A Clear and Compelling Message
When someone lands on your site, they should immediately understand:
Who you are
What you do
How you can help them
If your messaging is unclear, potential customers won’t take the time to figure it out. Keep your website copy simple, direct, and customer-focused.
2. Easy Navigation
Your website should be intuitive—people should find what they need without having to think about it. A confusing layout or too many options can overwhelm visitors, leading them to leave before taking action.
A good rule of thumb: Your most important information (about your services, how to contact you, etc.) should be accessible within one or two clicks from the homepage.
3. A Professional, Consistent Design
Your website should visually align with your branding and look polished. A few key things to focus on:
A clean, modern layout that doesn’t feel cluttered.
A consistent colour palette that aligns with your branding.
Readable fonts (no overly decorative or hard-to-read typefaces).
High-quality images that reflect your brand and industry.
4. Mobile Optimization
More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site doesn’t function well on a phone or tablet, you’re losing potential customers. Make sure your website is responsive and easy to navigate on all screen sizes.
5. A Strong Call to Action (CTA)
What do you want visitors to do when they land on your site? Whether it’s booking a consultation, making a purchase, or signing up for your newsletter, make it clear and easy for them to take action.
Use buttons that stand out and are easy to click.
Avoid vague CTAs like “Learn More.” Instead, use actionable language like “Book Your Free Consultation” or “Shop the Collection.”
6. SEO Best Practices
Even the best-designed website won’t work for you if no one can find it. Search engine optimization (SEO) helps your site appear in search results when people are looking for what you offer. Some basics include:
Writing clear, keyword-friendly page titles and descriptions.
Structuring your site with SEO-friendly headers and content.
Optimizing images with descriptive file names and alt text.
7. An Easy Way to Contact You
Don’t make potential customers search for how to get in touch. Your contact information should be easy to find on every page—whether it’s in the footer, a dedicated contact page, or both.
8. Fast Load Times
A slow website can cost you visitors (and revenue). Studies show that 53% of mobile users will leave a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Make sure your website loads quickly by:
Optimizing image sizes.
Removing unnecessary plugins or code.
Using a fast, reliable hosting provider.
Does Your Website Need a Refresh?
If your site is missing any of these essentials, it might be time for an update. I help businesses create websites that are not only visually appealing but strategic, functional, and built to convert.
Ready for a website that works for your business? Let’s chat.
