A website is like a shopping window, a window the whole world can look inside. It is the first impression Internet users will have of your company. Yet, almost one third of entrepreneurs create their own website and make mistakes. In the end, this harms their businesses directly, ending up costing them money. The best advice is to call a specialized web marketing agency to develop your website, instead of jumping into an expensive adventure. But if you are intent on DIY, here are some pitfalls to avoid while creating your website:
No call-to-action
Your call-to-action is most often a clickable button. It starts with an action word (Click Here, Enter to Win, Call 1 800, etc.) to provoke the Internet user to do something. If your contact info isn’t obvious, clients will question why they are visiting this website or wonder what you have to offer to fulfill their needs. Yet, 93% of small and medium size businesses have a website with no email address and 49% don’t have a telephone number on the home page.
Obsolete design
Creating a website entails the web interface i.e. architecture, page organization, tree and navigation. Effective web design takes in consideration specific constraints specific to the Internet such as bandwidth, usability and accessibility. Around 41% of entrepreneurs wishing to improve their website estimate that design is their most important factor.
Complicated updates
When you update your website yourself, you risk losing precious time especially if you don’t have an easy to use CMS (Content Management Software). In fact, 64% of business owners think that updating their website is a major challenge. And 25% declare that maintenance costs are the main obstacle to updating their website.
No stats
Without data analysis linked to their website, companies are depriving themselves of an essential information source with which to measure their website performance. They can’t identify their website’s strengths and weaknesses, Internet user’s navigation preferences and ways to increase conversions. Yet, 75% of companies still don’t use any analytic tool such as Google Analytics. And 60% estimate that they do not have the necessary competencies to first understand the data, but also to solve problems and improve their website.
Non-existent or inefficient search rankings
The search ranking performance of your website is essential since it allows your potential clients to find your company when they are searching for your products or services. However, 26% of small and medium size businesses’ websites do not show on search engine results because their Google ranking is non-existent or too weak.
Not linking to social networks
By allowing your clients to share their experience with your company on social networks, you gain access to their contact network, and increase your visibility.
Not mobile compatible
Now a days, most Internet users consult websites on their mobile devices. Without responsive technology, small and medium size businesses are shortchanging themselves of a wide clientele. Yet, 60% of websites aren’t mobile compatible.
Lack of IT support
Without a dedicated IT technician, small and medium size businesses are exposing themselves to security breaches or expensive programming errors. When collaborating with experienced web marketing professionals, IT support is often included in the website creation costs. In total, 44% of small and medium size businesses have been victims of cyber-attack with an average cost of $8,670.
Offer your customers a professional, functional website, with elegant design, mobile compatibility and search engine optimization for a better interaction with your company.
Looking for an expert to review your website? Get in touch with the web marketing experts at Amauta Marketing either by telephone at (514) 907-2131 or by email at info@amautamarketing.com