According to a survey, over 28% of small businesses today don’t have websites. And thanks to today’s increase in consumer demands, businesses operating without an online presence are at a disadvantage.
However, creating your first small business website can be a daunting task. With so many tasks to juggle, you may not know where to start. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!
Below are key small business website design tips to help you get started. Keep in mind that every business is different, so you may have to tweak these tips to fit your specific needs. But overall, these tips should give you a good starting point for designing your small business website:
1. Keep Your Design Simple
Simplicity and clarity are key when designing a website. You don’t want to overwhelm your visitors with too much information or flashy designs. Keep your website simple and organized to avoid too much clutter.
Clutter may seem like a minor issue, but it can actually be very distracting. That’s because it makes it challenging for visitors to find the information they’re looking for. This results in high bounce rates, lost customers, and reduced sales.
2. Create a Mobile-Friendly Website
According to a 2020 report, over 68.1% of the world’s population accessed the internet using mobile phones. This is why it’s essential to create a mobile-friendly website that looks good and functions properly on smaller screens.
You can do a few things to make your website more mobile-friendly. These include:
- Use a responsive design to ensure your website looks good on all devices, regardless of their screen size.
- Using large text and buttons to make it easier for people to click and see
- Keeping your website lightweight to avoid long loading times
- Avoid using flash because it’s not supported by many devices today
If you want to find out if your site is mobile-friendly, ensure you test it on different devices. This test helps you identify how your website looks on different devices and browsers and whether it’s easy to use.
3. Include Only the Necessary Information
When designing your website, include only the most important information. You don’t want to overload your visitors with too much information or clutter their screens with unimportant details.
Focus on what’s important to your business and ensure that all essential information is easy to find. This includes your company’s name, contact info, website address, and a brief description of your business.
4. Make Use of Negative Space
Negative space is the empty space on a website or design, and it can be a powerful design tool when used correctly. You can use negative space to emphasize and highlight certain site elements, such as your logo, images, or text and create a feeling of spaciousness.
You can also use negative space to create a more balanced and organized website design. It can also make your website look cleaner and more professional.
When designing your website, utilize negative space to help organize your content, make it easier to read, and create visual interest.
While negative space can create balance and harmony in your website’s design, ensure you don’t overdo it. You don’t want to fill your website with too much space, making it look unprofessional, unattractive, and confusing.
5. Work With a Reputable Web Hosting Company
The right web hosting company will provide you with all the tools you need to create a successful website. These tools include a domain name, web hosting, and email addresses.
To find a good web hosting company, ask for referrals from friends or family, or search online. Be sure to read reviews before you choose a company.
Once you’ve chosen a web hosting company, work with them to create a website that meets your needs and represents your small business well.
6. Create a Strong Logo
A strong logo is a visual representation of your brand, and it’s an essential part of any business website. It’s the first thing that visitors see when they visit your site. It’s also what they’ll remember long after leaving your website.
Your logo should be simple, memorable, and instantly recognizable. It should also be unique and reflect the values and personality of your business.
When creating your logo, ensure that it’s designed to stand the test of time. It should be versatile enough to be used in various applications, from website design to print materials.
7. Use Appropriate Fonts
When selecting fonts for your website, it’s important to choose ones that are easy to read. You don’t want your website visitors struggling to read the text on your website. Common fonts that are easy to read include Arial, Tahoma, and Verdana.
Another key aspect to consider when selecting fonts is the color of the text. You’ll want to choose a color that stands out against the background of your website. For example, black text on a white background is easy to read. However, if you have a website with a light-colored background, you’ll want to use a dark-colored font so that it’s easy to read.
8. Social Media Integration
Most small business owners often make the mistake of thinking that their website should be their only online presence. But social media can be a powerful tool for marketing your business too.
When creating a website design for small businesses, it’s essential to integrate your social media accounts into the site. You can do this by ensuring that your web design is easily adaptable to social media platforms.
You should also include links to your social media profiles on every page of your website and utilize social media widgets, such as the Facebook Like Box or Twitter Follow Button.
Another great integration tip is including blog posts and other content from your social media profiles on your website and vice versa.
9. Incorporate Images Into Your Design
One of the most important tips for website design for small businesses is to incorporate images into your design. Images help break up the text on your website and make it easier to read. They also help to add visual interest to your website.
When selecting images for your website, be sure to choose ones that are high quality and fit with the overall style of your website. You’ll also want to make sure that you have the right to use the images on your website.
Ensure the images are also relevant to your business and the products you sell. Posting irrelevant images on your site will confuse your website visitors and cause them to leave your website.
10. Use Appropriate Colors
When it comes to website design, you should choose colors that align with your brand and logo. Ensure to keep your target audience in mind and choose colors that appeal to them.
Some tips for choosing website colors include:
- Choose two or three main colors and use different shades of each
- keep the colors consistent throughout the website
- Use light and dark shades to create contrast
- Avoid using too many colors
Using the wrong color combinations or too many colors can create a busy website that’s difficult to read. You can also use bright colors to create a fun and vibrant website or darker shades for a more professional and serious tone.
11. Take Advantage of Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Customer reviews and testimonials show potential clients that you’re an established and credible business. They also help potential clients understand what it’s like to do business with you and the type of services you offer.
Additionally, featuring customer reviews and testimonials on your site can help improve your website’s SEO. The more positive reviews you have, the higher you’ll rank in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Ask customers for permission to feature their comments on your website, and remember to give them credit. You can also use a third-party review service like Google Reviews or Yelp.
If you don’t have any customer reviews or testimonials, reach out to your existing customers and ask them to write a review. You can even offer a small incentive like a discount on their next purchase.
12. Install Plugins
Installing plugins will help boost your site’s features and performance. There are a variety of plugins to choose from, so take your time and find the best ones for you.
Some popular plugins include WPForms, Yoast SEO, and Gravity Forms. These plugins can help with everything from creating forms to optimizing your website for search engines.
Install only reputable and high-quality plugins to avoid security risks or performance issues.
13. Get an SSL Certificate for Your Business
SSL certificates help keep your customers’ information secure. When you have an SSL certificate, the connection between your customer’s browser and your website is encrypted. This helps protect any data transferred, such as credit card numbers or passwords.
Therefore, potential customers and other online users will trust your business more. Additionally, having an SSL certificate can help your website rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Follow Above Small Business Website Design Tips
When it comes to small business website design, following the right tips is key. By incorporating the tips mentioned in this article, you’ll be on your way to creating a website that’s both visually appealing and effective. So get started today and see the results for yourself!
Are you looking to create a great online presence for your business with the best website design? Contact us today at Decisive Sites, and we will help you create the best site for your business.