Download our 14 Point Web Design Checklist

Starting a business usually also means starting a website. Whether it’s starting a new website from scratch or updating an existing website, the process can take up a lot of time and money.  

Even when we think we’re finished, there’s usually something we just don’t like about our website. While the easy solution may seem like changing the visual design, more often than not changing the content is what will yield noticeable results.  

Web design is always changing, but at AuthenticWeb we’ve boiled down the “must-do’s” to make your website a success into four critical parts.  

Your website is the nexus, or center, of your business marketing.  Everyone wants a pretty website, but before anything else your website is a resource for new and returning customers.  

Implementing these four critical parts into your website design can help you reach your business goals.

1. Be a Storytelling Machine

The first critical component to creating a successful website is to be a storytelling machine.  

Stories are scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to get people to retain information.  

Let’s think about your last big purchase for a second.  Was it a car? A house? A dishwasher?

Let’s take that one step further.  When you were thinking about those purchases, what did you think about?

Did you think about signing the papers for the car? The warranty on the dishwasher? Did you think of the inspection on the house? Probably not.

Chances are you thought about filling your new house with friends and family.  You probably thought about the first road trip you took with your new car, or how much easier your new dishwasher has made dinner clean up.

You thought of a story.

People naturally think in stories.  When people visit your website, they’re also looking for a story.  

Either you can dictate what that story is, or they’ll make up their own story and forget about you.

You want to tell your business story and your customer story.  

You want these stories to be easily understood and how they speak to your business.  

It’s essential for your marketing team and website designer to understand that.

2. Have Various Levels of CTAs

While telling that story, your website should also maintain various levels of call to action.   

A call to action let’s the customer know what to do next.  It’s really easy to get caught up in your business and assume that the customer understands your business.  

Being specific helps customers, and various levels allow people to move at their own pace into your business. These can be as simple as telling a customer what page they can find information on, who to email and where to buy.  

This guides them through the process.  A confused mind makes no decisions, and those calls to action eliminate any confusion.

3. Keep Your Business Goals in Mind

No matter what line of business you’re in, great calls to action will get you nowhere if your website fails to be in line with your business goals.  

What do you want your website to do for your business?  Do you want leads? What kind of customers do you want visiting your website? Do you want to increase profit margins?

These are parts of your business that you have the opportunity to decide and command on your website. When creating your website, these goals should be addressed.  

Without keeping your business goals in mind, your website does not have the opportunity to further your business. 

4. Start with Video

Connecting with your customers can help you to achieve those predetermined goals for your business.  Starting with video content on your website is a great way to make that connection.  

Video is an opportunity for customers to feel like they know you without ever meeting in person.  Slapping random video on your website won’t cut it.

A business needs to understand how customers navigate through the website.  

Understanding this allows for videos to meet the wants and needs of the customers at the right time, leading to deeper connections.

Videos tell stories, keep people on your website longer, help search engine optimization and can make you an authority in your field.  

Yes, at AuthenticWeb we’re in video marketing and we’re good at it. That’s because it’s good for business.  As we said earlier, what’s good for business is what you should start with on your website.
These four critical parts can seem a little overwhelming, but they will guarantee its success.  

If your website tells stories, is in line with your business goals, gives customers calls to action and implements video you will see your website benefit your business.

A really good designer and developer on top of those things will make it as successful as possible.  However, making sure that your developer can do all of that can be difficult.  

We’ve made it easy.  Download our 14 Point Web Design Checklist to ensure that your website has all of the elements it needs to be successful.

Contact us on Facebook if you have questions. We’d love to see your websites and learn about what you do.