When developing a website for your business, there are many factors to consider that can put you a step ahead of the competition. Your website is open 24/7, and like a store, you want those who visit to enjoy their time and find it rewarding to be there. Below you’ll find six features that are essential to any website.

User Experience

When a user visits a website that doesn’t catch their attention or is difficult to navigate, they are likely to leave within 20 seconds. That’s not much time; and it’s the difference between you gaining or losing a customer. Your website should clearly state what it is that your business does on the home page and provide links to the other pages of your website. Don’t clutter the website with unnecessary information or have annoying pop-ups as this will surely send them running. Consider using web applications that allow users to interact with your website. Check out companies like SolutionStream for java web development tools that will keep users engaged.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

When a potential customer is searching online for something you offer, chances are you want them to find your business. This is where SEO comes in. Keywords that apply to your business should be implemented into the text and copy that will exist on your site. Additionally, there should be keywords built into the HTML of your website. Your Webmaster should know how to do this. If you are building the website yourself, there are many free tutorials and videos available online to help with the SEO process.

Contact Information

Customers like to have options when it comes to contacting you. With this in mind, it’s essential for you to provide on your site a phone number as well as an email address you check daily. If your business has a pertinent physical location, be sure to include the address as well. Contact information is the only element that should be redundant on a website. Don’t let them leave without knowing how to reach you!

Reputation

If you already have a customer base in place, you should show your site’s visitors what your clients or buyers think of you. This could be a testimonial or review page that showcases your latest products or services. This builds trust in your business. At the same time it shows users that you take pride in the work you do and enjoy satisfying your customers.

Blog

It’s important that a website is updated with fresh content frequently, and one of the simplest ways of doing this is by creating a blog. Not only does this provide your business with a voice, it allows users to learn further information about your services. It helps with SEO as it creates more content to be found in search engines.

Social Media

Social media pages are a great opportunity for your business to expand and reach out to a larger audience. They also provide more options for users who want to contact you and learn more about your company. The best part is that they are free to use! Regularly updating your social media platforms will help continually engage new and existing customers.

These six tools are crucial to your site, no matter how small your business. Employing these tips will allow your site to give a great first impression and show potential customers that you are willing (and want to) interact with them.