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Health & Fitness

The 3 Must-haves for a Business Website

Skip the all the non-sense and get straight to the point with 3 tips to building your website.

Putting together a website can be as complicated or as simple as choosing whether you want an iced americano of vanilla latte in the Starbucks line each morning. The decision still gives you the caffeine jolt, but the type of drink will set the tone for your whole day.(analogy coming from a former barista). Starbucks provides a daunting menu list with an array of Italian words naming drinks we are scared to try, just like a website can host a concoction of features and functions most people won't use. So what do you REALLY need? What's the meat with out all the fluff? The coffee without all the syrup, milk, foam, extra hot....etc?

First, the main function of a website is to introduce your company, provide service information and have your customer to contact you directly. What do you need to do this? Below is a simple, to-the-point list that achieves your goal without confusion. 

1. Simple, dyslexic-proof URL: Your url needs to be easy to remember, easy to spell, easy to tell over the phone and easy to type. If your business is Ben Bridge Jewelrys & Co., don't come up with www.benbridgejewelersandcompany.com. It's too long. Come up with www.benbridge.com or www.benjewelers.com. The simpler the better. We've even created urls with people's phone number because it was easier than their business name. 

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2. Contact Information EVERYWHERE: The goal is for the customer to call. They can't do that if they can't find your phone number. Company name, address and phone number needs to be on every page along with a "contact us" page. Most customers use the phone to call and ask questions, but email/contact forms never hurt either. 

3. Who you are & What you Sell: The basis of your site is to provide more information on who you are as a company, what service or product you offer and why your customer should chose you. There are various ways to do this, pictures of products/services, customer testimonials, list of services etc. The point must get across quickly and efficiently. Customers don't want to read a novel and a picture is worth 1,000 words. 

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Don't let yourself get caught up in having everything on your website. It can be costly, overwhelming and unnecessary. Start with the 3 listed above, then expand as demanded by your customers. Customers aren't afraid to ask for more information, so provide it as they do, don't overwhelm them with what they don't want. 

Hope that helps. One small business owner to another! 

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