It is estimated that there are over 4.5 billion active Internet users in the world today. The rise of the Internet has made it easier for us to keep in touch and learn, but it has also paved the way for modern businesses to reach out to and engage with customers in a different way.

With the web an increasingly dominant force in the world of business, it’s crucial to have a website that showcases and promotes your company in all its glory. If your site is currently more basic than brilliant, this guide should come in useful. Here are some strategies to try today. 

Professional web design

Aesthetics, format and content presentation play a key role in influencing consumer decisions. Research suggests that you have a maximum of 8 seconds to impress an online visitor, so first impressions are critical. If your graphics are simple or drab, the page looks crowded or confusing, or your homepage looks amateur, this will put people off, no matter how fabulous your products or services are.

If you’re not proficient in web design, it’s well worth working with an agency or an experienced freelancer to transform the look of your website and ensure that it dazzles potential customers and leaves them wanting more. 

Features and added extras

In the vast majority of cases, people use websites to gather information about what a business offers and to search for services and products. As we have become more accustomed to shopping online and locating companies via search engines, websites have become more advanced and dynamic, and nowadays, many users look for more than basic landing pages and product inventories.

As a business owner, you could benefit from adding features and extras to set your site apart from competitors and enhance the user experience. You can provide information about stockists or branch locations using a wordpress directory plugin, you could offer the chance to chat with an advisor or customer service representative online, or you could use innovative virtual reality technology to give people an idea of how new clothes or home furnishings will look.

Conducting market research and asking customers for ideas and feedback can help you to modernize your site and determine which features would be most popular and useful. 

Creative, original, informative content

The content you share on your website is vital for generating interest and encouraging buyers to take the next step towards purchasing a product, signing up for emails or filling in an online inquiry form. Whatever your objective, it pays to prioritize high-quality, impactful, informative content. Make sure your content answers questions, provides an insight into what you do and helps or benefits your customers in some way. Vary the types of content you use.

Blocks of text can be difficult to process, so break up blog posts with images, and use video clips and infographics to offer variety. Videos are shared more frequently than any other type of content and almost 90% of video marketers report an increase in ROI. 

A website can make or break your business in 2020. If you’re looking for ways to enhance and improve your site, take these tips on board!