Tips For Creating A Better Website

  1. What should I include on my website?
  2. What kind of pages should I write?
  3. Can I get more pages than the 4-5 listed?
  4. Do I HAVE to write text for my pages?
  5. Suggestions regarding writing text

We have been creating websites for small business since 2001. In those years, we have seen a lot of client input come across our desks. Some websites succeed, and some do not. There is a definite pattern to knowing which websites will turn out better than others, and to which websites will succeed in search engines and succeed in getting potential clients to take the targeted action – to call!

Below are some tips and hints that will help ensure your website performs. We will build your site for you, but you will be responsible for supplying the information to be put on the site. Follow the below tips to create better content for your website.

What Should I Include On My Website?

As a general rule, you can approach your website as you would a marketing brochure. Use color, graphics, photos and words to get across four key things about your business:

  • What product and/or service you provide for customers.
  • What kind of customers you focus on and can serve best.
  • How your business is unique from others who provide the same product or service, so customers can decide if your solution is the right on for them.
  • The personality or brand essence of your business – what your company stands for.

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My Smart Site Includes 4 Pages. What Kind of Pages Should I Make?

The answer to this question is completely dependent upon your business and your clientele. However, below are some examples that may help you decide. We are using specific examples for business types, so simply use these as a basis. Your website’s page names and subjects can include whatever you would like.

Pages Example 1 – A Contractor:

A local electrician that provides home electrical repair, upgrades and installs on new construction.

  • Home Page – A basic overview of your company and services. Offer specials, testimonials, etc.
  • New Construction – Since this is a primary service you provide, this page should be dedicated to that. Talk about experience, specialties, etc. Add pictures too!
  • Repair / Upgrades – As above, since this is a primary service, you should dedicate a page to it. Discuss what you do, where you serve, pricing, etc.
  • About Us – Why should the customer call you? What separates you from your competitors? History, experience, certifications, company information are all appropriate here.
  • Safety Tips – As a gesture of goodwill to your web visitors, you can offer information on electricity safety for the home. It can be basic information, but people (and search engines) love free QUALITY information.
  • Contact Us – Include a phone number, map to your shop (if applicable), fax number and even a map to your front door.
  • NOTE: Before you write your page content, please take a look at our marketing tips.

Pages Example 2 – A Restaurant:

A local restaurant, coffee shop or catering service. This company simply wants a local website presence to supplement current advertising.

  • Home Page – A basic overview of your company and services. Offer specials, testimonials, hours of operation, etc.
  • Your Menu – Offer your visitor an idea of what you serve and the prices of your food. You do not necessarily have to include a complete menu (but make sure to state that), though you can include your most popular or unique items.
  • Events / Activities – If your business has live entertainment, or sponsors/participates in activities, state that here. Talk about live bands, catering events, holidays that compliment your food, etc.
  • About Us – What separates you from your competitors? History, experience, company information are all appropriate here.
  • Cooking Tips / Recipes – Offer home cooking tips that compliment your specialty. It doesn’t need to be overly complex, but if a visitor finds something they can use, that usually turns into a customer!
  • Contact Us – Include a phone number, map to your business, and even a map to your front door.

Pages Example 3 – A Retail Store:

A local art supply store that does not sell items online. Since there is a lot of competing Yellow Pages ads, this store wanted to take advantage of local internet searches.

  • Home Page – A basic overview of your company and services. Offer specials, testimonials, hours of operation, etc.
  • Inventory – You might have several pages broken down into main sections describing what you carry in your store. For instance, in the example of our art store we will have the following pages:
    • For Painting – Describe with text and pictures the types of supplies you carry for painters and why you serve them well.
    • For Drawing
    • For Sculpting
    • Other Arts – This is the “misc” category describing the other item types you carry.
  • Contact Us – Include a phone number, email address, and even a map to your front door.
  • NOTE: Before you write your page content, please take a look at our marketing tips

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4 – 5 Pages Isn’t Enough. Can I Get More Pages?

  • YES. If you need more pages on your site, we can do that. Take a look at our pricing information for details.

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I’m Not a Writer. Do I HAVE to Write Text For My Pages?

  • The short answer is YES. Page content (text) is king when it comes to converting visitors to customer, and when it comes to search engines reading and indexing your website favorably. Take time and care when doing this for best website results.
  • The text on your website is your key component to the site. If you have inadequate, non-descriptive text, or very little text, your Smart Site will not bring you a favorable return on investment (ROI).
  • If you take the time, or hire someone to take the time, to write quality page copy you will obtain better rankings for your keyterms in the search engines. You will also have a better presentation to prospective customers. The benefit here is that this will better convert website visitor into paying customers.
  • If you are not a writer, consider hiring someone familiar with your business to write it. This could be your spouse, an employee, your dog (as long as he has opposable thumbs to hold the pen), or anyone else familiar with your business.
  • If you do not have time, we suggest making the time. Yes, it’s that important.
  • Remember, if you do it right the first time then you don’t have to do it again!

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What Suggestions Do You Have Regarding Writing Text?

  • A primary item to keep in mind is that website visitors have a short attention span. Here are some tips to help keep a visitor interested:
    • Avoid long paragraphs – They are too hard to read on the screen and take too much time
    • Instead use bullets so that a visitor can “scan” your information (note the examples on this page)
    • Use bold typeface sparingly. Do not bold everything. Reserve bolding your text for the more important items that you want to drive a visitor’s eye toward.
    • Use short sentences whenever possible.
    • Remember that writing for the web is NOT the same as writing for print. The same writing style does not typically apply.
  • Place a few links in your page text. Use keyterms within the body text to link to other pages. For instance, we will link to our page on website marketing tips here. You can note these text links in your page copy by changing the text color.
  • Try to achieve between 400 – 800 words of text per page.
  • Add up to three pictures per page to supplement the text.

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