A website is one of the best ways to take your business online. But most people don’t get desired results out of their websites because of obvious mistakes or failure to adapt to new changes.
The sobering reality is that static websites are dead! Today’s websites are not like static brochures filled with company information. The typical pages of Home, About, Service, and Contact — doesn’t help anymore.
These types of websites don’t even rank on google. People can’t land on your site from a search query just to read your Values and Mission statement. There must be something more valuable than that.
In fact, you don’t need a website just for pride. It has to bring results.
So what do modern websites really need?
Any website needs to perform either of the following three functions:
- To sell a product
- To promote a product or service
- To build a mailing list
To accomplish either of the above, a website needs to generate traffic. This, unfortunately, cannot be achieved with a static website filled with Mission, Vision, and Values statements.
The following are the things modern websites need to bring results. Whether it is a personal blog, a corporate website, or a portfolio, these things are proven to bring desired results.
1. Copywriting is just as important as the design
You may have the killer visual design with the right colors, font, animations and so, but if the content sounds like a Ph.D. thesis, you are only going to scare potential customers away.
From attention-grabbing headlines to convincing benefit-based descriptions, and clear calls to action —you need to cut the corporate crap and write stuff that speaks to people and persuades them to take action.
The language on your website should be easily understood and make the visitor feel welcome, not to make you look smart. It is more about understanding your customer and writes something that speaks to them.
You are reading this article because I wrote it in a language that doesn’t make you wish you had been more serious at school.
Do not be tempted to copy content from another website. That will be a first-degree mistake in the laws of SEO physics.
2. Modern websites need an active blog
Without traffic to your website, you are just as good as being offline. Unless you are paying for traffic, which will cost you a lot of money, you need to start writing articles on the blog section of your website.
With some content marketing skills such as keyword research, content writing, and SEO, you can be able to promote your website on search engines and stand a chance of appearing to customers who are actively looking for your service.
Are you a nonprofit that claims to have impacted thousands of people? Well, it is time to write those stories on your blog. After all, your good cause deserves to be shout out from rooftops, right?
Do you have happy customers using your product? Time to share their experience on your corporate website. These are the things a modern website needs.
3. Modern websites need to convert
After you have done great copywriting and content marketing, you need to make sure people coming to visit your digital home are either converting into buying customers or fans of your brand.
Having people to visit your site is an opportunity to sell or gain supporters for your good cause. You can’t afford to have them and leave without performing a desired action. Which is why it is important to set conversion goals.
Things like signup forms, testimonials, live charts, landing pages, and sales funnels are proven to bring high conversion.
After you have the above things in place: (1) Copywriting (2) Content Marketing (3) Conversion Goals, you can now rest assured that your investment in a website is actually going to pay off. You can now confidently try out PPC advertising and see a return on your ad spend.
Key Takeaways for Web Designers
Web designing is such a creative and fun process. Nothing brings joy than having your own website out there on the web.
But the online space is changing. We need to keep up.
Most of our clients don’t know much about these things. It is therefore our job as web designers and developers to step up the game and bring the best to our clients.
Here is a list of things that work on modern websites every web designer needs to be familiar with right now.
- Learn how to create landing pages and sales funnels.
- Learn Copywriting or ask your clients to write the content themselves.
- Learn to create membership websites.
- Learn to create e-commerce websites.
- Create a combination of a static website with a blog. It is usually there by default, it just needs some settings and design.
- Help your clients to set Analytics so they can see what exactly is happening on their site and make data-driven adjustments
To Business Owners…
There are many ways to take your business online. But if you want to give your brand some serious attention, having your own business website is highly recommended.
At Tanzlite, we always try our best to create websites that actually bring leads. If you still don’t have a website in 2020, we can help you get one at the price you can manage. Check our website service page and get in touch.
A custom design website, allows you to establish and express your brand through tailored page elements that align with your objectives. By choosing custom website design packages, you build a website around your specific customer journey and brand messaging.