Customers Should Love Your Website

A strong website is integral to a business’ success in this day and age. We have mentioned a number of times in previous blogs that it is increasingly common for customers to go online to browse items and prices before stepping into an actual store location to make a purchase.

Ensuring that your website is informative and easy-to-navigate will play a huge role in the success of your business in 2011. In this day and age, a company without an online presence may as well not even be in existence. At least, this is the sentiment that a large number of consumers have.

Back in July, Monte Enbysk wrote an article on Entrepreneur.com that assists business owners with information about what customers look for when they are visiting your website. He cites Kelly Cutler, the chief executive of the Chicago-based web advisory firm, Marcel Media as an authority on the subject.

According to Cutler, your website should tell the “story” of your company. She insists that customers want to know who you are and what you’re all about. Your website has become your chief source of presenting the image of your company. A strong website has the ability to make a small business look big!

Enbysk goes on to list ten things that customers want to see on a website. We’d like to share them with you over the next couple of days. First and foremost, says Enbysk, customers want to know how your business is unique. If your site can help answer the question “Who are you?” in an interesting and compelling way, then you will have gotten off on the right foot.

You site should have biographical information that outlines your expertise and experience as well as attributes about the company that sets it apart from others. Secondly, you will want to provide a clear sense of what your company offers. Be sure to tell your online browsers exactly what they can expect from your business.

Your homepage should come complete with product and services information with links to specific pages for those products and services. You don’t necessarily have to divulge overly detailed information. You want your customers to be curious enough to give your store a visit, after all.

This one should be common sense, but you may be surprised to know how many websites to do not include easy-to-find contact information. Be sure to clearly display your phone number and physical location. One look at the Synergy Merchant Services website home page and it’s impossible to miss our number and address.

We will continue to discuss Enbysk’s tips on having a strong online presence for your business in tomorrow’s blog.