Almost half of the small business sites don’t have a website of their own. It’s unbelievable, and yet it’s true. This is according to a SCORE.org infographic. The study cites that only 51% of companies have a site of their own. If you own a small business and don’t have a website, you may be putting it off for later if you think that most people don’t look online for a local business. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. This statistic should show you the truth: 97% of all customers look online for a product or service.
Perhaps you knew that people use the internet to get info about local companies, but you still believe that having your own site isn’t essential for your specific business or industry. There could be some truth in that. However, the majority of businesses we’ve spoken to have said that their small business website is an integral part of their success.
You can be a part of the majority of business owners who say that their website is very important to their business. Here are the 6 things that should be included in your website and WordPress management.
1. Contact Number
This is the most essential information that a site can contain. Despite that fact, a SCORE study reports that 27% of companies don’t have a phone number on their site. Be sure that you aren’t included in that 27%. Insert your contact number on every single page. It’s best if you put it on the top of each page so that visitors won’t have to scroll down to discover it.
2. Your Email
Your email shouldn’t be from a free mail service provider. It should have your business’s website address at the end of it, such as YourSite@YourSiteisAwesome.com.
3. Store/Business Hours
Your store or business hours are a critical piece of information for visitors. Think about adding your business hours to the header of your site, as well as at the bottom of your pages (aka the “footer area”). Remember to adjust your store hours for holiday times too.
4. Business Location
Definitely make sure to include your mailing address and street address for your business, especially if they aren’t the same. This is essential information, and you may even consider putting it in your website footer and header.
5. Map to Your Business
Having a map will make it simpler for customers to find your business. The easier it is, the more likely they will try to look for you. But it shouldn’t be just any map. It should be a map that tries to help people find you. For this, you should include a map, a photo of your business, your street address, and a couple of contact numbers.
6. A Photo of Your Storefront
This is another way of making it simpler for customers to discover you. It also shows people that your business is actually real and legit. Putting a business entrance picture will also strengthen your marketing. For example, if your store entrance or building looks appealing, people will probably want to do business with you.
7. Link to Your Facebook Page
76% of visitors will expect to find a Facebook page. So be sure to have one. Also, do your best to make your custom Facebook URL match the name of your company. It could also match the website address of your company. The Hubspot report “The Social Lifecycle” reports that 70% of customers ages 45-60 believe that your brand should have a presence on Facebook. That number jumps to 95% for millennials. The expectations might be a little lower for local businesses, but not enough to make a big difference.
8. A Contact Form
If someone visits your website after hours or when you can’t reach the phone, it can be a waste if you don’t have a contact form. If someone can’t get in touch with you through your site, then they’ll probably leave and call up one of your competitors. Don’t allow this to happen! Just include a simple contact form on your website. Be sure to collect enough information so that when you receive the inquiry, you’ll have an idea of how to address them and their needs. Also, make sure that the inquiries go to an account that you regularly use so that you can see them right away.
9. An About Page
This page is extremely important. In fact, it usually gets the second-most visits on a website. You don’t want to just type a single line and call it a day. Share your story. And include some of the following things on your About page:
10. Picture of the Company Owner
This should probably go on your about page, but it can also go in the navigation section. Also, include photos of your employees. Put their names and what their role is in the company. Using photos on your about page showing your employees goes a long way towards showing potential customers that you’re a legit and friendly business. Plus it makes you more personable and approachable.
11. A Short History of Your Company
This should include how long you’ve been in business, who your customers are, and the location in which you do business. Put this section in the first paragraph of the about page. Write a little bit about what made you decide to start this company and what history you have in the industry.
12. Photos Showcasing Your Work
A picture is worth a thousand words, and this saying applies to your site as well. Before and after pics is often a good idea. And no matter what kind of business you have, a few decent pictures can entice people to do business with you.
13. Your Product/Service Page
You should include at least one sentence for each of the products and services that you offer. Show prices too if it’s appropriate. After all, the services you offer are why someone is on your website, to begin with. So make sure that they will find what they’re looking for. This includes describing what you do and how. And that’s how you can write the best possible sales copy.
