Internet usage grows each year as we integrate more technology into our daily lives. We’ve reached a point where businesses must have a website to reach customers and thrive. However, it’s not enough to just have a website. You must have a “good” one to stand out from the crowd. But what constitutes a “good” website? Here are 5 features every good website needs.
1. Mobile Adaptive Display
With the growing use of mobile devices, a mobile adaptive website is an absolute must. In fact, Google announced years ago that websites must be mobile adaptive in order to appear in search results performed on mobile devices. This certainly makes sense, but what does mobile adaptive mean? Rather than having two different websites, one for desktop and one for mobile, this singular website adjusts according to the size of the device.
For example, below is a screenshot from a section of our services page. On a desktop, there is enough page width to display multiple columns. However, on a mobile device, without adaptive display, the information would get stacked on top of itself making it difficult to read. The “adaptive” display ensures the information appears legibly on whichever device is used to view the information. Mobile adaptive display is the most important of the 5 key features every good website needs.
2. Easy Navigation
Another important feature of a good website is clear and easy navigation. If you make it difficult for visitors to navigate your website, they may never find what they’re looking for. Even worse, visitors may get frustrated and quickly leave your website. For better navigation, use clear and easy to interpret terms. Additionally, avoid busy menus or those with too many nested layers. Although your website may be filled with a wealth of complex information, your navigation should be an easy to understand and high-level summary of its content.
3. Security
Is your website secure? How can you tell? Secure websites require what’s called an SSL certificate. In a browser, the url displays starting with “https” and a lock icon normally appears near the url. Contact your web hosting provider to inquire about purchasing an SSL certificate. There is normally a yearly fee, and some changes will most likely be required on your website. However, without this security, some browsers will warn visitors about your website, which can cause you to lose valuable website traffic.
4. Timely & Engaging Content
Gone are the days when you can create a website and not alter it for years. Every good website needs timely and engaging content. First and foremost, make sure your static pages are up-to-date and reflect your current business offerings. Outdated information will reflect poorly on your business and cause confusion among your customers. Secondly, consider adding a blog section. Blogs are a great way to provide updates about your company, discuss important industry news, and/or provide helpful information and tips to your customers. They can also help you rank higher on search engines.
5. Call to Action Prompts
Think about the purpose of your website. Are you trying to sell a product or service? Are you looking to engage with the community? Are you promoting a specific cause? No matter your purpose, there is likely something that you want people to do in order for you to achieve that purpose. Make it easy for them to do so by placing clear call-to-action prompts throughout your website. It can be in multiple places such as your navigation menu, page sidebars, footer, and/or in other strategic locations. The easier you make a call-to-action, the more likely visitors will follow it.
These are just a few key features every good website needs. There are many other elements that are important and can benefit your business. If you have a dated website in need of a big refresh, contact us for a consultation. We can review your website with you, discuss your business goals, and suggest ways for you to improve your website design and content to increase your ability and better achieve your business goals.