Nearly all business owners today know they need a website, but many still don’t realize that their website has a specific job to do. It’s something that needs to be designed with a strategy in mind so it works hard for YOU. That’s why today we are going to talk about these common mistakes, and hopefully you'll either have your designer fix them or hire an expert and start from scratch.
Here are the 7 most common mistakes business owners make when designing their website:
1
No Branded Photography
Avoid using too many stock images on your website. It's totally (totally) worth it to get a professional branded photoshoot. You see, your audience wants to see the business owner behind the business. They don’t want to see fake images of people smiling etc. They want to see you and your team. They want to get a feel and a "vibe" for your location or how you do your work. So, it’s important to take the time to invest in hiring a branding photographer (not any old photographer, but a branding photographer). We have many contacts and can help you find the right fit at the right price.
2
Messaging That is Not Clear
You only have 5-7 seconds to grab the attention of your audience. Therefore,
you need to have powerful and easy to understand messaging so your audience understands what you do and who you help in a matter of seconds. Many business owners complicate their messaging and make it hard for the audience to understand what they do. You literally want to explain what you do, who you serve, and how you're unique in a simple and easy to understand format. Reach out if you need any help with this - we're experts.
3
No Clear Call to Action
Simply put, a call to action is inviting your audience to take the next step. For example, Book a Discovery Call, Download a Free Guide, Start Here, etc. And, you want this repeated throughout your website because you never know when your audience is going to want to take action to reach out to you, or work with you.
4
Not Building Your Website with a Goal in Mind
Many business owners know they need a website, but don’t truly realize that this is literally a sales person on your team 24/7. You want to build your site with a primary goal as well as a secondary goal. It might be to get people to come into your store, to book an appointment, get schedule a call, to have them enter their email to start building a relationship, etc, etc. Make sure it's clear and build your site with that goal in mind.
5
Terrible Copywriting
Your copy is one of the most important elements of your website. Your copy is what communicates to the visitor and starts to process of building a connection with them - which ultimately leads to being able to sell your services. Unfortunately, many business owners write from their own perspective about their business and don’t come from their ideal client’s perspective. Doing this is costing your money. Try to get into your visitor's head. What problem do they have that you can solve? What objections might they have that you can overcome? You want your copy to prime your audience before they even get on the phone or a Zoom call with you.
6
Not Mobile Friendly or Not Mobile Friendly Enough
60% of us use our phones to view websites these days and if your website is not truly mobile-friendly you are most certainly losing business. A lot of do-it-yourself site builders claim they are mobile friendly - and to a degree they are. But, ideally, you need to actually create two different sites - one that's desktop friendly and one that's designed specifically for the mobile experience. That's what we do by the way on all of the sites we design by the way. It takes more effort, but it's absolutely worth it.
7
Not Hiring an Expert
Look, we'll be the first to say that it’s a great idea to DIY your site or hire someone on the cheap to do it when you are first starting out. But, if you are growing or have a successful business, it’s time to hire an expert. You want to work with someone who knows how to strategically design your site in order to elevate your brand and make your business stand out so you attract your dream clients!
You see, your website is not a cost of doing business, it's an investment that should be giving you a repeated return throughout the year.
In conclusion - your website has a job to do and it should be created specifically in alignment with that job. So, if you are a growing and successful business owner (or want to be) it’s a wise move to work with someone who can help you achieve your goals through your web design.
My name is Amanda Kay Weinraub, and, alongside my husband Justin, we offer branding and web design services that help you elevate and level up your business. We want you to stand out amongst your competition and have a website that works for you - not against you.
If you are interested in learning more about our services, please feel free to reach out to us today to schedule your no pressure / no obligation discovery call. We will talk about your business, your goals, your vision, and, of course, answer any questions you might have.
Please feel free to email Amanda at connectwebdesignstudio@gmail.com or click this link to connect with us and start the process. https://connectwebdesignstudio.com/connect-with-us/
We look forward to connecting and the possibility of working with you!