For small business owners, it is important to focus on what they do best and outsource the rest to ensure success. This includes website design and development for their growing business.
Hiring an in-house website development team can be costly, so many small business owners turn to a website design company. When choosing a website design firm, there are several factors you should consider:
Backend Services (CMS "Content Management System")
Backend services are the heart of your website development project. A content management system (CMS) is a backend service that helps you create and manage your website’s content. Small businesses often use CMSs because they are easy to use and require no programming skills.
However, consider what features you need before choosing a CMS for your small business website development project. Once you know what features you need, research different CMSs to find the one that best suits your needs. Be sure to read reviews and compare prices before making your final decision.
User Interface
When you are ready to invest in website design services for your small business, the user interface is one of the essential features to consider.
A good user interface leads to a better user experience, translating to more sales and customers for your business.
Keep in mind that website navigation should be simple and intuitive. Avoid using complicated menus or drop-down lists that can be confusing for website visitors. Instead, focus on creating a website that is easy to navigate and provides a smooth user experience.
Investing in website design services that consider user interface can help ensure your small business website succeeds.
Cross-Platform Strategy
When developing a small business website, it’s essential to consider a cross-platform strategy. This means that your site should be accessible and functional on both desktop computers and mobile devices.
With more people than ever using smartphones and tablets to surf the web, having a site viewable on all devices is essential. A cross-platform strategy can help you reach more potential customers and generate more leads. In addition, it can also help you save money on website development costs.
Clean Design
When you’re ready to take your website development project to the next level, you must consider all your options for website design firms. While many small business website development services are available, not all will have the experience and expertise to create a clean, modern website design that accurately reflects your brand.
A website is often the first interaction potential customers have with your company, so ensuring it sends the right message is essential. A clean and well-designed website will give visitors the impression that your company is professional, trustworthy, and forward-thinking—precisely the qualities you want potential customers to associate with your brand.
Data Visualization
When planning the development of your small business website, ensure to include data visualization as a critical feature. This can be in charts, graphs, maps, or other visuals.
Including data visualization on your website can help you communicate complex information quickly and effectively. It can also help you to identify trends and patterns that would be difficult to discern from textual data alone. In today’s competitive business environment, an investment in data visualization can give your small business the edge it needs to succeed.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
A CRM software helps businesses manage customer data and interactions.
By integrating CRM into your website, you can give your customers a seamless experience by allowing them to log in with their CRM credentials, view their customer data, and interact with your customer service team from your website.
In addition, CRM integration can help you track website activity and leads and capture customer information for marketing and sales follow-up.
Chatbot Integration
Chatbots can provide an instant, personal connection with potential customers that will help you build trust and establish your brand. In addition, chatbots can help you qualify leads, schedule appointments, and even take orders or make recommendations.
Best of all, chatbots are available 24/7, so your customers can always get the information they need. Regarding website development, a chatbot should be on your list of features to consider.
Email is still among consumers’ and businesses’ most popular communication methods. That means your customers will want to be able to reach you via email.
An email is also an essential tool for building relationships with your customers. You can send updates, coupons, special offers, and more. And, unlike some social media platforms, you own your email list – meaning you’re not at risk of losing customer access if a platform changes its rules or goes out of business.
Subscription
Building a subscription feature into your small business website can be a great way to generate revenue and ensure that your site remains accessible to users. You must consider the following when deciding whether or not to add a subscription feature to your site.
- Determine what content or service you will offer through the subscription.
- Consider how you will manage subscribers and payments.
- Decide how to promote the subscription feature to potential subscribers.
Calendar Integration
The “Request a Meeting” button can be prominently displayed on your homepage, allowing visitors to schedule a meeting quickly. This is especially useful for businesses that offer consultations or appointments. This allows potential customers to easily schedule a meeting with you without having to go through the hassle of emailing back and forth or trying to coordinate availability over the phone.
Having a “request for a meeting” form on your website can save you valuable time and make it easier for potential customers to do business with you. If you’re considering adding this feature to your website, talk to your web development team about how to implement it.
Social Media Integration
If you plan to develop a small business website, integration with social media is an important feature. Integrating your website with social media lets, you connect with customers and prospects where they’re already spending their time and attention.
You can also use social media to build brand awareness and generate leads for your business.
Functionality
If you are considering website design services, functionality is one crucial feature to remember. An easy-to-use website will help visitors find the necessary information. It will also encourage them to stay on your site longer.
In addition, a website designed with your customers in mind will help you build trust and credibility with them. When choosing a small web application development company, ask about their experience creating functional websites for small businesses.
Mobile Friendliness
Mobile sites are designed specifically for use on mobile devices, and they typically have a simplified design and functionality. On the other hand, responsive sites are designed to adapt to any screen size, providing an optimal user experience no matter how your customers access your site.
Which is suitable for your small business website? Consult with your website development company before proceeding ahead.
Effective Security
Security should be one of your top priorities when developing a website for your small business. Data breaches are becoming increasingly common in today’s online environment, and hackers often target small businesses. If your website is not secured correctly, you could put your customers’ personal information at risk.
To ensure that your website is secure,
- Choose a reliable web hosting provider that offers secure hosting options.
- Install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri to help protect your site from potential threats.
- Consider investing in an SSL certificate to add an extra layer of security for your users.
Taking these precautions can help keep your small business website safe from hackers and other types of website threats on the internet.
Final Thoughts
The features and functionality you choose for your website will depend on the specific needs of your small business. By planning what you need, you can create a website that helps you achieve your goals and grow your company. Have you started planning your website development project yet? If not, contact us today; we will be happy to help!
Cocolevio’s expert team can offer a consultation and integrate all these features into your small business website development project. Get started today!
