When you create a new website, it’s easy to look for aesthetics rather than practicalities. You want it
to look nice for your visitors, and while that certainly is important, you may be ignoring essential elements. Here are 7 of the most overlooked features on websites:
Meta Data
The meta data of a website is usually
hidden in the underlying HTML code that makes up the page and allows it to be
visible in a web browser. However, this data is vitally important as it is read
by the search engine spiders to affect your rankings. The meta data of a web
page includes the page title, the description, page headings, and subheadings. Understanding these important elements of search engine optimization will make your site more competitive online.
Google
Analytics Tracking
This is an online analytics and
tracking service that is freely available to all, courtesy of Google. You need
to set up a Google Analytics account (http://www.google.com/analytics/), and then simply follow the easy on-screen instructions to analyze your web
traffic and know where each visitor came from, and more. You can also set up dashboards for at-a-glance information and have your most important data emailed to you on a regular bases.
Mobile/ Responsive Design
Mobile use now accounts
for more than half of all Internet access, so it is very important that your
website has a responsive design, and not a static design. You need to have an
HTML template that can respond properly with no sideways scrolling on even the
smallest screen size, if you want to do business online. Services like MobileEasy are helpful for a small business without a large budget for a website overhaul.
Clear Calls-To-Action
Just having a great sales
page is good, but it isn’t good enough. People might be convinced that your
product is just right for them, but if you don’t have a clear call to action,
they probably won’t buy from you. Tell them clearly and distinctly to buy now!
Testimonials
It’s all very well for you
to say your product or service is great, but it’s much better when other people
say it too. Always try to get satisfied customers to provide you with a
testimonial, and display it proudly on your website.
Security (SSL Certification)
Secure Sockets Layer,
or SSL, is essential if you do e-commerce. In short, SSL encrypts sensitive
information. If you accept credit cards on your site without an SSL
Certificate, for example, it would be possible for someone with the right
equipment to harvest the credit card numbers.
Contact Information
All too often a website
doesn’t make it easy for their visitors to make contact. Always have a
prominently displayed contact page. Include an email and phone number at the
very least, if possible. Having contact information on your website increases
visitor confidence.
