Keep It Real Social recently revamped our website to make it easier for our viewers to get around and find the information they are looking for quickly. As a business owner, one of your most prominent marketing tools can be your website. Having a professional, high-quality website will take you far. Here are some of our best practices to make your website look professional.
Use a custom domain name.
Many website platforms such as Squarespace or Wix allow you to design a website for free. However, the domain will look something like “yourbusiness.squarespace.com” if you don’t have a customized domain name. To make your website look more professional, purchase a custom domain name. You preferably want your company name to be your domain name. Buying your custom domain name should only cost you $10-$20, and it is well worth the investment. GoDaddy.com and namecheap.com are good resources to use.
Pro tip: To keep your brand aligned, you may also want to purchase the same domain name for your custom email name. You can do this by adding it from the website where you buy your domain, or by signing up for G-Suite by Google.
Upload your custom favicon.
A favicon is a small logo you see at the top of your browser window. Including this can have a significant impact on how professional your website looks. If you decide to leave this blank, the icon of the platform you used (i.e., Wix, WordPress, Squarespace, etc.) will appear.
Limit ads.
Ads can come across as flashy and clutter your website. If at all possible, exclude ads from your website. If you must have them, limit the number of ads you have on your page. Avoid putting them in the header of your website and keep them on the side.
Limit the number of stock images.
The more pictures you can use on your website that are “real life” and not stock images, the more of a chance you have of connecting with your viewers. Using pictures of yourself or photos related to your business can help your website visitors get to know you better and learn what you are about, which will help create a connection.
Make it mobile-friendly.
Make sure your website looks good to people who are looking at your website on their cell phones. Double-check that everything looks good and that there are no formatting issues when people look at your website via mobile. Most website design platforms have templates for this, making it easier to reformat anything that doesn’t look right.
Be consistent.
When it comes to branding, staying consistent is essential. Use the same font throughout your entire website. Keep the colors of your website similar or the same as your company logo colors. If you are using black and white photos, keep all your shots black and white, or vice versa if you are using color photos. Keep the tone of your writing the same.
Your company website can be one of the best marketing tools at your disposal. Keep it professional, and it can go a long way for you. If you need a new website or website makeover, we can help. Contact us today for a free quote.
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