12 Ways to Improve Your Business Website or Blog

12 Ways to Improve
Your Business Website
Chuck Holmes

Disclaimer
• These views are my own, based on my experience
• Individual results will vary
(c) 2018 Charles Holmes // onlinemlmcommunity.com

Introduction
• Most small business owners are great at “running” their business, but when it comes to
creating and maintaining their business website or blog, they’re clueless. It’s understandable.
No one is good at EVERYTHING. I know I’m not.
• In addition, most small business owners are busy. They're balancing the books, making sales,
answering the phone, handling employee issues and completing hundreds of other tasks.
They simply don't have much free time to sit at their computer and work on their website.
• What you will find below are 12 simple ways to improve your business website. If you
don’t know how to do these things yourself, get with someone who does. You can hire
someone online to help you or ask a friend who is website savvy (don't forget to pay them!).

# 1 Determine Your Website’s Purpose
• Your website can’t be all things for all people. You must clearly understand your target market and you must clearly define
the PURPOSE of your website. What are you ultimately trying to accomplish with your website?
 Generate Leads
 Make Sales
 Educate Your Prospects
 Grow Your Brand
 Or Something Else?
• Take some time and really think about this. Make sure the layout and functionality of your website support your
purpose.
• For example, if your website's sole purpose is to generate leads, make sure you have your contact information in prominent
places. Make sure you have a "contact me" page. Have simple "request more information" forms people can fill out.
• If the purpose of your website is to sell your products, make sure you have SSL encryption. Make sure the shopping cart is
easy to use. Make sure you offer multiple payment methods. Make sure you have great product photos and descriptions.

# 2 Make It Easy to Navigate
• Your website must be easy to navigate on different devices.
• Make sure you have a SITE MAP.
• Utilize internal linking.
• Make sure the navigation bar is simple and easy to use.

# 3 Add a Search Bar
• If you don’t have one already, add a search bar to your company’s website.
• That way, people can type in what they are looking for and find it.

# 4 Connect Your Social Media Accounts
• If you have social media accounts for your business, make sure you add them
to your website.
• You can easily add social media icons to your website so people can “follow
you” on your different social media accounts.
• On the flip side of the coin, make sure you link your social media accounts
to your website as well.

# 5 Have a Simple, Clean Layout
• If your website looks like it was built in the 1980's or 1990's, you need to get
with the times.
• Wordpress allows you to utilize custom themes at the push of a button.
• Make sure your website gives you the professional image you desire.

# 6 Ensure it Loads Quickly
• Most people have very little patience.
• If your visitors have to wait more than two or three seconds for your website
to load, they will hit the back button and leave your website quickly.
• Optimize your website so it loads quickly in all of the different browsers.
• To do this, make sure you optimize your images.
• Also, if your website is popular, and gets a lot of traffic, consider using a
Content Delivery Network (CDN).

# 7 Add Multiple Opt-in Forms
• One of the primary goals of your website should be to build up your email
list.
• Make sure you have opt-in forms on every page, so people can type in their
name and email and be added to your list with ease.
• Consider publishing a weekly or monthly email newsletter to keep in touch
with all of your subscribers.

# 8 Add a Popover
• Some people love them. Others hate them. That being said, popovers work.
• Almost 90% of my new email subscribers come from my popover.
• Add a popover to your website so people can be added to your list and learn
about your email list.

# 9 Make Your Website Mobile Friendly
• If your website isn’t mobile friendly, you are really missing out.
• Nearly 75% of ALL my website visitors visit via mobile phones.
• That trend has spiked during the past few years. I don’t see it going down any
time soon either.

# 10 Post Your Phone Number in Multiple
Places
• Make sure you have your phone number posted in multiple places on your
website.
• Put it in your header.
• Put in in the footer.
• Add it to the the right column.
• You want people to be able to call you.
• I am amazed at how many websites don't have a phone number listed.

# 11 Add Videos
• People love videos. That’s why YouTube is so popular.
• Although I learn best by reading, most people prefer to watch a video
instead.
• Videos help you build relationships with your website visitors.
• They help build up the like, know and trust factor.
• Plus, videos will keep people on your website longer.
• Try to include videos on every content page you have.

# 12 Add a “Contact Me” Page
• This one should be a given, but make sure you have a contact me page, and it's easy
to find.
• Make sure your contact me page includes:
Your Phone Number
Your Email
Your Physical Mailing Address
Your Social Media Accounts
• That way, people have different ways to get in touch with you.

Honorable Mention
• Privacy Page - This lets your visitors know how their personal information is
stored. Most of the search engines REQUIRE you to have a Privacy Page. You can
find example privacy pages online.
• Disclaimer/Terms of Service - Make sure you have your legal disclaimer and
terms of service page links, so they are easy to find. I simply include links to these
pages in the footer of my own websites.
• GDPR Notice - Due to recent European laws, you need to ensure that people
"accept" your cookie policy before browsing your website. Wordpress offers free
plugins you can use to do this.

Final Thoughts
• In review, these are 12 ways to improve your business website.
• None of this is rocket science. You could make most of these improvements
in just an hour or two, if you set your mind to it.
• By doing so, you would definitely improve the functionality and results of
your website.
• What are your thoughts? What tips can you think of that I forgot? Leave a
comment below to let me know what you think.

About the Author
• Charles Holmes is an author, blogger, and network
marketing professional.
• He writes about small business, network marketing
and military related issues.
• He lives in sunny Florida with his wife, Rachel.
• In his free time he enjoys reading, walking, fishing,
and going to flea markets and yard sales.

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