Apart from the design and functionality, there are other essential features that your business website needs. A business website is not just a simple web page, it is the face of your company and a crucial platform for interacting with potential customers. And in today’s era, having a business website is no longer optional, it is necessary for your success. So, what are these essential features that every business website needs? Read on to find out!Â
The Importance Of A Business Website
Before jumping to the essential features, let’s first understand why having a business website is crucial for your company.
In today’s digital world, people turn to search engines for almost anything and everything. This means that if your business doesn’t have an online presence, you are missing out on a significant number of potential customers.
A business website gives your company credibility and establishes trust with potential customers. It also allows you to showcase your products or services, share important information, and connect with your target audience.Â
In short, a business website is a powerful marketing tool that can significantly impact your company’s success.
Essential Features That Every Business Website Needs
Now that we understand the importance of a business website, let’s dive into the essential features that every business website needs to have.
A Responsive Design
It is all about user experience when it comes to a business website. A responsive design ensures that your website looks good and functions well on all devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. With the majority of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, having a responsive design is crucial for reaching potential customers and keeping them engaged.
A Search Bar
If your business has a large website with a lot of content, having a search bar can make it much easier for visitors to find what they are looking for. For example, if a potential customer is looking for a particular product or service, they can simply type it into the search bar instead of scrolling through multiple pages. This feature saves time and enhances the user experience by allowing users to search for specific information quickly.
Contact Information
Every business website needs to have clear and easily accessible contact information. This includes a business address, phone number, email address, and social media handles. Visitors may want to reach out to your company for various reasons, such as inquiries about your products or services, feedback, or partnership opportunities. Who knows what will happen when a potential customer does not find contact information on your website? They may get frustrated and give up on reaching out to you, ultimately resulting in lost business opportunities.
About Us Section
People on the internet want to know who they are dealing with when interacting with a business website. Including an About Us section on your website allows visitors to learn more about your company, its values, and its history. To make your About Us section stand out, include a video or images that showcase your team, offices, and work culture. Along with this, provide a brief overview of your company’s mission and goals.
Testimonials or Customer Reviews
This feature is very important especially when customers are comparing your products or services to your competitors. Testimonials and customer reviews act as social proof, giving potential customers confidence in your business. Including positive reviews from satisfied customers on your website can significantly influence a visitor’s decision to do business with you. It also shows that you value and appreciate your customers’ feedback.
Newsletter Sign-Up
Business newsletters are a great way to keep your customers updated about new products, promotions, and company updates. You can also use newsletters as a marketing tool to drive website traffic. Having a newsletter sign-up feature on your website allows visitors to subscribe and receive regular updates from your business. It’s an effective way to build and maintain relationships with your customers.
Glossary
A glossary is often a webpage that contains an alphabetical list of terms and their definitions, especially for a specific subject or field. Including a glossary on your business website can be very beneficial, especially if you use industry-specific terminology. Take a look at this example: construction glossary BuildOps, this business website provides a comprehensive glossary of construction-related terms to help their clients better understand industry jargon. A glossary can also improve your website’s SEO (search engine optimization), as it adds relevant keywords and improves the overall quality and relevancy of your content.
Live Chatbot
With the world constantly running on technology, businesses need to keep up with the fast pace of communication. A live chatbot on your business website allows customers to interact with your brand in real time without having to pick up the phone or send an email. A chatbot can provide quick and efficient customer support, enhancing user experience and building trust in your brand. It can also handle basic inquiries, freeing up time for your customer service team to handle more complex tasks.
Social Media Integration
A business website plus social media platforms equals success. Social media platforms allow your business to reach a wider audience and engage with potential customers. Therefore, integrating your business website with social media is essential. Social media integration includes adding social media share buttons on your website, displaying live feeds from your social accounts, and allowing users to log in using their social media profiles.
Map Location
If your business focuses on targeting the local market, you should include a map location. A map location is a useful feature for customers to find your business quickly and easily. It also helps with local search engine optimization (SEO) by making it easier for potential customers to find you.
Contact Form
Another essential feature that every business website needs is a contact form. Contact forms allow customers to reach out to you with inquiries, feedback, or requests for information. Your contact form must include fields for basic information such as name, email address, and message. You can also include additional fields depending on your business needs, such as phone number or company name. The contact form should be easy to find and accessible from every page of your website.Â
High-Quality Visuals
Not all of your customers like to read long paragraphs of text on your website. That’s where visuals come in. High-quality images, videos, and graphics can capture your audience’s attention and convey important information more effectively. Make sure to use relevant visuals that represent your brand and product or service offerings. And avoid using generic stock photos, as they may not accurately portray your business.
Blog or News Section
A blog or news section gives the customer insight into your business, industry trends, and valuable information related to your products or services. It also helps with SEO by continuously updating your website with fresh content. Your blog or news section should be easy to navigate, shareable on social media platforms, and regularly updated. This feature can also help establish your business as an authority in the market and build trust with potential customers.
FAQs Section
Instead of getting thousands of calls and emails asking the same questions, include an FAQ section on your website. This feature saves time, improves user experience, and reduces the workload for your customer service team. Include commonly asked questions about your business, products or services, shipping and return policies, pricing, and any other relevant information. Make sure to regularly update this section to address new inquiries from customers.Â
All of these essential features work together to create a well-rounded and effective business website. So, if you’re in the process of developing or revamping your website, make sure to include these features for optimal success.
