They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. If you're a small business owner or solopreneur responsible for your own sales and marketing, you know how important first impressions really are. With that in mind, think about your website. What kind of first impression is it making right now?
Here are some tips to help you make sure your website represents your business well.
Check your links. No doubt you checked them when they were new, but when was the last time you went through your website and clicked on every link? Whether they take your website visitor to another page on your site or to another site altogether, it's important to confirm that your links are working. Also, you want any external links to open a new tab so your visitor can easily return to your site after reading the article or blog post you sent them to.
Read every page. Spend time reading each page on your website. Is the information accurate and up to date? Is the message clear? Are there any grammatical or punctuation errors? If proofreading is not a strength you possess, have a professional (ahem, like a virtual assistant) review your website to suggest edits. Don't forget to read your blog posts while you're at it - revise and update as appropriate, but make sure you remove posts that are no longer relevant. Check the details on your contact page as well. You don't want a missing phone number or broken email link to stop a prospective client from reaching you!
Look at your graphics. As you scan each page, consider your graphics. If you're using stock images, are they cohesive and fit for purpose? Does your logo represent your brand, and is the image clear? Don't forget about your headshot - it should be current and professional looking. If any of your website's visual elements are unattractive, confusing or off brand, it's time for an upgrade.
Check your phone. These days, people visiting your website are more likely to do so on a phone than on a computer. Make sure your site looks good and is easy to read and navigate on a phone.
Review your dashboard. Take a look at the back end of your website or get a qualified professional to do it with you. Are there plugins you aren’t using that might be slowing things down? Is your website running on the latest version of WordPress (or whatever platform you're using) or is it time for an update? You want your website to run as smoothly as possible because sluggish performance can cause visitors to click away from your site and never come back.
Your website should represent your business in such a way that someone visiting it understands what you do and why they would want to work with you. If it doesn't, take steps now (like booking a free consultation with your favorite VA for a website review) to create the kind of first impression that works for your business!
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