Will Your Website Help Attract Your Target Audience?

Build it, But Will They Come?

Yes, your website is a destination… but if you build it right, it can serve as so much more. Your website is your central hub. Done right, it can be one the most powerful SEO tools to help lead people searching for your topic right to your website!

What’s in a Name?

The first step is to select your domain name. Make sure it’s memorable (so that people remember where to find you) and something that is easy to spell. And even more important: make sure the domain name is available. You can use a tool like GoDaddy to see if your selected domain is already taken. When considering names, ensure the URL reflects what the product or service is.

Above the Fold, Please!

Think about how you search on other websites. Let’s be honest—we are all busy and so we tend to quickly scan for information. When it’s buried, we tend to move on to the next thing. Think of that top space on your homepage as the most important real estate on your website. This is where people need to glance to see what you’re offering, and they need to see what’s in it for them. That’s not to say that everything on the homepage should be above the fold, but you’ll want to make sure that the most important things are above the fold and that you prioritize the rest. While photos are tempting, keep them small and secure the rest of the space for headlines and a brief, scannable description. You also need to have navigation at the top so that people can see what else is available on your website and how to get around.

Where Do We Go Now?

Speaking of navigation, you’ll want to make sure that it is intuitive. People want websites to be easy to use. Whether you choose to have left hand navigation, a bar across the top, or a menu icon in the top right hand corner, you want to ensure that each section is properly named in the navigation so that when people get to the page, they are viewing what they expect to see. You’ll rely on your footer for standard things such as your contact information, “About” section (likely your bio or your company’s history), “In the News” (if you’re doing PR), etc. Lastly, be sure that it’s easy for people to return to the homepage. Most websites have a logo at the top where visitors can click to go back to the homepage.

Last, but Definitely not Least, Keywords!

Keywords will bring people to your website, so sprinkle keywords throughout your site. Keywords are weighted by where and how frequently they appear. The “key” to keywords is to think about how people will search on Google (or other search engines) to find you. Think about what words or phrases people will likely use to search for your products or services. These are the words you’ll want to include in your headlines and all throughout your copy. They are going to help your website appear in search results. You can also do some research and use a keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner. Use the tool and test keywords to see what the search and click volume is. Also, don’t use keywords that are too broad—be sure that when people click to your website, they are seeing what they expect to see and they don’t bounce off your site right away. Otherwise, this can work against you with search engines.

What Are You Waiting For?

These are just a few tips to help you get started. Your website can be a powerful tool that attracts your potential customers—if it’s simple to tell what you are offering, intuitive to navigate, and easy to find. If you are looking for website design, SEO, and content development assistance, get in touch and let’s explore some opportunities!