We all want to know that when we put effort into launching a website that it'll help our business in some way. It's not just about design and, it's not just about content. It takes a combination of 8 elements to make a successful website. Read on to find out what they are!
1. Clearly Defined Goals
When you create a website, it should have a specific goal that it is trying to achieve. Do you want to increase brand awareness? Drive more online sales? Collect leads? What is the purpose of your website? If you aren't sure of this, you should spend a little time thinking about it before you make your website.
Once you know what the goal is, make sure it's clear on the website. The average visitor shouldn't have to guess what it is that you want them to do. Every page should have a clear call to action that tells the user what they should do.
For example, if you want more online sales make an obvious button on your website for online shopping with the most common payment gateway used by your target market. If you're looking for leads make it very clear that this is what you need from visitors and make sure there's a contact form or a place where they can submit their email address.
The clearer you make your goals, the easier it is for your website visitors to help you achieve them!
2. High-quality Content
Your website's content is one of the most important aspects needed to make a successful website. Your content needs to be engaging so that visitors will want to stick around, but it also needs to be useful so they can learn more about your business and what you have to offer. This doesn't mean you should stuff your website full of keyword-rich content in an attempt to rank higher in search engines; rather, make sure your content is well-written, informative, and most importantly, relevant to your target market.
If you're not sure what content to create, start by thinking about the questions your customers are likely to ask. What information do they need to make a purchase? What topics would be of interest to them? Once you have an idea of the type of content you want to publish, make sure it's high quality so that your visitors get the value you intended to provide!
Relevant Images and Videos
You're reading right now because you want to learn how to make a successful website; but, not everyone is going to want to read an entire article on the subject. Unfortunately, at 8 seconds, the average human attention span is now shorter than a goldfish's. That's why it's important to include relevant images and videos throughout your content. This will break up the text, making it easier for readers to consume, but it also provides more information that they can use.
Images and videos also help to make your website more engaging, which is essential for keeping visitors around longer. This will also make it more likely that they share your content, which will make it easier for you to reach a wider audience.
3. Good Copy
Neil Patel stated that copy is the way you convey value to potential customers. I believe this is a perfect definition. Copy is the words on your website specifically with the goal of making people want to buy from you. It's important to have great copywriting because it can make or break a sale.
The copywriter’s goal is to make the website’s content interesting and engaging for the user. Copywriting can make or break a website. If the copy is boring, users will not stick around long enough to explore the rest of the site. However, if the copy is well-written and engaging, users will be more likely to stick around and explore the site.
Many businesses make the mistake of thinking that good design will make up for bad copy. This isn't true. In fact, I've seen many beautiful websites with terrible copy. The copy on your website is what makes visitors want to buy from you and, it's not good enough to just have a great design. To make a successful website, it needs words that make people want to do business with you.
A big reason so many businesses compete on price is that they can’t prove what value they offer, so they’re stuck with the one selling point that’s a breeze to communicate: cheapness. -Mish Slade
Copy can be broken down into three components:
- What the product does (functionality)
- Why they should use this product (benefits)
- How to use the product (instructions)
When you're writing your copy, make sure to hit on all three of these points. Be clear about what your product does and how it can benefit them. Also, make sure to give clear instructions on how to use your product. If people can't make sense of your product after reading the copy you write, it's unlikely they will make a purchase.
Another thing to keep in mind is that people make decisions on websites very quickly. If your website doesn't load fast and if the copy isn't captivating then it's going to be hard for you to make sales (or convince someone else of what you're trying to sell).
4. A Good Hosting Provider
A good hosting provider will make sure that your website is up and running at all times. It would be a nightmare if you launched an amazing new site, but it could never make money because the host was constantly down due to issues with databases or servers. In order for a website to make any progress whatsoever, this needs to be one of the first things you make sure of.
Many people make the mistake of going with one of the cheapest hosting providers available. This is somewhat understandable, but make sure that you are not compromising on performance in favor of saving a few dollars here and there. Remember, if the host has problems with their servers or databases (which can happen even to expensive hosts), your website will be down too!
One hosting provider that we highly recommend for WordPress is Cloudways. They are a managed cloud hosting platform that allows you to worry less about your website uptime and focus more on your business. When it comes to speed and reliability, they are hard to beat. So, if you are looking for a good host, make sure to check them out!
5. Security
According to Tech Jury, 30,000 sites are hacked daily and about 64% of companies have experienced some form of cyber attack. Website security is one of the most important elements that determine the success of a website. If you want to keep your website out of that 30,000, make sure to invest in a good security system to protect your site from hackers and malware.
Also, make sure you use a strong password as well as two-factor authentication when necessary. If possible, avoid using the same username and passwords across different websites. This way if one account is compromised, others aren't also at risk due to shared credentials.
One easy thing you can do for your security is to keep your plugins updated. This is one of the easiest ways to make your website secure. Updates not only improve functionality but can also patch known vulnerabilities.
If you're not sure where to start, consider using a security plugin like Wordfence, Sucuri or, Malcare. They offer features like malware scanning and firewall protection to help keep your website safe without much effort from you.
You'll also want to be sure that you have an SSL certificate on your website. While it doesn't make a site secure, SSL certificates make the data more secure while browsing and help boost credibility among your website visitors and in SEO rankings. Most site visitors are immediately turned off by seeing a red or yellow "Not Secure" warning at the beginning of a website.
6. Marketing Strategy
A website is nothing without a great marketing strategy. Without proper planning and execution, your website will not reach its full potential. You need to identify your target audience and create content that resonates with them. You also need to make sure your website is properly optimized for search engines so that it can be easily found by potential customers.
This element is important to a successful website because if people can't find it or don't know about it exists then there's no point in having one. Imagine your website is a billboard. If a car never drives by then what's the point?
An effective marketing strategy will increase brand awareness, attract more visitors to your site, and, ultimately, help your business make more sales.
Whether you decide to use Google Adwords, Facebook Ads or make your own marketing plan, make sure to follow it and measure the results. With these two together, you will be able to make sure you're making the most of your marketing dollars. Without them, you're just throwing darts in the dark. So, what's your plan?
7. Good User Experience
The user experience should always be in mind when building a website. Are you wondering why? Well, If you’re running a business, someone’s overall experience with your product or service could very well make the difference between whether they will buy, or more importantly, whether they will come back to buy again or look elsewhere next time.
If the user has an easy time navigating around and can make sense of what you are saying, then their experience will be positive! A simple design with nice graphics work wonders for some websites. Technology allows us to do a lot with websites in terms of design but, for the purposes of most websites, it isn't necessary.
A complex design can make it difficult for users to make sense of what you are saying. It is important that your website matches the tone of voice and content so that the user can easily understand your message and get what they need from your website.
Overall, you'll want to make sure that your website is user-friendly. The average person should be able to make their way around without any trouble. Navigation should be easy to spot and make use of, links shouldn't be broken, fonts shouldn't be too small or difficult to read, and the website should be visually appealing. If you need more info on making a website user-friendly, be sure to check out our post on the 5 Essential Components of a User-Friendly Website. If all these things are in check, then you're on your way to having a successful website!
8. Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization is the process of improving your site to increase its visibility when people search for products or services related to your business in Google, Bing, and other search engines. Making sure your website is search engine optimized is critical to make sure that you are reaching your target audience. SEO will help increase your website's visibility with organic traffic, allowing you to reach more people who are interested in what you have to offer for free. There are a variety of ways that you can make sure your website is as search engine friendly as possible, so make sure to do your research!
Now, this isn't something that is going to be a quick win. SEO is a long process so, you'll want to work on this while using your planned marketing strategy for short-term gains. But, if done correctly you will make sure your website climbs rankings to bring your organic traffic. Your site may even make it to the first page of search engine results.
Some common SEO techniques include using the correct keyword density, optimizing your images for search, and adding schema markup to your website's code. You can also improve your website's SEO ranking by creating high-quality content, building backlinks, and monitoring your website's performance.
SEO can be a bit of a complex topic, but following these simple steps will help in optimizing your website for search engines and make sure that more people can find and enjoy what you have to offer!
Conclusion
So, there you have it! The eight essential elements that every successful website needs. If you make sure to include these things in your website, then you're on the right track for making a website that will be profitable and helpful for your business. Have any questions or want more information? Be sure to leave us a comment below!
