Creating a website can be challenging, but it's essential for any business or individual looking to establish a strong online presence.

A well-designed website can attract more customers, increase brand awareness, and ultimately drive more sales, while a poorly-designed website can drive your visitors away.

According to the latest statistics:

• Nearly 1 out of 3 businesses still don't have a website. (Source: Forbes) 
• 94% of a website's first impressions are design-related. (Source: Research Gate) 
• 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience. (Source: HubSpot) 
• 67% of consumers are more likely to purchase from mobile-friendly sites. (Source: Google) 
• Businesses with a website grow 2.5 times faster than those without. (Source: Small Business Administration)

Creating an effective and engaging website requires careful consideration of all the elements that make it up. In this article, we'll outline 7 of the most important things to include when creating your website.

These important items include such the website's purpose, phone number and call to action, custom photos and videos, FAQs, pricing, testimonials, awards, and Google My Business page.

By following this checklist, you'll be able to create a winning website that will help you establish a strong online presence and attract more customers. Let's get started.

#1: What is the Purpose of the Website? 

The purpose of your website should be the first thing you consider when creating it. Are you looking to sell products or services? Provide information? Entertain? Provide validation?

Knowing the purpose of your website will help you design or redesign it in a way that achieves your goals. For example, if you're trying to sell products, you'll want to include a clear call to action and easy-to-use navigation that makes it easy for visitors to find what they're looking for. Images of your products should also be front and center.

If you're trying to provide information, you'll want to ensure the information is easy to find and understand. Your website's pages should also know why a user is reading them and how to solve their issue as quickly as possible.

Knowing exactly what goal(s) you want to achieve with your website will help you construct it effectively. A website without a purpose is like taking a road trip without a destination. It could be fun if that's your thing, but also cost you a lot of time and money.

#2: Phone Number & Call To Action 

Including a prominent phone number and call to action on your website is crucial. This means the phone number and call to action need to be immediately visible upon visiting your website.

Visitors will appreciate the convenience of being able to call you directly, and it will also increase the likelihood of them reaching out to you. A call to action can be something as simple as a button that says "Contact Us" or "Book a Consultation."

If you go to your website right now and don't see your phone number or a call to action, you need to fix this ASAP!

Make it easy for visitors to reach out to you, and they will be more likely to do so.

#3: Real Photos & Video 

Custom photos and videos are a great way to showcase your products or services and make a strong visual impression on visitors.

Quality photos immediately establish authenticity with your business, as potential customers get to see examples of your work and proof that you are a real company with real results.

Video production pushes this even further by serving as an easily digestible greeting for the customer. This gives them a stronger connection to who you are, your company's values, offerings and more.

Using high-quality images and videos can help visitors understand what you're offering and make them more likely to take action. If you're not a professional photographer, it's worth investing in one to take high-quality images of your products or services.

Pictures of Your Team

If you're a local business, having images of you or your team is a very important step. To push this further and make a stronger impression, have each person's photo accompanied by a short bio outlining their qualifications and experience.

This can build trust with visitors and add a personal touch to your website. Visitors will appreciate seeing who they'll be working with, and it can also help visitors connect with your company on a personal level.

#4: FAQs & Answers About Your Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be a great way to provide visitors with the information they need without them having to reach out to you. This can help save you time and reduce the number of contacts you receive that aren't qualified.

Include answers to common questions about your services and products, such as how they work, their cost, and how to use them. Make sure you include detailed answers that explain clearly how your services work, the benefits of using them and why they should choose you.

#5: Pricing

When it comes to pricing, transparency is key.

Visitors will appreciate it if you are upfront about the cost of your products or services. This can help prevent visitors from feeling like they're being taken advantage of and can increase the likelihood of them taking action.

Be sure to include the prices of your products or services on your website, and make sure they are easy to find. Being upfront about any additional charges or fees will give customers an accurate idea of what to expect when working with you.

Adding pricing to your website also reduces the amount of unqualified leads or contacts you'll receive, and increase the chances that a lead will convert since they know exactly what they'll be paying.

#6: Testimonials & Awards

Testimonials and awards are great ways to build credibility with visitors. Share testimonials from satisfied customers and any awards or certifications you have earned.

You can have customers submit new testimonials or take reviews from 3rd party websites like Google, Yelp, BBB or Facebook.

It's more effective if you include a photo of the customer, and the most effective if you can get their testimonial on video.

This can help visitors see that you're a reputable and trustworthy business and increase the likelihood of them taking action. Customers are more likely to make a purchase if they can read real reviews from previous clients who have had success working with you.

#7: Google My Business Page

Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to manage your business information on Google. Having a Google My Business page is essential if you want to ensure your website appears in search engine results.

Make sure to include all the relevant information on your "My Business" page, such as contact details and services offered. You should also add images and videos to give customers a better idea of what they can expect from working with you.

Once your Google My Business profile is all set up, it's important to embed your page onto your website. Preferably, your My Business embed would go in the footer or Contact Page of your website.

Follow this guide to learn how to embed your Google Business page onto your website: Embed a Google My Business Listing

Conclusion 

In conclusion, creating a website that is both effective and engaging requires careful consideration of all the elements that make it up. Building an effective website takes time and effort, but it's worth it for the long-term success of your business.

By including the items outlined in this article, you'll be able to create a winning website that will help you establish a strong online presence and attract more customers.

If you are not confident in your ability to make the necessary changes to your website or don't have the time to do it, we'd love to have the opportunity to help you with our Website Design Services.