Photo by Igor Miske on Unsplash

Essential Website Design Considerations for Small Businesses

Tips for choosing domain names and setting up your website to get results

Domain Names

Your domain name is your address on the internet. You want to choose a domain name that is easy to remember, SEO-friendly and relevant to your brand.

1. Choose a .com top-level domain (TLD) extension if yours is a business/for-profit brand. .com is the most recognised and easily remembered top-level domain. Unfortunately, it means that most of the good names are already gone so you might have to be creative.
2. Consider using one of the newer domain extensions if your .com is unavailable. This is a controversial recommendation as many are split on consumers’ trust and perception of these. You can read more about the concerns about these novelty domains here.
3. Choose a .org TLD if your brand is a non-profit
4. If you operate solely within a specific geographic area, like say, Trinidad and Tobago, and your .com is unavailable, consider going with .co.tt or .tt.
5. If your branded domain name of choice is unavailable, consider using a keyword domain like sanfernandodrycleaners.com if your drycleaningbusinessname.com is not available.
6. Make your domain name short and memorable. About 15 characters or less is recommended. In other words, if your business name is Sons and Daughters of the East-West Corridor Company Limited, I do not recommend a website named sonsanddaughtersoftheeastwestcorridorcompanyltd.com. Find a way to shorten it.

Website Builders

1. Wix.com
2. Squarespace.com

You can build a website for yourself using these sites’ templates but you can also hire out the job to consultants on fiverr.com or another service.

If you decide to go with a WordPress site, check out the following sites for theme options that can be customised to your industry:

1. TemplateMonster
2. ThemeForest

The templates on these sites are arranged into industry categories and you can purchase the ones you like, then hire someone to customise it for you.

You can hire a web designer you know to customise it for you, or you can visit Fiverr or other freelance consulting sites to hire a designer or WordPress specialist.

Tips for Designing Your Website

1. Ensure that visitors are clear about who you are and what you do or offer.
2. Clearly communicate your WHY and your value proposition
3. Don’t go crazy with the copy. Less is more… especially above the fold… that is the area of the website you see before you start scrolling
4. Make sure all your critical navigation and information are above the fold
5. Make sure your website is organised logically and don’t try to be cute with your headings
6. Use conversational, simple language. Write/speak like you’re having a conversation
7. Use good grammar and double-check your spelling
8. Remember to use keywords to help naturally boost your search engine rankings
9. Remember to place a lead magnet or lead generator on your website so you can collect email addresses from your subscribers
10. Include a clear call to action… Learn More, Buy Now, Subscribe, Download etc… on every page
11. Be sure to provide contact information and include your social media handles. Make it easy for visitors to contact you
12. Build trust. Remember you’re establishing your position and your expertise. Be sure to include media appearances, awards and testimonials
13. Don’t go crazy with the colour scheme. Pick a palette that’s complementary to your brand
14. The bottom line is to design and build your website with your goals and your user experience in mind