Whether you’re running a local coffee shop or an innovative tech startup, a professional website can make all the difference. It’s an integral part of any serious digital marketing strategy. Website development is a complex and time-intensive process. We’ve heard many horror stories from businesses that tried to cut costs with budget web builds or DIY solutions, only to face significant issues down the line. Here’s 7 reasons why it’s worth investing in a professional.
Professionalism and Credibility
Make a Great First Impression
First impressions matter! A professionally developed website can establish your small business as a credible and trustworthy provider in the eyes of potential customers.
Imagine a potential customer searching for a plumber in your area. They come across two websites: one that looks outdated and another that is sleek and modern. Which one do you think they’ll trust more? A well-designed website reflects positively on your brand and shows that you mean business. This credibility can decide whether a visitor chooses to engage with your company or move on to a competitor.
“50 milliseconds (that’s 0.05 seconds), 17 milliseconds in some cases, is all it takes for users to form an opinion about your website that determines whether they like it or not [Source: Google].”
Optimised User Experience
Keep Visitors Hooked
A seamless user experience can keep your visitors engaged and coming back for more. Professional web developers prioritise creating an intuitive user interface and seamless navigation.
Think about your own experiences online. How frustrating is it when you can’t find what you’re looking for? A well-designed website makes it easy for customers to find information, browse products, and complete purchases. For instance, if you run an online Pool Store, having clear categories, a search bar, and easy checkout options can significantly enhance the customer experience and increase sales. Just the same. What do you do next if an image won’t load on that same online pool shop? Yep! So would I.
Search Engine Visibility
Get Found Online
What good is a beautiful website if no one can find it? Professional web development includes optimising your site for search engines to improve your online visibility and attract more organic traffic.
For example, if you own a bakery in Elwood, you want people searching for “best cupcakes in Elwood” to find your website easily. Professional web developers know the ins and outs of SEO best practices, from optimising site structure to using the right keywords, ensuring your website ranks higher in search engine results and gets noticed by potential customers.
93% of online experiences begin with a search engine. (Source: Ahrefs, SEO Statistics 2024)
Responsive Design
Look Great on Any Device
In today’s mobile-first world, having a responsive website is crucial. A mobile-friendly, responsive website provides a consistent and optimal viewing experience across all devices.
Imagine a customer trying to browse your clothing store on their phone, but the site layout is everywhere. Frustrating, right? A responsive design ensures that your website looks and functions perfectly on desktops, tablets, and smartphones, providing a smooth experience for all users. With more people shopping on mobile devices, this is a game-changer.
Starting July 5, 2024, Google will fully transition to mobile-first indexing, using its mobile crawler to evaluate and index all websites. Sites with poor mobile usability or inaccessible content on mobile devices may be excluded from search results. To remain visible in Google’s search rankings, you must ensure your website is optimised for mobile.
Ongoing Maintenance and Updates
Stay Fresh and Secure
Websites aren’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. Regular maintenance, security updates, and content updates are essential to keeping your website current and functioning properly. Regarding ongoing maintenance, at OliDigital, we go a step further and allow you to see exactly what happens in real-time.
We have maintenance plans with extra development hours that you can use to update your website content. For instance, if you run a tech blog, you’d want to ensure that your website loads quickly, remains secure from cyber threats, and has the latest content. A professional web development team can handle these tasks, allowing you to focus on what you do best—running your business. They can also perform regular backups, troubleshoot issues, and keep your site running smoothly.
Google recommends that a website load in under 3 seconds, and statistics show that 40% will abandon a website that takes longer.
Customisation and Branding
Stand Out from the Crowd
Your website should reflect your brand’s unique identity. Professional web developers can tailor your website to align with your business’s brand, products, and services.
Let’s say you own a boutique hotel. Your website should showcase your beautiful rooms and convey the unique ambience and experience your guests can expect. Professional developers can incorporate your brand’s colours, fonts, and imagery to create a website that truly represents who you are and what you offer, making a lasting impression on visitors.
Conversion Optimisation
Turn Visitors into Customers
At the end of the day, your website’s goal is to drive conversions—in short, make your visitors do something measurable and significant to your business, whether that’s making a sale, capturing a lead, or getting someone to sign up for your newsletter. A well-designed website with strategic calls-to-action (CTA) and conversion-focused elements can help drive more leads, sales, and revenue for your small business.
For instance, if you run a fitness coaching business, professional developers can design your website to include compelling calls-to-action like “Book a Free Consultation” or “Join Our Fitness Challenge.” They can also optimise landing pages to ensure they are persuasive and visually appealing, leading to higher conversion rates and more business for you.
“70% of small business websites lack a Call to Action (CTA) on their homepage “ (Small Business Trends 2023)
A CTA is a clear instruction literally telling visitors what to do next. Without a clear CTA, website visitors might not take the desired action, hindering conversions and your ROI.
Oli’s Take
Investing in professional website development services can pay off in the long run. It’s not just about having a website—it’s about having a powerful online presence that attracts, engages, and converts visitors into loyal customers.
So, if you’re ready to take your small business to the next level, consider partnering with our professional web development team at OliDigital. We have the expertise to create a website that not only looks great but also performs exceptionally well.
Remember, your website is often the first interaction potential customers have with your business. Make it count!