With the rise and rise of social media, you might be wondering if you actually need a website? Well, you do if you want total control over your business’s online profile. A finely tuned website is a key marketing tool to complement your social media efforts. Here are my top six traits of winning websites:
1. KISS Design
The most effective websites are simple ones, you know how the saying goes,"Keep it Simple..." As a lash and brow artist you are a creative type, but don’t let your creativity get in the way of a simple, functional website design.
Your website must be easy to navigate so your customers can easily find what they are looking for.
2. Targeted Information
The best websites know what visitors want and convey that information quickly and clearly with as few clicks as possible. Spend some time researching what other popular sites are doing and be sure that you’re speaking to your customers in a way they understand.
3. Lookbook
You're in the business of beauty and your customers want to see your work. Show them your best before and after pics in a gallery. This is the “proof” your potential customers need.
4. Contact Information
Make sure that your contact form and phone number is easily accessible, ideally present on all pages “above the fold” (visible without having to scroll down the page). Getting your visitors to pick up the phone or submit a form is your #1 goal, make it easy.
5. Highly Mobile
Your clientele is spending more time than ever browsing your services while they are on the move. Your website must fluidly adapt to any screen size from mobile to tablet to desktop. This enables your customers to enjoy an optimal experience on any device. “Responsive” templates today are commonplace and inexpensive. Use one!
6. Sharable
Finally, you must make it easy for your visitors to share your site/pages on social media. "Social sharing button" plugins are essential and easily added via plugins on all of the major website platforms. You've put in the effort to publish great content, so if your customers love it, give them the chance to share it!
The list of top traits really does go on, and on, and on… I’m sure I’ll come back to this list and expand on it at some point.
What’s worked for you on your website? Is it actually delivering you new customers?
