It’s іmроrtаnt fоr a buѕіnеѕѕ оwnеr tо рау сlоѕе аttеntіоn tо thе dо’ѕ аnd dоn’tѕ оf e-commerce wеbѕіtеѕ. Knоwіng whаt drives сuѕtоmеrѕ аwау is thе fіrѕt ѕtер іn сrеаtіng a checkout еxреrіеnсе that mаkеѕ сuѕtоmеrѕ hарру. A ѕаtіѕfіеd сuѕtоmеr tells thеіr frіеndѕ аnd fаmіlу, аnd thаt lеаdѕ to mоrе ѕаlеѕ аnd mоrе wоrd-оf-mоuth rесоmmеndаtіоnѕ.

Nоwаdауѕ whеn Internet uѕеrѕ are аwаrе оf реrѕоnаl dаtа ѕесurіtу, сuѕtоmеr rіghtѕ аnd website's ѕесurіtу brеасh іѕѕuеѕ іt іѕ іmроrtаnt tо knоw thе mаіn соnсеrnѕ rеlаtеd tо mаnаgіng a wеbѕіtе оr a ѕhорріng cart.

How to get your company on Page 1 of Search (for the right keywords!)

1. A Superfast Website

I’ve placed this at no1 because there is no way around it. You need a fast website to rank high in Google/Yahoo. Many designers are brilliant at designing but lack the technical know-how on how to build a fast, efficient website. Just making a website look good is not enough anymore. It has to load quick, with few server requests and a homepage that loads fast.

2. Mobile Responsive

You probably heard this before but it really can’t be ignored anymore. Your business needs a website that displays correctly on mobiles and other handheld devices. It will affect your bounce rate and Google also won’t rank your website in search if it is not mobile ready.

3. If Possible, Insert Your Keyword in Your Url!

This one is huge. You must, if at all possible, have your keywords in your domain name( Like PaarlWebDesign.co.za for instance ) I can’t recommend it more strongly. This can help your page ranking quicker. Click here if you want to order your domain name

4. Optimized Images With the Correct Alt Text

Optimized images is a great way to get your site ranked easily in image search. Many users search this way, for instance for property websites or home organizing tips. An excellent way to get you high up in the results

5. Great Original Content

Write as much as you can in your own words. The search engine algorithm can “read” if an expert in their field has written an article. You are the expert in your business and no one knows it better than you. Get writing as soon as possible and decide on a realistic schedule for your blog or news section. Then get your local Web guy to upload it, optimized for SEO and ready to be found.

6. Unique Page Headers & Descriptions for Each Page for the Correct Keywords

Plugging your page full of keywords has long ago gone out of fashion and will probably get you penalized in search if you try to do it. But a good quality description will help your ranking and potential click rate as the menu description is often what a user sees right under your page header.

7. Get Quality Backlinks

There is no way around it. Good quality links with high page authority are a must and it takes time. In the past unscrupulous SEO Experts would flood a site with fake links but that will get you penalized very quickly these days. Build it slowly with the right type of links and you will soon see the results

8. Proper Internal Link Structure

Your internal links are important to Google and your customers. It shows the search engine what you deem important and it helps your customers find your product. Use the correct keywords in the internal links as well. Don’t just say “Click Here”

9. Add the Physical Location of Your Business if Possible

This will help your business appear in Google Maps and it makes it easier for potential customers to find your location. A win for everyone

10. Run an AdWords Campaign

Because ranking high takes time I always suggest to my clients that we run a small campaign until the organic ranking kicks in. It helps to get you at the top quickly and the business coming in. You are in charge of the budget so you control how much you spend.

What does your company’s homepage say about you? Effective homepage design is one of the key starting points for all website design projects.

The top half of your website, above the fold, needs to be your bragging space. This is where you highlight your special product/service/information. This is your first chance to grab a visitor’s attention and hold it so make sure you choose carefully what to display here.

With the increase in mobile internet usage people are more likely to scroll next, rather than click on an object, so what comes next is also extremely important.

The next section should be a list of your services or products with a bit more info about each offering which then clicks through to the individual sections. Internal links also give Google a better indication of what you see as important and will therefor rank those pages higher.

The section below this should highlight your reputation either through testimonials or rewards etc that your company has received. This is where you show them how good you are through reviews from others.

Right at the bottom of the homepage, and every other page on your site, should be your contact details, address with Google Maps click through, email address. Make it really easy for clients to find you. Don’t make them work for the info.

You may want to add more sections to the above like latest news but be careful here. Anything you add here could add significant the loading time of your homepage which will influence your bounce rate(the rate at which people leave after landing). For instance, social media feeds ads significantly to this as it has to pull the data from the various social media platforms. It’s best to rather include a link to your Facebook or Instagram account.

Some important things to consider when designing your homepage

• Is your brand image displayed throughout the design?
• What are you selling?
• What are your clients looking for?
• What type of customers are you targeting?
• Are you answering their questions effectively?
• Is it displaying correctly on all devices?
• Is it super-fast?
• Can they easily contact you, get directions etc?

But the biggest question of all that most companies overlook is:

• Are you solving their problem? This is the most important end goal for any homepage.

Contact us today to see how we can transform your homepage, website and digital footprint.