Is your website optimised? Consider adding these features
So your website looks good and sells well, but can you add new features to improve its performance? Let’s look into the many website components you might like to consider adding to your site to make it even more effective.
Website features for ultimate website optimisation:
1 - Mobile responsiveness
As more people use mobile devices to browse, you need to design your website for easy mobile viewing. This will ensure users have a seamless experience no matter what device they’re using.
Mobile responsiveness means that your website is easily accessible and user-friendly across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops. Visitors can navigate your site effortlessly without having to zoom in or out, leading to higher engagement and satisfaction. This can result in higher conversion rates and better overall performance.
Search engines like Google favour mobile-friendly websites, meaning a mobile-responsive site helps you rank better in search results. The faster loading speeds make websites better for users while improving SEO rankings. In today's digital landscape, having a mobile-responsive website is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
2 - Search engine optimisation (SEO)
By using SEO techniques on your website, you can boost your search engine rankings and attract more visitors to your site. This can lead to more visibility, organic traffic, and ultimately more potential customers finding your site.
SEO optimisation includes using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and optimising your site's meta tags. This involves optimising your website's structure, content, and design, which can also improve the overall user experience.
Compared to traditional advertising methods, SEO is a cost-effective way to promote your website and attract quality traffic. While SEO requires ongoing effort and monitoring, the results can be long-lasting. By updating your website and keeping up with SEO trends, you can maintain or improve your search engine rankings in the long run.
Users often perceive websites that appear higher in search results as more trustworthy and credible. By implementing SEO best practices, you can establish your website as a reliable source of information in your industry. Getting on page 2 or lower drastically reduces the number of users that will find - and visit - your website.
Integrating SEO into your website strategy is essential for increasing visibility, attracting relevant traffic, and ultimately growing your online presence.
3 - Social media integration
Add social sharing buttons to your website so visitors can easily share your content on social media. When visitors share your content on social media, it can lead to increased exposure for your brand and website. This word-of-mouth promotion can attract new visitors who may not have discovered your site otherwise. Social proof can make people more likely to trust your website and buy from it. This can help increase engagement and sales on your site.
Additionally, social media integration can improve your website's SEO performance. When people share your content on social media, it can generate backlinks to your site, which can improve your search engine rankings.
4 - User-friendly navigation
Make sure your website is easy to use, and that visitors can quickly find the information they need. This will help improve user experience and keep visitors on your site longer.
Improving website usability means making it easy to navigate, search, and understand. User-friendly navigation encourages visitors to interact with your content, leading to higher engagement levels. Think of it as an opportunity to guide them through the site, rather than letting them find their own way. This can help visitors take important actions on your website, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
A clear and easy-to-use website can lower the bounce rate, meaning fewer visitors leave after looking at just one page.
User-friendly navigation can also benefit your website's SEO efforts. Search engines value websites that provide a good user experience, including easy navigation and clear site structure. By optimising your navigation for both users and search engines, you can potentially improve your search rankings and visibility.
5 - Call-to-action buttons (CTAs)
Encourage visitors to act on your website by including clear and compelling call-to-action buttons. CTAs are essential elements that guide visitors on what actions to take next, ultimately leading to conversions. By strategically placing CTAs throughout your website, you can increase the chances of converting visitors into leads or customers.
Make it easy for visitors to navigate your site, improving their experience and keeping them interested in your content. This helps direct visitor behaviour by guiding them towards the actions you want them to take. CTAs guide visitors to download resources, subscribe to services, or explore products, helping them find what they need easily.
By tracking the performance of your CTAs, you can also gather valuable data on visitor behaviour and conversion rates. This data can help you optimise your CTAs for better results and tailor your website strategy to meet your goals.
6 - Blog
Sharing insights and becoming an authority in your field through a blog can help attract more visitors to your site. Including a blog on your website can be a valuable addition to your online presence. A blog allows you to regularly publish fresh and relevant content, which can help attract more visitors to your site.
Having a blog can also improve your website's search engine optimisation (SEO) efforts. Search engines like Google tend to favour websites that regularly update their content, and a blog is a great way to achieve this. To rank higher in search engine results, use keywords in your blog posts and create quality content.
A blog can also help engage your audience and encourage repeat visits to your site. People who enjoy your blog posts are likely to come back to your website again. This increased engagement can lead to higher conversion rates and improved customer loyalty.
Adding a blog to your website can help improve your site's strategy in a number of ways. It can increase traffic, boost SEO, engage your audience, and establish your authority in your field. A versatile feature that complements other elements of your website.
7 - Lead magnet
Lead magnets are powerful tools for capturing leads and building your email list. By offering something of value to your visitors, you can entice them to share their contact information with you. This allows you to nurture these leads over time, build relationships, and eventually convert them into customers. For instance, a free download or special content can motivate people to sign up for your newsletter.
Lead magnets boost audience engagement by offering useful content or resources that meet your visitors' needs or interests. By providing valuable insights, information, or resources, you demonstrate your expertise and credibility to your audience. This can help build trust and loyalty among your visitors.
By strategically placing lead magnets throughout your site, you can guide visitors towards taking specific actions. This can help move visitors further down the sales funnel and increase your conversion rates.
8 - Links page
A links page helps bring people from social media to important parts of your website, like products, services, or key pages. Consider it a hub where you can showcase important links to your audience (here’s my own links page as an example). This focused approach can help streamline the user journey and encourage users to take desired actions on your website.
By promoting this links page on social media platforms, you can increase visibility and strategic engagement.
Bonus tip: A links page also makes a brilliant digital alternative to a business card, especially if you team it with a QR code that you can have on your phone ready for a new contact to scan!
9 - Sales landing page
A sales landing page is a standalone web page created specifically for a marketing or advertising campaign. It prompts visitors to take action, like making a purchase, signing up, or accessing a resource. Focusing on one clear action and removing distractions can boost conversions and help generate more leads or sales.
With a dedicated sales landing page, you can track the performance of your advertisements or marketing campaigns more effectively. Track metrics like conversion rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates to understand how well your campaign is performing.
Use engaging images, strong text, and clear buttons to capture attention, gain trust, and motivate visitors to take action. Address specific pain points, highlight key benefits, and offer tailored solutions. This increases the relevance of your message and connects with visitors on a deeper level, ultimately driving conversions.
10 - Newsletter signup
Don't forget to include a newsletter sign-up form to capture leads and nurture customer relationships. Think of your newsletter subscribers as your most committed followers. They have, quite literally, asked you to keep them updated on your business. Let visitors subscribe to your newsletter to keep in touch, share helpful content, and promote your products or services.
A newsletter list also helps you gather important information about your subscribers. This allows you to provide content that aligns with their interests and needs, helping you build a loyal audience, increase brand recognition, and drive sales.
11 - Resources
A resources page is a directory where you can offer resources like affiliate links, digital downloads, or products. Having a central spot for personally recommended resources can enhance visitor value. It can also highlight your industry expertise and increase engagement on your website.
Additionally, a well-curated resources page can help drive traffic, improve SEO by generating internal links, and even create monetisation opportunities through affiliate marketing.
12 - VIP area
A VIP area is a private area of your website, only accessible to signed up members. A VIP area offers exclusivity, increasing subscriptions and engagement while fostering a closer, more loyal community. You can attract users to join your VIP community by offering exclusive content, special deals, or advanced features.
Many brands are moving their audiences away from social media and into community groups and private messaging. A VIP area on your website could be an ideal way of doing this. Users who have access to a VIP area are more likely to engage with your website on a deeper level. This could entail special talks, premium resources, and connection with other members. Having a VIP area can strengthen relationships with your audience and create loyalty among your most dedicated users.
Website features in conclusion
By including these features in your website, you can maximise its potential and improve its performance. Consider working with a web developer or designer to help implement these features effectively.
Which of these website features would suit your website strategy?