Every website is as unique as the business it belongs to, but there are some essentials that every site needs to get right.
It’s not about how many pages you have on your website, whether you’re running a massive e-commerce store or a cozy non-profit. It’s about making sure you have the right ones to give your visitors the best experience possible.
1. Home
Your homepage is the heart of your website and usually the first place visitors land. Make it count with a strong headline that tells people what you do, how you do it, and why it matters to them. Your homepage should introduce your business and guide visitors to explore further.
- Engage Immediately: Use eye-catching visuals and a clear, compelling message to grab attention right away.
- Key Information: Highlight the main benefits of your products or services and what sets you apart from the competition.
- Call to Action: Encourage visitors to take the next step, whether it’s exploring your products, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you.
2. About
Your About page often comes in second for most visits. Many businesses overlook this page, but it’s a golden opportunity to connect with your audience. Remember, it’s not actually about you; it’s about how you can help your customers. Talk directly to them, highlighting how you understand their needs and how you’re the perfect fit to help.
- Tell Your Story: Share the journey of your business, including your mission, vision, and values.
- Customer Focused: Emphasize how your experiences and values translate into benefits for your customers.
- Build Trust: Include personal anecdotes, team bios, and images to create a more relatable and trustworthy impression.
3. Products/Services
Each product or service should have its own page. These pages let you showcase what you offer and explain why it’s perfect for your potential customers. Plus, individual pages are great for SEO and targeted advertising, giving you more chances to be found online.
- Detailed Descriptions: Provide clear, detailed descriptions of each product or service, including key features and benefits.
- Visual Appeal: Use high-quality images or videos to showcase your offerings in the best light.
- User-Friendly: Make it easy for visitors to understand and navigate through your products or services, with clear calls to action for purchasing or inquiries.
Here is a more in depth look at what your product page should have.
4. Reviews/Testimonials
Social proof is powerful. Create a page that features glowing reviews from your happy customers. These testimonials build trust and can be the nudge a potential customer needs to choose you. For some services, before-and-after images can be particularly convincing.
- Authentic Feedback: Use genuine reviews and testimonials from real customers to build credibility.
- Diverse Perspectives: Showcase a range of reviews that highlight different aspects of your products or services.
- Visual Testimonials: Include photos or videos of satisfied customers, and before-and-after shots where applicable, to add an extra layer of trust.
5. Blog
A blog isn’t a must for every business, but it’s a fantastic way to share news, tips, and insights. Use your blog to talk about new products, share helpful tips, and keep your audience engaged. A good blog can also boost your SEO efforts, helping more people find you online.
- Regular Updates: Keep your blog updated regularly with fresh content to keep your audience engaged and returning for more.
- Valuable Content: Share tips, industry news, and insights that provide real value to your audience.
- SEO Benefits: Use relevant keywords and topics to improve your search engine rankings and attract more visitors.
6. Contact
Your Contact page is a no-brainer. It’s where visitors go to find out how to get in touch. Include your phone number, email, and physical address if you have one. Make it easy for people to reach you, and consider adding a contact form for convenience.
- Clear Information: Provide all necessary contact details, including phone numbers, email addresses, and your physical address if applicable.
- Easy to Use: Include a simple contact form to make it easy for visitors to reach out without leaving the page.
- Additional Info: Offer additional information like business hours, a map of your location, and links to social media profiles.
If you’re not sure what to include on your contact page, here is a list to get you started.
7. Privacy Policy
In today’s world, privacy is a big deal. Your Privacy Policy page should clearly explain how you handle user data. Depending on your location, you might need to include details on how users can request their data to be deleted. This page builds trust and ensures you’re transparent about data protection. For a more info check out this post.
- Transparency: Clearly explain what data you collect, how it’s used, and how it’s protected.
- Legal Requirements: Ensure your privacy policy complies with all relevant laws and regulations, such as GDPR or CCPA.
- User Rights: Inform visitors of their rights regarding their personal data, including how they can request deletion or updates.
A great tool for Privacy Policies and Terms of Use is Termageddon. Termageddon will help you generate your policies and will even automatically update your website policies when the laws change (as well as notify you when changes are coming), and they do it at a fraction of the cost of a privacy lawyer.
If you want a sneaky 10% off your first year with Termageddon, use the promo code SWIFT at the checkout
No matter the size of your business, having these essential pages will help ensure your website provides a great experience for your visitors.
