Getting started with your small business website

Your website is more than a website. It’s an introduction, an invitation, a front window, and a way to show off the personality of your small business. Here are some tips and solutions for making your website stand out.

Making a small business website that works

Optimize your site

Incorporate a clear “call to action”: Offer website visitors options to engage with a call to action (CTA). It might be “click here,” “add to shopping cart” or “sign up for our newsletter”. Whatever the CTA is, explain why your visitor would want to act. One quick way to test how perceptible your CTAs are is to zoom out to 50% on your website browser. You should easily see the “click to buy” button.

Use a clean, simple design: Simplicity helps visitors focus and makes it easier to find and buy your products. Less is more.

Include your social media: Social media is an excellent platform for consumers to browse and/or buy. Offer social network sharing features from your website to encourage existing customers and browsers to share your content on their social accounts.

Highlight content “above the fold”: The online equivalent to the newspaper’s “above the fold” is what can be seen on a single screen without scrolling. This is your prime real estate where you can feature eye-catching information.

Display shipping terms prominently: Customers may abandon their shopping carts if they learn that the shipping price was higher than expected.

Make your site mobile friendly: Website design optimized for mobile devices makes it easier for mobile users to navigate.

While being online is vital, no two businesses need the same type of online presence. You may want a comprehensive site to display your business—or something simpler might resonate better. We have tips and solutions to help set up or upgrade your online store.

Turn browsers into buyers

52 %

of consumers surveyed say they would prefer to shop exclusively online.¹

80 %

of consumers prefer to shop where digitally-related benefits (web site and loyalty programs) are available.¹

¹Insights listed above are from Visa’s Digital Transformation Research, 2018 Maru/Matchbox survey.

If you’re ready to take your small business online, here are some tips and best practices to guide you through the process.

Keep it simple: Customers stay longer on user-friendly sites. Most customers will decide whether they want to browse and purchase within minutes. Discover how Wix can help build a simple site with impact.

Embrace the digital storefront: Allowing people to buy directly from your website makes it easier for your customers to buy directly from you, perhaps even in the comfort of their own homes. A good website solution provider takes the hard work out of selling online, helping you to set up a digital storefront for your business.

Enable site search: Customers expect to be able to visit a store and search for specific things like “blue women’s shoes.” Showing the most relevant products will greatly increase the likelihood that they’ll make it to checkout.

Content is key: Plan out what people will see and do when they visit your website. Many site visitors will not want to buy right away so give them reasons to visit and stay other than to buy. Learn how Wordpress can help make content consistent.

Include how-to guides: How-to guides and project templates help customers plan a project related to the product or service you sell. You may not get direct sales immediately, but keeping customers engaged and online means they will keep returning to your website.

Start small, then expand: Nail the basics first: products, services, hours, offerings, testimonials, and contact information. Features like subscriptions, bookings, and memberships may come later, unless they’re the focus of your business.

Beyond your site—get social: Social media can extend your company’s reach by giving potential customers another channel to engage with you. You can find some specific tips and solutions for social media in Getting started with advertising.

Website optimization solutions

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More digital starting points

Other guides for getting started with online optimization.

Getting started with online sales

Getting started with analytics

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This site provides general information related to creating and running a business. The content of this site is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal or tax advice or opinions. The contents of this site, and the viewing of the information on this site, should not be construed as, and should not be relied upon for, legal or tax advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. No action should be taken in reliance on the information contained on this site, and Visa Inc. disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this site to the fullest extent permitted by law. You should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal or tax issue or problem, including those relating to your current or potential business.

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