An Internet presence has become a standard necessity in any business.  Just having a website is not going to do.  An effective website must work to bring in the business you need to succeed. Here are ways a business can design a website that works to attract the clients and business. 

1. Show the Real You. When you say you are a caring company, people want to see that reflected in your website. That means carefully selecting everything that goes on it including photos and the web copy that let you portray the professionals that you say you are.  

2. Have a Simple Layout. Make it easy for web visitors to navigate your site. This doesn’t mean you have to hire an expensive website designer, it means being sure people can see how to go between pages without getting lost. Be sure you basic contact information appears on every page.

3. Make it Attractive. Make your website attractive to your target audience. If you are in a serious profession, don’t use a cartoon or comic look but instead opt for the professional look even using professional settings or people in the graphics. Of course, use the cartoons or other images if that fits your audience.  

4. Consider Demographics. Always think about the age and generation of your target group. If you focus on an older audience such as senior citizens, avoid flashing icons and a lot of clip art that will make the site look busy and overwhelming. If you have a young audience this might work just fine. For the Boomer professional audience, consider either a well-suited business professional or keep the design casual if it works for your business.  

5. Use SEO.  Use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques in your writing and web content. Good web content lets your web visitor immediately know what your company is about and what’s available for the consumer. SEO means using the right keywords that you site visitor will look for when they land on your home page. Keep your content fresh and updated. Research the keywords that work best for your content and webpage headings and use them  

6. Make it Fast. Be sure the web pages load quickly. Web research says you a web visitor will often click away in as little as four to seven seconds. That means if the person has to wait a long time for you site to load, she might click away. Use small optimized photos to show your products that don’t take a long time to load.  

7. Keep Focused. Keep your site focused on the obvious topic of the site. Visitors will get confused on a site that splits its focus between several different topics.  If you are selling coaching, resist the urge to also sell crafts and jewelry. Maintaining a tight focus helps to build a customer base. If you want to sell another product, place each on a separate webpage or start another website for it.  

Creating an effective website is important for business success. Some consumers are still intimidated by the Internet so opt for a simple point and click method of navigation instead of using fancy graphics that are not obviously links and navigation menu items. If your site looks complicated, many customers will pass. Use these tips to design a business website that works to build your business bottom line.