Three Non-Negotiable Features of Successful Websites

For every truly excellent website there are at least ten mediocre sites that simply don't have the ability to drive success in the ways that business owners really want to see. We're taking the fact that you're here reading this as a sign that you're eager to ensure that your website sits firmly within the "excellent" category and never ever slips towards "mediocre". Although every great website utilises its own unique combination of features to drive success, there are a small handful of cornerstone elements that they have in common.

If you want your digital presence to thrive and not fall at the first hurdle, here are three non-negotiable features that your website must incorporate.

1. First Class Functionality

It's almost too easy to get caught up with everything from eye-catching animations to unique colour schemes, but fundamentally your website is one of the most important tools your business has at its disposal. This means that if you fail to pay close enough attention to the functionality of your website, you're risking providing your audience with something that they simply find too difficult or frustrating to use.

From responsive design to intuitive navigation, you need your website to appeal directly to your target audience in every possible way. If it doesn't function properly on your audience's favourite devices or if they don't have easy access to the specific pieces of information they're looking for, they're going to leave and take their business elsewhere. Ouch! Right? That hurts to hear. But it's supposed to because we really don't want you to make this all-too-common oversight. Instead, it should result in this!...

2. Operational Optimisation

Let's take a moment to think about the most valuable thing we have. It's something we can't control. It's something we certainly never get back. And it's something that really flies when we'd all like it to slow down a bit. That's right; it's time.

Your audience's time is really valuable, so you don't want to present them with a website that is going to take up too much of it. Of course, you want them to engage with your content and ideally go on to make a purchase, but if they feel as though you are wasting their time, they aren't going to have a particularly good impression of your business. There are many ways that your website could needlessly fritter away time, but what we're really getting at here is that if your site is too slow, it's not going to drive the outcomes you want to see.

3. Supercharged Security

Customers are becoming wiser to the issue of cyber-crime and it goes without saying that keeping your visitors' data safe is critical. If you want to win the trust of your prospective customers, you're going to have to demonstrate that you take security super seriously. It's important to remember that your audience doesn't know you, so the onus is on you to prove that you have earned their business.

We're sure you've noticed, but building amazing websites that work hard for their businesses is kind of our thing. So, if you'd like to explore your options in more detail, give us a call.