Small business website optimization includes various aspects – including design. However, by design I don’t mean just the appearance or flashy graphics. There’s more to it than that…

Firstly, it’s a matter of being user friendly. Now it may sound stupid- yet many people get it wrong. Is it easy to get to any part of your website? Is it logically laid out? Some website designers are incredibly intelligent – but they forget the average visitor to the site is not…

Secondly, it is a matter of functionality – does your small business website do what it has to in the right places? Is there a contact form on your site? Is it easy to find?

Thirdly, it is a matter of a “clean” layout – is everything easy to find, or is there unnecessary clutter that distracts from your website’s real function? Keep in mind that your website’s only aim should be to bring you new clients – anything else is merely a distraction.

Lastly – how fast does your website load? Statistics have proven that the average visitor leaves within just a few seconds if he or she cannot see the main content of your site yet – so drop the fancy graphics before it costs you customers…

Most people think that small business website design is simply about “making it look nice”, and appearing professional. However, the appearance means nothing if the visitor leaves because it takes too long to load, or cannot find what he or she is looking for immediately.

Considering all the work and effort it takes to get people to your site, can you really risk throwing them away? Think of it this way: How much money would you be throwing away if you lost a reasonable portion of your visitors?

You website should be pleasing to the eye and easy to read – fair enough – but not at the cost of business optimization (or prospective clients…).