Whether you’re in DIY mode or looking to work with a professional web designer it’s incredibly important that your website contains the right functionality. Your website is a lot like have a virtual assistant that working for you 24/7! But, if your website isn’t properly optimized, it actually can work against you.

Here are seven tips to help you instantly improve your website and start gaining more traction and website conversions.

1. Easy Navigation

It’s important to keep the navigation of your website straightforward and simple. You should have a primary site navigation at the header of your website as well as deeper navigation placed at the footer of your website if you have more on your website. You want to make it easy for website visitors to quickly navigate from page to page and access the “home” page from any page by clicking your title or logo on your header.

3. Consistent Branding

Having strong, consistent branding across across all digital touch points is very important. Color scheme is key if you want to improve your website. Your brand should consist of 5-6 colors. You should typically use one dominant color in logos, marketing collateral, etc., have one to two complimentary colors for CTA’s, links, and secondary text and a neutral color for backgrounds. Along with these you will have shade of white or cream and black or charcoal for fonts.

3. Use High Quality Images

I can not stress this one enough! You know the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. That couldn’t be more true for your website. Make sure you at least have a professional headshot but plan on having a professional brand photo shoot during your first year, especially if your business is a personal brand. During my design process, I professionally source and curate high quality images that reflect my client’s brand and offerings. If you are diy’ing it, make sue you are using high quality stock images. I recommend Haute Stock. Their images are stunning and there are over 3,000 to choose from with more added each month. They recently added videos, too, which can always add a extra pop to your website.

4. Great Copy

Only focusing on the design of your website and not paying attention to the website copy is a major mistake. Every single line of your copy on your website should help visitors accomplish or learn something. Tone and style are crucial when it comes to your website copy, it needs to reflect your businesses brand. It’s important to use your “customers voice” to show your visitors you speak their language and understand their problems. Copy Uncorked has great resources for helping your craft excellent copy.

5. Sell The Solution, Not The Problem

Show the value of your product or service. Addressing your visitors challenges and struggles, then demonstrate how you’re the solution to the problem. This works 10x better than simply stating who you are and your service or product.

6. Include Reviews

Reviews are a great way to instill trust in potential clients. You can also highlight results your clients have received by sharing case studies or design projects. You can add also a “featured” section to your about or home page. This is a great way to build credibility with website visitors and improve your website conversion.

PRO TIP: Ask for the review immediately after your client receives their completed project or experiences great results from your products.

7. Call To Action

This is the money-maker, right here! One of the biggest mistakes I see with websites is a lack of clear call to actions. You can’t just assume that website visitors will know what to do. Make the next steps clear by providing a relevant call to action on each section of your website. This includes “Learn More”, “Book Now” or “Get The Guide” placed strategically and frequently on each page to lead them to the next step. Includes ” How It Works” or “Next Steps” sections on your products or services pages helps your potential clients understand the process and make decisions faster, too.

If you’re in the just getting started phase of your business or ready for rebrand, you may be interested in my Dream Business By Design Bundle. All of this, and much more, is done for you, so you can focus on other aspects of your business and get start getting results faster!