6 Must-Have Features to Include on Your Website
Your website is your calling card for future business – here's how to ace the design and ensure best user engagement
An ‘About’ page, easy-view icons that list your services, and smartphone optimisation – read on to find out how these features and more can help elevate your company’s website and bring in more paying customers.
And don’t forget to include a clear CTA (call to action) in the form of text, a button, banner or image, which is often the next step you want readers to take on your website. This might be prompting them to get in touch or sign up to your mailing list.
2. High-quality Images
“You don’t have long to make an impression after someone clicks on your website, so invest in high-quality images that show the entirety of a space in its very best light,” says Melissa Pace, senior client success manager at Houzz Australia. “Projects that are styled and look lived-in receive the best user engagement.”
Learn about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
“You don’t have long to make an impression after someone clicks on your website, so invest in high-quality images that show the entirety of a space in its very best light,” says Melissa Pace, senior client success manager at Houzz Australia. “Projects that are styled and look lived-in receive the best user engagement.”
Learn about Houzz Pro all-in-one business software
3. Responsive design
“It’s really important that your website is built for visibility across desktops, tablets and mobile devices. This ensures the best user experience on all devices as the design and layout of each page automatically resizes based on the resolution of the screen it is accessed on,” says Pace.
“It’s really important that your website is built for visibility across desktops, tablets and mobile devices. This ensures the best user experience on all devices as the design and layout of each page automatically resizes based on the resolution of the screen it is accessed on,” says Pace.
“If you want your website to appear on search engines, it’s vital that it works on a smartphone,” adds Samantha Kumar, website services designer at Houzz. She explains that 50 percent of internet traffic comes from smartphones, not desktop computers or laptops. “Google’s mobile-first index is now a reality, which means it’s drawing its results from mobile-optimised sites first, rather than sites geared to desktop computers,” she says.
If you’re unsure how to do this or don’t have the time, Houzz Website Services is a useful option. The team will take care of creating, hosting, and optimising your website as part of an essential or ultimate Houzz Pro subscription.
If you’re unsure how to do this or don’t have the time, Houzz Website Services is a useful option. The team will take care of creating, hosting, and optimising your website as part of an essential or ultimate Houzz Pro subscription.
4. Be clear about the services you provide
“Don’t expect people to know what you do and the services you offer simply by looking at the images on your website,” says Pace. “It’s really important to clearly list your services, either in point form or with icons, along with examples of project images.”
How to keep projects moving through when you’re busy, according to other pros
“Don’t expect people to know what you do and the services you offer simply by looking at the images on your website,” says Pace. “It’s really important to clearly list your services, either in point form or with icons, along with examples of project images.”
How to keep projects moving through when you’re busy, according to other pros
5. Include an ‘About Us’ page
When clients are choosing a design professional for their renovation, they’ll want to know they’ll get on – after all, chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time together.
This is where having an ‘About Us’ page on your website is important. Not only does it humanise your business, but it’s a chance to introduce yourself to prospective customers, tell them about yourself and your team, provide important basic information, and give an insight into your personality and communication style.
When clients are choosing a design professional for their renovation, they’ll want to know they’ll get on – after all, chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time together.
This is where having an ‘About Us’ page on your website is important. Not only does it humanise your business, but it’s a chance to introduce yourself to prospective customers, tell them about yourself and your team, provide important basic information, and give an insight into your personality and communication style.
“A remarkable About [Us] page is genuine, approachable, and distinguished,” says Kumar. “It should give the homeowner a glimpse into what working with you and your business might be like.”
Kumar recommends including your personal interests, as well as any anecdotes or photos that help convey your company’s unique story.
Kumar recommends including your personal interests, as well as any anecdotes or photos that help convey your company’s unique story.
6. A ‘Process’ page
Many homeowners find the idea of renovating overwhelming and the process confusing. You can alleviate many of their concerns by including a clear ‘Process’ page on your website.
Here, you would explain how your service works and ‘walk’ prospective clients step-by-step through the process, with a brief overview of what happens during each stage, such as meeting, planning and implementation. You may also wish to give an indication of costs here.
Many homeowners find the idea of renovating overwhelming and the process confusing. You can alleviate many of their concerns by including a clear ‘Process’ page on your website.
Here, you would explain how your service works and ‘walk’ prospective clients step-by-step through the process, with a brief overview of what happens during each stage, such as meeting, planning and implementation. You may also wish to give an indication of costs here.
Keep the steps simple to help make the idea of a home project more straightforward (and appealing!).
It’s a good idea to include visuals, such as project images, drawings and before and after shots, says Kumar. “When information is paired with a visual, people remember 65 percent of what they read even three days later,” she says.
It’s a good idea to include visuals, such as project images, drawings and before and after shots, says Kumar. “When information is paired with a visual, people remember 65 percent of what they read even three days later,” she says.
Your turn
Are you in the process of creating or updating your website? How many of these elements have you included? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
Want more expert insights from fellow pros? Don’t miss this story: Pros Reveal: 10 Features That’ll Elevate a Living Room Every Time
Are you in the process of creating or updating your website? How many of these elements have you included? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
Want more expert insights from fellow pros? Don’t miss this story: Pros Reveal: 10 Features That’ll Elevate a Living Room Every Time
The words on your website need to be easy to understand and instantly grab the reader’s attention. To do this: