Website design for small business: issues to consider

This short article looks at the issues you should consider when you are planning the content for your small business website.

What is the purpose of my website?

Most small business websites have two aims: (1) to inform the visitor and, (2) to sell them products or services. If you sell jewellery, for example, the purpose of your website is to inform your visitors of the range and quality of the jewellery you have on offer, and (hopefully) to sell them jewellery. If you offer a service such as web design, your website needs to show visitors that you offer the best website design service available and persuade them to sign up with you.

Who is my target audience?

Your target audience is the people you want to look at your website: usually potential and current customers. Anyone who might be interested in your company and its products or services is a member of your target audience. Identifying the nature of your target audience is important as it determines what your website should look and feel like. For example, if you are looking for a solicitor online, you would not be impressed with a website that contains child-like graphics and animations.

One tip is to imagine what your website should look like through your visitor’s eyes. What would you expect to find and what would you be disappointed not to find?

What content should I include on my website?

Your website content should be informed by the nature of your business. So if you offer a courier service, you need to say what items you can transport, how far you are willing to travel, your rates and your contact details.

What is the competition doing?

This question is probably the most important question as you need to find out what your competitors are up to. It’s a good idea to do a Google search for similar businesses. Pay particular attention to the ones that come top of the results list as these are the ones that have successful websites and are doing things right. Explore their websites. What do they look like? What colours do they use? What is the main message they are trying to put across? What do you like about their Web sites? What don't you like? The answers to these questions are all useful pointers to what you should include on your site.

Find out more about our website design service for small businesses

The Website Design Studio has extensive experience of designing websites for small businesses - click on The Website Design Home Page to visit our main home page. Choose Website design services to view the full range of web design services we offer. To view our website packages and prices, click on Website design costs. To see some of our clients' websites, click on Website Gallery or click on any of the sites you see on the pages in this site. Click Beginner's guide to websites to find this article again.

Please Contact The Website Design Studio if you have any queries or would like a quote. We look forward to hearing from you.

Visit our website design article list