Apologies for the dramatic title, but this is a very important update for business owners affected by the latest Google policy. Websites made with Google Business Profiles will be turned off this March. That means that any business website with a domain name ending in business.site or negocio.site will be removed from the website field starting in March.
This isn’t to cause a panic, it’s a fairly easy fix. This is a call to take this Google update as a chance to give your business’s website a brand-new look. Revamp your image by creating a much more user-friendly site, with better features, purposeful content, colour schemes, and imaging that are more in line with your brand.
Yes, this change will be a nuisance to your business. But, a great nuisance! A nuisance that can be good for you in the long run. It starts with picking out a platform to build your website on. Here is a list of well-established platforms that make website building easy:
- Wix
- Square Space
- GoDaddy
- Word Press
- Shopify
There are many more platforms to choose from than these five, it all depends on the type of site you are looking to build. Make sure to browse through several options. See which ones are best for your business. And once selected, the fun begins. You are all set to build your website.
These platforms make building websites easy, but you need to be strategic in what functions and features you include on them. And most importantly, they need to include the right things.
Website Key Pages
- A Home Page
Not a huge surprise here, and nothing that you wouldn’t have already included. BUT, within 3 seconds a business’s homepage needs to tell a visitor what they have to offer. This means, that while it is a standard page function, it’s also extremely important. It’s your first impression, so, like always, make it a good one.
- Use Engaging Visuals
- Create Concise, Informative Headlines
- Use Short, Unique Copy
- Show Some Personality
- The About Page
Once again, it’s not a huge surprise to see this included as an important page to focus on, but it will be one of your most viewed sections on the site. The About Us page should be genuine, distinguished, and personable. Here are some things to keep in mind for a successful About Us page:
- Introduce your business, its values, and your mission.
- Introduce potential customers to your unique business story and explain why you’re the right fit for them.
- Personalize your site by including photos and introductions of key staff members.
- use creative visuals to make your About page more engaging, including informative videos, infographics, or various pictures of your business.
- A Company Blog
Blogging has become an essential practice for businesses looking to expand their reach. For one, it directly contributes to SEO and ranking higher on search engines, which can be make or break for modern businesses. It also gives companies the ability to show off their expertise in a certain area, while establishing trust with their current and future customers. Lastly, a company blog is perfect for repurposing and sharing on social media. You can use the content in shortened X-posts, or make a video further detailing the blog on YouTube, for example. It all helps bring traffic to your site.
- Products and Services
To have this page effectively attract leads and prospects, it needs to be about more than what you have to offer. Take some time to think about your ideal customer. What do they do? What are their pain points? How can you solve their pain points? The better you understand your customers, the more effectively you can gear your web copy toward how you can solve their problems. Take the features of your products and services, and provide an enticing benefit to all potential customers.
Conclusion
While Google could be shutting your business’s website down by March, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Take this opportunity to build a better, more personalized website for your business and improve the online experience for your customers and clients. Make sure to create an awesome home page, About Us Page, Products and Services, as well as to include a page for your business blog.
If you need help developing, designing, or writing copy for your website, reach out to us at Brand One Digital! Our experts are always happy to help out.