We all know that in the world of business today, every company needs a decent website. A good site will be visible on search engines, attract new business and convert a lead into a customer.
But what does a 'good' site look like in reality? And, more specifically, what makes an accountancy website 'good'? Here are our five 'must-haves' for an accounting website that punches above its weight…
1. An engaging home page
Your home page is the 'front window' of your business. It needs to be visually appealing, with images that give a flavour of what your company is all about and your approach to business. Take a look at some of your competitors and how they present themselves to get a sense of what you do and don't like. Choose images carefully to create a professional yet friendly impression.
2. Clarity about your services
You need your visitors to understand instantly what you do. Many websites use a short company description to achieve this, such as 'accounting services and tax advice'.
State the services you provide on your home page, with a short description of each or a link to a more detailed page. You want your potential clients to understand straight away whether you offer what they're looking for.
3. Easy to contact
Make it as easy as possible for people to get in touch with you. Have a big 'Contact Us' button on the home page and also on your menu.
Some people are put off by online contact forms, so make sure you provide a phone number and email address so that there's no excuse not to make contact.
4. Fresh, updated content
If you want your site to be easily found on Google and visited on a regular basis, you need to make sure you're always adding new content. Google can see how recently information has been added to your site, and it ranks websites that have newer content more highly.
If your content is useful and interesting, people will be keen to read it, share it and comment on it. Every time you add new information, share the page via your social media channels: especially Twitter and LinkedIn. The links will drive people to your site and, hopefully, to your services.
5. Mobile optimised
Take a look at your site on a mobile phone or a tablet. Is all the information displayed properly and is the site just as easy to use as on a PC or laptop? If not, this is something you should take steps to address.
Around half of website traffic these days is via mobile, so if your site doesn't work well for this audience you could be missing out on valuable new business.
Mobile optimisation is so important that Google takes it into consideration when choosing which sites to display in response to a search.
We know that building and maintaining your website isn't always an accountant's top priority. If you'd rather leave the hard work to the experts, you can opt for one of our website solutions. We build and maintain accountancy sites, post regular new content and can even deliver your email marketing.
