Living Entrepreneurship Blog / Babson Entrepreneurs

7 Features All Startup Company Websites Must Have

Sanjit Mandal MBA’18, Owner of California SEO Professionals

The following post is from Sanjit Mandal MBA’18. Sanjit is the owner of California SEO Professionals, a digital marketing company focusing on profit-driven SEO and PPC strategies that help businesses get more traffic and better conversions. Oh, and he has a 4th degree in Goju Ryu Karate with almost 30 years of training, so you know he means business.

Is your startup company designing a new website? These are the 7 must have features that all startup company websites must have for a successful launch.

As a startup company, you understand the work that goes into standing out from the crowd.

From marketing to client relations, there’s a lot to take care of.

One of the first impressions you’ll make on potential clients is with your website. You need to make sure you get off on the right foot. Join us as we take a look at seven crucial steps startup company websites should take to bring out the best in their digital presence.

Because first impressions last, and we want to help you make the best one possible.

Startup Company Websites: A Seven Step Guide

Every journey starts with a single step.

When it comes to startup company sites, that journey actually starts with seven.

  1. Mobile Conversion

Our first point could easily be described as the “dark horse” of the last decade in digital marketing. Having a website that works on phones as well as desktops used to be something that businesses did as an afterthought.

Now?

Startup company websites that don’t offer a mobile ready version of their content are more likely than than not to fail.

And it makes sense, too. With more than half of all Internet users accessing the web via their phones, tablets, and non-desktop devices, the Internet is mobile. So, you have to be mobile-ready, or more than half of your potential readers just won’t be there.

  1. A Good Domain Name

As much as the Internet has changed, there is one constant that still applies to all websites, big or small.

You need a great domain name.

The benefits of a hard-hitting, potent domain name are the same as any other marketing: they’re psychological.

A website that people can remember the name of is more likely to get hits and repeat hits than something more complicated. A good rule of thumb is to imagine saying the domain name over loud music, to someone. If the person listening would have a good chance of understanding you right away, you’re on the right track.

Obviously, not all websites are built the same. There are many sites out there who might already have your domain name already. Just try for the best, and remember: less is more.

  1. Layout and Navigation

Website design trends, in recent years, have tended towards simplification.

There’s a simple reason for this. For a user, arriving at a website they’ve never seen before, simpler is better. A website that’s cluttered with too many menus, navigation buttons, signs or animations can be overwhelming.

The quicker a new user can get from point A to point B, the more likely they are to buy, comment, review, or otherwise interact with your site.

For startup company websites, there really isn’t anything more important than user retention. Make sure to keep your design as simple as possible.

  1. Business Information

One of the biggest challenges to new website designers is making peace with one simple fact:

For the most part, your readers are going to have extremely short attention spans.

It might be tempting to write paragraphs and paragraphs about your company under your “About Us” section. Everybody likes to talk about themselves.

Where better to do it than on your website?

Be wary of this, though: people prefer to skim through content, almost 100% of the time.

Remember, users are coming to your website to find information about you. If you offer specific services, include them. If you have products, put up a gallery to showcase them.

What you don’t need are two-paragraph entries about your business philosophy or goals. Your readers will thank you for it.

  1. Contact Information

This point is a simple one, but completely essential.

Make it easy for users of your website to get in touch with you. There’s a reason websites put contact information under its own section. It is, without doubt, one of the most important parts of any digital profile.

Startup websites putting together contact pages would do well to keep a few things in mind.

Firstly, never use pictures to show these details. Make the content actual text, on the website, that a user can highlight, copy, and paste.

Second, consider using a combination of traditional contact information, and a website form. This gives users the option to quickly jot down their query from your site. Or, they can get in touch with you directly.

Lastly, make it easy to find. Place the link to it in an obvious place on your home page. Position the text above the fold (high enough that users don’t have to scroll to get to it) on its own page. Be sure to use a font that’s easy to read.

  1. Social Media Integration

Calling social media content a trend is a little naive. Today, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are such an ingrained part of the Internet, it’s hard to separate the two anymore.

Startup sites struggling for traffic, in the beginning, should be integrating their social media profiles.

With an increased online presence, across two, three, or four different social media profiles, you’re covering more bases. The more people you reach, the better your engagement is. And better engagement means better business. It’s as simple as that.

  1. Authentic Content

Nobody comes to a website expecting to be sold something.

Users want to be treated like they matter, and that means giving them content that has value.

To that end, avoid copying words, phrases or pictures from other websites. If you have something to say, say it in an original way. If you’re not the best writer, then hire an SEO expert from the San Francisco Bay Area to make sure you get your point across properly.

Plagiarism is stealing, and it can ruin your website’s credibility. Be authentic.

Create A Website That Works For You

Ultimately, startup company websites are the digital storefront to your entire business.

Without the right combination of integration and design, you’re not presenting yourself at your best.

Interested in transforming your business’ online presence? Pay us a visit for more on our comprehensive SEO services and digital marketing insights.