Creating an Effective About Us Page

When considering what pages you would like your website to have, you will most likely choose to have an About Us page. Your first thought might be that the most difficult page to design and provide information for will be the products or services page. Actually, many people can easily list their products and describe their services but aren’t sure what they would like to include on their about us page. So how can you work with your designer to create an effective About Us page that serves the right purpose?

The first thing to remember is that an About Us page is not intended to sell anything, but rather to gain the trust of potential customers. You want to express why you do what you do, including your vision and how your business began. You don’t want to replicate the home page—not only is that boring for your viewers, but it does your website no favors by duplicating written content or images.  Instead, tell a story. You can create a timeline from the start of the business until the present. The About Us page is also a good place for staff profiles. These create a professional and personable impression of your business, increasing the customer’s confidence in your company.

Within the content, feel free to make a joke, brag a little, and point out what makes you unique.  If you want to link to your blog or social media sites, this is the place to do so. You can also post videos on your this page. The bottom line is, don’t overlook the importance of your About Us page and don’t despair about figuring out what to say. Provide as much of this type of information for your web developer as you can and work with them to develop the page so that it means these desired goals: gaining trust, expressing why you do what you do, telling a story, and creating a personal connection.

Beyond Custom Websites has created thousands of successful, interesting, and original About Us pages. We will work with any information you give us and ask the right questions to prompt you for more information that we may need. Our search engine optimization, copywriting, and HTML experts will work together to create not only the perfect about us page, but an entire small business custom website that gets you found in search engines. We write relevant content, create one-of-a kind layout with easy navigation, and include calls to action, links, and other features to get your customers invested in your products and services. Find out more about Beyond Custom Website’s custom web design services for small businesses on our website.

Questions to Ask Your Web Designer

If you are a small business owner and don’t have a website yet, hopefully, you are planning on creating one. You may be in the process of hiring a web designer. Before you make the investment, there are some questions you should ask your web designer.

Ask them how long the project will take. The answer will vary based on how large your site will be, what complex features you want to use, how quickly you can meet with the designer and give them the information they need, and how quickly you can make decisions. The average launch time of a website is 30 days, but find out how flexible the web designer can be. You don’t want to be rushed and you don’t want to have to wait and wait for your site to be done. Next, ask them if you will be able to make updates to your site yourself. They should be willing to work with you to make minor or major changes for you and allow you to make small changes on the backend of your site.

You should also find out what happens if the website breaks or gets hacked. If the web developer will provide on-going support after the site launch, it should be no problem to fix the site or change the security information. However, many developers leave you on your own after the site launch. You should find out who owns the site. If you will own the site, that means you can keep the domain name and content even if you decide to cancel your services with them. Ask them what they charge and how—by page, by month, for individual changes, etc. If you aren’t aware of something ahead of time, it could cost you more than you’re willing to spend.  Finally, find out if the website will work on mobile devices. In today’s growing mobile web world, it is essential to reach mobile users as more people access the internet from mobile devices than desktop computers.

These are just a few questions you should ask your web developer and whether or not your hire them should be based on the answers. Beyond Custom Websites can give you the best possible answers to these questions. Our websites can be up and live in as little as 30 days. We can train you on how to make basic text changes to your site yourself, but we will also offer to do unlimited changes and updates to your site at any time. When there is a problem with a website’s pages, we send our developers in to fix it right away. Beyond Custom Websites’ sites don’t get hacked, but if they ever do, we can change your login credentials and other security settings so that won’t happen again. We have long-term relationships with our customers for as long as you have a site with us. That means we provide ongoing technical support and continue to fulfill your requests after the site has gone live. You will own your domain name, so your website always remains in your control. Our prices are a straightforward set up fee with monthly hosting and free changes.  Most importantly, BCW also builds mobile sites so your customers can view your site anytime, anywhere, using any device. Visit our site and find out what we’re all about.

The Home Page: Your Website’s Foundation

There are a lot of steps that go into designing a website from start to finish. The client needs to feel confident that they can step aside and let the web team do all the work, but there also needs to be enough feedback from the client so the designer knows what they want from the design, content, features, and layout. Once the designer has a direction to go in, the entire process starts with the home page.

Some people may think each web page is created separately and simply linked together to make one site. While each page is unique, the home page sets the stage for the rest of the pages. The home page is where the main navigation is built, the photo slideshow that will appear on every page is placed, the footer that remains uniform on each page is made, and the banner with the logo, contact information, and social media icons is created. Like building a house, you can make changes to the foundation when that is the only part that is built. Once the foundation is finalized, the rest of the house is built on top of it. However, to fix a crack or add on to a foundation after the walls are put up would require rebuilding the entire house, which wouldn’t make much sense.

The home page of your website will create the basis for which every other page of the website flows from. It is important to get the colors, navigation, layout, header, footer, and other home page design elements just right before building the rest of the pages. Beyond Custom Websites knows the importance of a perfect home page design to the rest of the pages. That’s why we get approval from our customers at each stage of the process including the home page so our service to you flows well and we complete your website in a short amount of time.

Beyond Custom Websites brings together web designers and developers, graphic designers, copywriters, and small business experts to deliver you a custom website for your business. We also offer search engine optimization, free updates and changes, customer support, and mobile websites, keeping the customer involved and updated throughout the design process and anytime in the future. BCW makes sure the homepage is created to your specifications, making tweaks and changes to it before completing other pages of the site until it is exactly the way you want it. Our websites are dynamic and unique for each small business and our team creates long lasting relationships with our customers. Visit our website to find out more about what we can do for your business.

How Much Website Do You Need?

So you’re a new company getting ready to build your website, or you’re a company that’s been around for awhile, but still needs a website. You may be wondering how many pages your website needs. You don’t want to miss anything, but you don’t want to go for overkill, either. After all, cost is a factor, but you need to make sure you have enough information out there. So how do you determine how much website you need?

Start by thinking about your company and also the purpose of the website. Do you want customers to be able to order products on the site? Do you want customers to have links to other companies you work with or resources of information? Is your website designed for a specific event or purpose rather than an overall website for the company? Thinking about your industry and intentions may help you determine how many pages you need. A clothing store that offers custom designed sneakers, for example may need more pages than a fundraising website for a school trip. A restaurant may have straightforward, simple pages such as About Us, Menu, Locations, and Gallery while a university may need several pages and sections for students, classes, alumni, and staff.

There are pages that every website should have and needs. These include a Home page, Contact Us page, and usually, an About Us page. The home page sets the structure for the rest of the website and designates the layout for the other pages.  The About Us page or something similar gives customers a general history of the company, can present fun facts, and bring a personal feel to the company.  The Contact Us page provides all the information about how to get in touch with you: address, phone number, directions, email address, and a contact form to fill out. You can count on these pages as being a part of your website and then develop ideas for your other pages.

Another thing to think about when determining how many pages your website will need is your target audience and usability. If you work with older adults, people who are busy, or have services someone may need in an emergency, it’s best to keep things simple. Do away with the “fluff” and provide information, links, and resources the visitor will need to “get in and get out”. The easier it is for them to use your site, the more likely they will go to you for that product or service they need. If you are a publications company, fluff may be what you need to give your site personality and reveal your creativity. In this case, you would want to include possible a blog, samples of your work, and detailed descriptions of all the services you have to offer.

Beyond Custom Websites has done it all, from one page landing pages to websites with 15 pages or more. We have typical package options, but you can customize your website to fit as few or as many pages as you need. Our web developers, graphic designers, and business professionals will help you decide what pages to include in your site and how many you will need.  Once your site’s structure is laid out, we get to work and build you a completely unique, modern website in an efficient period of time. Find out more about what we do on our website..

Do I need a Facebook page for my business?

Facebook currently has over 900 million active users worldwide. The growth of this social media platform gives small businesses access to consumers for a low cost and offers the opportunity for interaction and analysis of marketing techniques. But does your business really need a Facebook page? Will your customers benefit from “liking” your page, therefore receiving all updates from your page in their newsfeed?

An important way to determine the value of a Facebook page for your business is to know your customers. Is your primary target audience active on Facebook? If you market to young children, older adults, or a small niche market, there will probably be fewer customers who will see your Facebook page.  Second, think about whether or not a Facebook page will be useful for your customer. What value would your Facebook page bring to your customers? It may differ depending on if you are a clothing store, restaurant, insurance company, or marketing firm. Finally, before you launch a Facebook page, be sure you are committed to maintaining it. You need to have a plan for posting regularly, deciding what to post, and monitoring positive and negative comments from your customers to respond appropriately. If you don’t have the time or resources to manage a Facebook page, you may want to hold off on it.

A Facebook page can help you build a community through posting useful links, asking fans of the page to contribute comments, organizing contests and promotions, providing a place to leave feedback and offering incentives for customers who are active on your page. It will help your SEO because it will provide another venue for your company to show up in search results. If your close competitors already have a Facebook page, you may want to have one as well to maintain credibility and stand apart from them. Ultimately, the choice to have a Facebook page or not is up to you. Remember there are other social media networks (Google Plus, LinkedIn, and Twitter) that can provide unique features. It’s a good idea to explore them all and determine which social networks will be the most beneficial for you before creating these pages.

If you already have a Facebook page or know you want to create one, Beyond Custom Websites will create social buttons on your custom website and link your social media pages to your site. You can also put a link to your website on your Facebook page. In addition to social media integration, we offer real-time technical support, complete SEO strategies, unlimited updates and changes to your website, and so much more. Beyond Custom Websites can offer entrepreneurial expertise and help you decide what to post on your social media pages. Visit our website to learn more and start working with us. 

Engaging Customers on Your Website

Once you’ve set up an expertly designed custom website, you can sit back, relax, and let the leads pour in-right? There is a bit more to the success of your website than the initial creation alone. You need to find ways to engage your customer and keep them coming back to your website over time. If there is no attention getter or interactive feature, your customers may get bored or put your website on the back burner after the first visit or two. What are some features you can incorporate on your small business website that will bring people back in the future?

One idea is to offer downloadable content. This can be a news article, products report, coupon, checklist, or list of usage tips relevant to your company. Having something they can refer to offline not only helps them remember you, but makes them feel valued because you offered them a resource that helps them solve problems and make decisions.

Another engagement feature could be inviting visitors to subscribe to your blog or newsletter. This will give them the option to receive weekly updates on the latest happenings in your business. Creating a short survey to better identify a customer’s need will show you value their time and can handle specific requests.

Offer website visitors a free sample, gift, or coupon. Everyone loves free stuff. Choose something appropriate to the products and services you offer such as a $10 gift card, 30 day free trial, or small gift with purchase.

Other ideas to engage your website visitors include allowing customers to zoom in on products to view details up close, including promotional videos on your site through YouTube, and engaging visual features in your photo galleries. Finally, providing a submission form for testimonials and feedback is sure to let customers know they are important to you.

If you want a website that has features that will keep your customers coming back, Beyond Custom Websites can create a custom website that will incorporate as many of these features and more as you need. Our intuitive navigation, modern, colorful graphics, relevant keyword content, and excellent customer service will compliment these features created uniquely for your business. Find out more on our website. 

Do I need a Google+ Page for My Business?

Whether you are a new business or you’ve been around for awhile, we’ll bet you’ve heard a lot about Google Plus pages for business even if you aren’t using one. If you’re wondering if you need a Google Plus page, the answer is yes! It is a must for any small business competing in today’s business world.

So many marketers create their Google Plus page as an after-thought. While your website is your primary source of online marketing, you should set up a Google Plus business page as soon as you set up your website.  Here a few reasons why.

First, a Google Plus page will increase not only the number of times your company name appears in search engine results, but it will bump you up in the rankings faster. When Google sees that you are registered with Google Plus as a legitimate, active business, it will find your website more easily and put your Google Plus page in Web, Map, and Shopping results. Second, a Google Plus page gives you and your customers a forum to communicate one on one. You can share promotions, links to relevant articles, business and personal updates of interest to your customers, and more. Your customers can comment on these posts, ask questions, and provide feedback that will help your business grow.  Once customers and colleagues begin noticing your Google Plus page, they can add you to their circles and follow you to be notified of every new post you create.  When you have a link to your Google Plus page on your website, you can display your logo, company contact information, link to your website, industry, and hours all in the profile photo at the top of the page. Because Google Plus business pages are completely separate from personal pages (unlike Facebook business pages), you can maintain a totally distinct and professional presence on your page. A well-maintained Google Plus page is sure to bring more people to your website, increasing leads and boosting your website’s ranking position in search engine results.

Beyond Custom Websites integrates Google Plus pages into all of our sites. A sleek button on every page will take visitors to your site directly to your Google Plus page. We will even help you set up a new Google Plus page and offer advice on how to maintain it.  Google Plus and other social media integration is part of our services in addition to a custom website with dynamic images, keyword driven text, easy navigation, and unlimited text and image changes for as long as you work with us. Find out more about what we do on our website and build a website with us to find out more about all the benefits of Google Plus.