Not everyone is on social media. So while it may feel like a tool of the past, your homepage is your ultimate “home-base” and is just as valuable as your engaging Instagram page and swipe-worthy TikTok account. Hiring a professional to design and develop a stellar website for your countertop store is a fantastic first step. But there are a few rookie mistakes some web developers make and some things new business owners forget to mention along the way.
So what are the most important design elements of an effective countertop store website?
To save you time, money, and customers, here are a few things to consider when developing a new website. Whether you’re starting from scratch or revamping an existing web page, this is everything to prioritize when it comes to color, content, and navigation. Stay scrolling.
Focus On Navigation
When designing a home page (or any page of your website) it’s best to spoon-feed your audience with information. In other words, anyone clicking on your site shouldn’t be working to find purchase tabs, contact information, or special offers. A common but effective practice is placing everything important on your home page and allowing each section to pop up or materialize as a user scrolls. This creates a frictionless experience for users with no searching, no waiting, and no frustration forcing customers to click away.
Establish What Makes Your Countertop Store Different
In the same vein, it’s best practice to place a tagline or some confirmation of your granite installation services on the home page, ideally in a prominent place. Your countertop business should be clear so users immediately know they’re in the right place. Are you offering any countertop specials? Do you provide installation and fabrication? Do you have a showroom? Use your experience and current events to your advantage.
Less Is Always More
Keep it simple. People come to your website wanting clear and concise answers and information regarding granite and quartz countertops. To optimize that experience, your design shouldn’t feel over-the-top. Nothing screams an amateur website louder than ugly and disjointed fonts, colors, and patterns that confuse and distract. Keep your fonts limited to one or two styles per page and ensure all colors complement one another.
And beyond standard design, when you’re writing taglines or other website content, don’t confuse the reader with fancy jargon. Sales and landing pages aren’t the time to show off flowery language or impress readers with scholarly-style writing. In fact, if users have trouble making it through a sentence, SEO research says they won’t stick around to unravel it. In simple terms, keep it readable.
Stay On-Message
If you’re struggling to figure out what elements to put in your website try this: pick your most important call-to-action (CTA) and build your website so that every tab, every paragraph, and every image supports that call-to-action. So if it’s get a free sink with new countertops, then use that. Make sure it’s prominent and consider including a telephone stock image so the CTA pops.
Keep in mind, users are more likely to take an action when it’s clear, than if you overwhelm them with an information overload.
Also, not everyone is viewing your website on a desktop computer. In fact, more are viewing it on an iPhone or tablet than you think, especially if they’re on the go or in a younger demographic. It’s simply impossible to predict when or where someone will find you. So make sure your website loads and looks just as aesthetically appealing on a small screen. Many studies have concluded that the majority of mobile users won’t revisit a website if it’s not mobile friendly.
In Summary
Follow these design tips for a website that’s optimized for engagement and, most importantly, sales conversions.
If you are looking to improve your countertop marketing, give us a call. We specialize in helping countertop stores prosper while developing a solid marketing plan for your business.
