When running a site, there are so many things to think about. Should I do this? Or that? Or maybe this other thing. It’s easy to get swept up in all the information out there. Regardless of what type of site you have, there are a few things every website needs. As long as you have these five things, you’re on the right track to having a successful website.
About Page
Not including your home page, blog page, or any blog posts, what is your most visited page? Yup, that’s right, your about page. Having one is incredibly important if you want to let everyone know more about who you are and what you do. Here are some tips on making your about page awesome.
Contact Page
Do you like hearing from your readers? Are you looking for new clients? Unless you’re a hermit (why are you online again?), a contact page is a must. How else will people tell you how awesome your latest blog post is? On a more serious note, without a contact page, you’ll probably be missing out on a ton of opportunities. Having your contact info readily available allows others to hire you or work with you (hello brand deals). While you might have your contact info scattered throughout your site, it’s often best to make sure it’s listed on a special contact page. People are lazy. Make is easy for them to get in touch.
Links to Social Media Profiles
If I like your site, odds are I’m going to want to follow you on social media. And I’m guessing you want people to follow you too. So why do so many sites not have their social media links prominently displayed? If you want to connect with your readers you need to make sure they can easily find your profiles. Some good spots to place your social media icons are at the top of your site (on your header or menu) and in your sidebar (at the top!). Another less prominent place that is still pretty common is your footer. And don’t forget about linking to them on your about and contact pages!
Search Bar
Even the most organized sites can benefit from a search bar. While a well thought out category and tag system is essential, sometimes it’s just quicker to find what you want via a search bar. If you’re making your site visitors scan through tons of pages just to find what they want, then you’re doing it wrong. As I said earlier, people are lazy. Placing a search bar somewhere at the top of your site will allow people to quickly and easily search your site content.
White Space
When it comes to your site, nothing is more distracting than little white space. An overly cluttered site provides no place for a person’s eyes to rest. A good site has ample space between it’s various elements. This means, your blog posts aren’t touching your sidebar content and your menu isn’t squashed between your header and main content area. Everything needs room to breathe, so space things out. And think twice about what you display, where. Does your sidebar really need a million ads or badges? Probably not. Reduce what is displayed to give an airier feel.
Homework time! Does your website have the above five tips implemented? If not, get to work!
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