Back in the day, a great sign or an ad in the newspaper would have been the most likely initial touchpoint for a customer and business. But these days, your website is most likely to be the first real interaction someone has with your business. Before they call, before they email, before they walk through that door, they will land on your homepage and make a few quick decisions about whether they trust you.
So, when we talk about what makes a good website, we’re talking about the look, the usability, and the clarity of service. What makes a great website so notable is that it quietly guides visitors toward taking an action you want them to take, whether that’s making a purchase, booking a service, or sending an enquiry.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes a good site so good, this is the place to start. First tip? Choose the right SEO firm.
Why does a good website matter so much?
Think about the last time you clicked onto a slow, clunky, or outdated site. You probably did the same thing most people do: promptly closed the tab and moved on.
No matter how good the on-site content is, this is the reality of online behaviour. People will decide whether to stay or leave in mere seconds, so if your pages load slowly, your layout is confusing, or your design looks like it’s stuck in another decade, it will quietly erode their trust.
And trust? That’s currency. That’s a lifetime of customer loyalty, born and bred on the back of a carefully laid-out website. It can seem small, but it’s the bedrock of your customer relationship, so it pays to give it your focus.
What makes a good website, well, good?
When you break it down, what makes a great website comes down to a handful of fundamentals that all work together to create a smooth experience your customers are ready to trust on-site. Let’s check off the must-haves.
Speed
Speed is first. People are busy, and they won’t wait around for a slow page to load, so a good site feels instant. That usually comes from properly optimised images, clean code, and reliable hosting, all working away quietly in the background.
Mobile friendliness.
What makes a good webpage so flexible? Mobile friendliness! Many users will find and interact with your website from the comfort of their phone, so your pages need to scale comfortable and feel readable. If your site only performs well on a desktop screen, then you’re losing a significant part of your audience.
Design.
Your site design ties everything together. What makes a good site so good is its reflection of your brand, tied in with a commitment to usability. White space, readable fonts, and consistent imagery all help to build trust with your customers without overwhelming the page.
Content.
Content creation is about talking to the people who need you most. You’re communicating your value, letting them know who you are and what you offer in a language that feels human. If your content isn’t easy to follow, then that introduces too many hurdles for your customers.
Blend these aspects, and you’re building a site that clearly navigates people to your intended action. A clear call to action, such as requesting a quote or booking a consult, is vital. It should be simple, clear, and not ask for unnecessary information. Bottom line? Nobody should have to hunt for your next step.
Where does SEO fit into all of this?
SEO sits underneath all of this. You can’t talk about what makes a great site without thinking about how people will find it in the first place. That means using relevant keywords in headings and copy, structuring pages sensibly, and making it easy for search engines to crawl and understand your site.
Here’s the thing: a great website evolves with you and your business. The technical information behind the scenes will shift depending on your business, goals, and audience.
These keystone points of information might change as your business evolves, but SEO allows you to continue honing in on your customers and speaking to them in a language they understand. In other words, great SEO ensures your customers can always find you, even if you change up your branding or focus as a business.
When you blend all these principles, you end up with the perfect example of what makes a great site. So, take a look at your current site. Does it load quickly? Does it work well on mobile? Does it clearly explain what you do and how to get started? Do you feel proud when you send people there?
If not, then it might be time for an update.
Build a website that works and gets you leads.
We’re the Web Guys, and if there is one thing we know, it’s how to build a great website. We know what makes a good web page sing, what attracts your customers, and how to build the technical side of your online presence to create sustainable growth for you.
Ready to begin? Get in touch for a free technical audit on your existing site today.
