Advisors: What Is Your Website Saying About You?

It takes 50 milliseconds – that’s right, 0.05 seconds – for visitors to form an opinion about your website.Some believe a company website isn’t that important … or that maybe it could use some work but it’s “good enough.”Think your website isn’t that important?In far less than 1 second, in that brief moment, not only are users forming an opinion about your site but they’re also forming an opinion about your company.

75% of users admit to making judgments about a company’s credibility based on their website’s design (Source: Stanford ).

If your company is using an outdated or poorly designed website, what is that saying about you? How much is it costing your firm?

Are you losing potential clients before you’ve had the chance to “meet” them?

Stanford University’s guidelines for a credible website

Make it easy to verify the information on your site by using links and citations.

Show the legitimacy of your organization by including contact and location information, pictures of your offices or any certifications the company might have.

Highlight the expertise within your organization by showing credentials, certifications and making sure any links are to credible organizations.

Feature the people behind your site by using pictures and bios. Wherever possible use pictures, awards or bios that demonstrate they are real, dependable, trustworthy individuals.

Make it easy to contact you by putting your location and contact information in an easy or obvious place.

Design your site (or hire a professional) so that it looks professional and in line with what your products or services.

Ensure your site is easy to navigate and provides useful information so visitors can easily find what they’re looking for, come back and refer others.

Update content regularly – keep a mix of evergreen and timely content.

Go easy on promotional content like ads or offers. Too many can impact your credibility.

This one might be obvious but needs to be said – avoid errors at all costs. Misspellings or broken links look sloppy and impact a visitor’s impression of your credibility.

You only have one chance to make a first impression

What does your website look like? Is it consistent with current design trends? Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s only the quality of the content that matters – appearance is just as important.

Can you afford to ignore these statistics?

94% of a website visitor’s first impression is design-related 38% of people will stop engaging with a website if the content/layout is unattractive.

Not just a pretty face

When it comes to design, visual appearance is key. Equally important? Function! 57% of internet users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly-designed website on mobile 39% of people will stop engaging with a website if images won’t load or take too long to load.Ensure you have a responsive design so visitors get the best experience possible. Review the site for missing or cut-off text, charts or images at various sizes.Today’s on-the-go society is primarily mobile. Many of your website visitors are likely viewing your site on phones or tablets.

Your website is your company calling card. It’s the first thing your prospects see – what does it say to them?

SunStar has been helping each of its clients put its best foot forward for over 25 years. We partner with our them on developing dynamic cutting-edge websites that showcase who they are and what they have to offer.Related: 4 Industry Trends That Benefit Investors