Start Listening! 🎧
YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS INTERVIEW
WITH ELIZABETH MCCRAVY!
Episode Highlights:
- Highlighting the importance of copywriting
- Benefits and flexibility of using Showit to build your website.
- Take the leap of faith to build your site without the fear of imperfection.
- Giving yourself grace during the balancing act of business and personal responsibilities.
Resources:
- ClickUp: A project management game-changer. Plan, track, manage and automate!
- Book a Strategy Call with Jillian!
- Connect with Elizabeth: on Instagram and on her website: https://elizabethmccravy.com
Originally Published: August 15, 2023
As we navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape, understanding website essentials has become crucial for any business owner. Today, we're revisiting and updating our conversation with Elizabeth McCravy, a website designer, podcaster, and mother based in Franklin, Tennessee. Our discussion covers everything from balancing business and family life to the key elements that make a website truly effective.
Website Essentials: What You Need to Know
Before we dive into the details of our conversation with Elizabeth, let's outline some fundamental website essentials that every business owner should consider:
- User Experience: A good website should be intuitive and easy to navigate. This ensures that when people visit your site, they can find what they're looking for quickly and effortlessly.
- Mobile Responsiveness: With more people accessing the internet via mobile devices, your website must look and function well on screens of all sizes.
- Fast Loading Speed: In today's fast-paced world, a slow website can deter visitors. Ensure your site loads quickly to keep users engaged.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Implementing proper SEO techniques helps improve your website's visibility in search results, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
- High-Quality Content: Regularly updated, relevant, and valuable content not only engages visitors but also helps with SEO.
- Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Guide your visitors towards desired actions with clear and compelling CTAs.
Now, let's delve into our conversation with Elizabeth and explore how these essentials play out in real-world scenarios.
Episode Recap
Balancing Business and Family Life
As mothers and entrepreneurs, Elizabeth and I both understand the challenges of juggling a business while raising a family. We discussed the importance of setting boundaries and giving ourselves grace during different seasons of life. Remember, it's okay to adjust your focus based on your current priorities.
The Power of Effective Copywriting
One of the most critical website essentials we discussed was copywriting. Elizabeth emphasized that while design is important, the words on your website play a crucial role in converting visitors into customers. For those on a budget, Elizabeth offers a guide on her website that explains different buying motivations and how to incorporate them into your copy.
Personalization Through Photos and Videos
Another key aspect of a good website is personalization. Elizabeth strongly advises against using stock photos, emphasizing the importance of showing the real faces behind the business. This personal touch can significantly enhance user experience and build trust with potential clients.
Video Content: A Growing Trend
We also touched on the increasing importance of video content. B-roll style videos that autoplay, featuring text and calls-to-action, are becoming more popular. These videos can provide a dynamic element to your website, improving engagement and conveying information quickly.
Why Choose Showit for Web Development
As a Showit design partner, Elizabeth shared insights on why this platform is an excellent choice for web designing. Showit offers the flexibility and ease of use similar to Canva, allowing users to create custom designs without coding knowledge. This makes it an ideal website builder for businesses of all sizes.
Overcoming Perfectionism
One of the most valuable pieces of advice from our conversation was to avoid letting perfectionism hold you back. It's better to launch your website and make improvements over time than to wait for everything to be perfect. Your online presence is crucial for legitimizing your business, so don't delay in getting started.
Additional Website Essentials to Consider
Since our original conversation with Elizabeth, several other website essentials have become increasingly important:
- Security: Implementing SSL certificates and other security measures is crucial for protecting your site and building trust with visitors.
- Accessibility: Ensure your website is usable for people with disabilities. This not only broadens your audience but is also becoming a legal requirement in many areas.
- Content Management System: Choose a user-friendly CMS that allows you to easily update your website content without relying on a developer for every change.
- Analytics: Implement tools like Google Analytics to track your website's performance and understand your audience better.
- Meta Tags: Properly optimize your meta titles and descriptions to improve your search engine rankings and click-through rates in search results.
- Quality Images: Use high-resolution, relevant images to enhance your website's visual appeal and convey your brand message effectively.
- Landing Pages: Create dedicated landing pages for specific products, services, or campaigns to improve conversion rates.
- Load Time Optimization: Compress images, minimize code, and leverage browser caching to ensure your website loads quickly.
- Social Proof: Incorporate testimonials, reviews, and case studies to build credibility and trust with potential customers.
- Email List Building: Include opt-in forms to capture visitor information and build your email list for future marketing efforts.
Final Thoughts
Creating an effective online presence goes beyond just having a free website. It requires thoughtful planning, strategic implementation of website essentials, and ongoing optimization. By focusing on user experience, incorporating high-quality content, and leveraging the right web development tools, you can create a business website that not only looks great but also performs well in search engines and converts visitors into customers.
Remember, your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. It's worth investing time and resources to ensure it accurately represents your brand and effectively serves your business goals.
As we wrap up this updated post, I'd like to echo Elizabeth's sentiment about giving ourselves grace. Whether you're just starting your online journey or looking to improve your existing web presence, remember that it's a process. Start where you are, implement these website essentials step by step, and don't be afraid to make adjustments as you go.
Building a successful online presence is a journey, not a destination. Keep learning, stay open to new trends and technologies, and most importantly, stay true to your brand's unique voice and mission. With these website essentials in your toolkit, you're well on your way to creating a digital home that truly represents your business and resonates with your target audience.
Alright friends, that is it for this episode recap!
Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts or at www.jilliandolberry.com/podcast. You can also continue the conversation with me on Instagram at @jilliandolberry.
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