What Every Business Web Site Should Include

By ThinkAvenue Editor You’re a budding entrepreneur, you know your business and you’re ready to launch it on the Web. But wait! What sections should be included on your site? Is it enough to simply have a home page? Depending on your business goals, there are a few pages your business site should include to be competitive and make the best use of your Web presence.

Hint: If the customers who provided testimonials agree, include their email addresses so that potential customers can contact them with additional questions.

Bare Necessities:

Home Page
About Us
Products & Services Page
Contact Us

A Little Something More:

What’s New/News
Customer Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Product Detail Page(s)
Privacy Policy/Terms of Use

Now that you have a general checklist, learn the specifics about what content to include in each section.

Home Page

Arguably the most important page of your Web site, the home page is the first page visitors will see and largely determines whether they’ll keep surfing or stay put. Plan this page carefully as it also works as a portal to the rest of your site. The navigation should make sense and be easy for visitors to follow.

Include all the most important information you want visitors to gain about your company on the home page, including a lively description of your organization and what products and/or services you provide and how those offering can benefit your site’s visitors. You should also include any branding that you’ve established for your business such as a company logo, tagline, and color scheme.

About Us

Don't miss the opportunity to take full advantage of this page-it can put a "face" on your company. This page is the perfect platform for connecting with potential customers.

Don’t miss the opportunity to take full advantage of this page—it can put a “face” on your company. This page is the perfect platform for connecting with potential customers. Tell them who you are and what you’re about. You can also use it to introduce yourself and your employees. Consider including a photo of yourself and/or your staff. Potential customers, who can be suspicious of doing business with an unknown entity, tend to feel a sense of security from seeing the actual person (or people) behind a business. By listing your qualifications, background and photo, your site visitors will get a lasting impression of who they are working with.

You should also include your mission statement, company history, and specifics about your business operations and philosophy. This page is your chance to explain to potential customers why your company and brand are one they can trust and will enjoy buying products from.

What’s New/News

You have a bit of latitude with this page. Use it to let visitors know what enhancements or updates have been made to your site, in your company, or to your product offerings. You can include press releases to announce new products; list specials or promotions; and promote sales and company events.