As of July 2020, almost 4.57 billion people are active Internet users i.e.
59% of the global population.
64% of the small businesses have a website and
81% shoppers research online before purchasing. These data should be reason enough for companies to start a website because you'll be exposing your company to that many people. Website is the internet advertising billboard or a business card for you and your company. Hence, it deserves the best! So how can you make your website the best? or at least take a step towards making it competitive.
First of all, assess the market. You should always understand where the industry that you belong to stands in the digital presence curve. For instance: Clothing industry still hasn't gone fully digital. Dress fitting, trying out clothes before buying is still prevalent. Whereas for grocery retailers, most of them have not just gone digital but have introduced home delivery systems. So it is essential for you to understand where your industry is to strategize as to where your company should be.
Easy ways to access the market: Look at your competitors and see what they are doing. Be observant of the surroundings. Stay updated with the trend. Research, research, research.
Second, your customers should be the focus while creating your website. It isn't about what you want so it is essential to think about what customers want. A lot of tools can help you understand this.
Easy ways to understand customers: Before you build a website, define your customers, who they are, where they are from, and list out all possible platforms where they engage with you before, during, and after sales. This will help you map the entire customer journey.