Recently a restaurant client updated their website with three fixes and saw a 30% jump in online orders.
Amazing, right?
Small tweaks can deliver big results. Here are three proven fixes you can implement right now to make your website work as hard as you do.
1. Simplify Your Navigation
Tendencies are to include EVERYTHING in your navigation. But a cluttered navigation menu with multiple levels of drop-downs makes it hard for users to find what they’re looking for.
Instead, use a streamlined menu with clear, essential categories.
BAD: overwhelming for visitors. Which way to go?
GOOD: easier for visitors to chose.
Simplicity is key. Users should be able to navigate your site effortlessly, finding what they need in as few clicks as possible.
2. Turbocharge Your Call-to-Action (CTA)
Your CTA is your digital cash register. Don’t bury it in the basement – put it where everyone can see it. If visitors can’t find it, they can’t click it. That button belongs in the top right corner. It’s prime real estate, so make it count.
And when writing your CTA copy, ask yourself: What’s the first step you want your visitors to take? Book a call? Get a quote? Whatever it is, the CTA should be clear and not be vague. For example, a landscaper swapped their CTA from “Get Quote Now!” to “Get The Best Rate Now” and saw their leads jump by 17%. Why? They kept it simple and zeroed in on what truly matters to the customer.
And bonus points if you use your CTA to help your visitors envision success. Instead of a (yawn) “Call Us,” try something like “Find Your Match” or “Change a Life.” Painting a picture for them.
Be clear, be bold, and don’t hide that cash register!
GOOD: The main objective of this business is online food orders and gift card sales. Both CTAs are clear, obvious and repeated on the page.
GOOD: These examples help the visitor envision the “win” after they click this button (a new website and a cocktail tailored just for them)
3. Speed Up Your Site
Put yourself in your customer’s shoes: if your homepage load time takes 6 seconds to load, you’re likely to see a significant decrease in user engagement. They just don’t want to wait around for the page to load. AND Google agrees–they will lower your ranking on a search if you’re site performance isn’t great.
What loads down a website? Photos, for one. Loading photos on your site is great, but make sure they’re optimized. Slow-loading homepages with large, unoptimized images can make viewers abandon their visit—a totally avoidable tragedy!
Resize your product or food images by compressing them and minimizing unnecessary elements. Tools like TinyPNG or WebP can reduce image sizes without losing quality, making your site load faster and keeping users from bouncing.
Today’s Step Forward.
- Audit your navigation menu. Can you simplify it to 3-5 main categories/pillars?
- Revise your main CTA so it encourages the first step of working with your potential lead and place it in the top right corner of your navigation bar.
- Check your site speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. Then, optimize your site to improve load times.
These simple changes can make a big difference.
Onward and upward.
