Designing and creating a website is probably one of the most important elements of a modern business’s marketing plan. Companies around the world rely on their online trade to increase revenue, improve visibility and help expand their customer base.

While having a fantastic-looking site brimming with valuable information and high quality pictures is advantageous, it is also important that the site runs smoothly. Any site should be easy to navigate, fast to load and easy to use. If these three boxes aren’t ticked, you can lose customers and revenue rather than gain them.

One of the most important decisions you will have to make is which server to use. Many server companies offer different packages, many with unlimited access. This is all good news, but you will still need to determine which offer faster speeds and which are accessible globally.

Another important element is to cache any landing pages, as this will help your pages load more quickly and ensure your customers have a responsive online experience. Using website load speed test software can also help you to ensure these pages load with ease and without delay, reducing the risk of your customers moving on to another website to find what they are looking for.

It is important that all pages are named clearly. This can help your customers find what they are looking for with ease and help your site to perform better in search engines. In many cases, a customer will visit a site and start looking at pages which appeal to them, even though they may already have a specific product or service in mind. If they cannot get to the page quickly and easily, they are likely to move on. Test the website yourself in order to get an idea of what your customer’s experience is like.

Remember that as your business grows, so too will your customer base. This can result in a large number of customers logging into your site at any given time. It is essential your website can manage the load placed upon it during busy periods, thereby offering an exceptional service to all of your customers.