You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. You’ve probably heard that saying in some form or another and have been making an effort to ensure that your first impression is a good one. Yet there is one thing that is often neglected:  your website. Let’s make a good first impression with this blog post by giving you our top four refreshers for your website.

1) Refresh Your Homepage Every Month

Your homepage is the most visible real estate on your website because it receives the most traffic. Refresh your homepage each month to stay on trend and catch your customers’ attention.

When publishing new content follow a content hierarchy. The top of your homepage should display information by order of importance. You can refresh the majority of content while keeping other information the same such as your logo, store hours, email signup and location.

Homepage refresh ideas:

  • Display your newest arrivals and seasonal product in a bundle or collage
  • Make a big announcement about an anniversary, milestone, store hours, community happening or employee
  • Promote an upcoming event or link to your event’s page with a call to action to RSVP
  • Post press or coverage on your business
  • Add videos of testimonials, tours, product demos, interviews and store events
  • Edit your business description to match your social accounts and SEO initiatives

2) Publish Regular Blog Posts

Maintaining a current blog has many positive implications. Fresh blog posts drive traffic to your business and help your customer find you in search. An updated blog will also increase your search performance because more sources will link to, and share, your content. The more sources that link to your website and blog posts, the higher your website will show up in search.

Aside from the SEO benefits, an updated blog will leave a positive first impression on a new visitor. You can learn a lot about a local business and get to know their personality and mission just by reading their blog.

Blogging ideas:

  • The story behind your business and why you decided to open, buy or take over for a family member
  • Recap of a store event including pictures and ways customers can stay tuned for the next
  • Contest announcement including terms, conditions and rules
  • Fashion tips for the current season, trend or style
  • Parenting tips for new parents
  • Product reviews and commentary
  • Customer of the month feature
  • Staff favorites
  • Employee outings

3) Add Upcoming Happenings to Your Events Page

If you don’t already have one, create an events page on your site and dedicate it to store events and community happenings. Even if you are publishing one event a month, it still serves as new content for your website. Remember to keep past events on your site so that new visitors can see how much fun it is to be a loyal customer. If you can’t think of anything to add, then start planning an event today!

Event Ideas:

  • Host a workshop to give tips and tricks on outdoor holiday decorating
  • Set up a few jewelry stations where customers can learn how to make certain pieces with materials that you sell
  • Team up with a local author for an in-store book signing and inspiring discussion
  • Project a seasonal movie while serving popcorn and hosting an “after hours” sale
  • Bring in a dozen of the same cookies, leave with a dozen different ones
  • Show customers how to wrap the perfect gift, include wrapping for FREE
  • Select some locally made wine to pair with seasonal apps
  • Brew your favorite tea and coffee for customers to sample while browsing your store. Run a special on the items you feature

4) Publish Product/Services Information and Pricing

Last but not least, you need to sell your product or services to stay in business. So you better get those on your site as soon as (or even before) they hit your shelves. Even if you don’t sell online, your website should include what’s in stock in your store.

Tips for adding product to your website:

  • Include pricing information on lower-priced items
  • Write a quick product description so search engines can pick up your product pages
  • Dedicate a page in your top navigation to product
  • Take photos of product as soon as you receive it

Combining several or more tactics will help you drive more traffic to your website and convert those visitors into customers. Now that you’re going to make a stellar first impression with your website, it is up to you to do the same with your store.