Steps for Building an Authority Site

In an age where everything is done online, a business cannot afford not to have a powerful online presence. People look for everything on the internet now. If a person wants a divorce attorney, chances are they will ask Google, rather than check the Yellow Pages. The same goes for a person who wants to buy just about any product, since everything is sold online now. All products and services are searched for and even bought online, so you need to establish your platform as an authority site. Unfortunately, that is often easier said than done. But if you follow these steps, you can build a website that people would consider an authority in your line of work.

 

Invest in a High-quality Design

When it comes to websites and how people perceive them, the design is everything, and you have to invest in it accordingly. It has to be as flawless as possible. First impressions can be impossible to change, and you need to make sure your site visitors will get the right one. People often judge a website based on the quality of the design they’re met with. It makes sense, too, if you think about it. If a service provider didn’t put enough care and effort into designing a page that represents them, why should any consumers put their faith in such a brand? So, yes, appearances do matter. From the quality of the images on the website to the themes and colors used, pay attention to every detail.

 

Optimize for Search Engine

You can have the most beautifully designed website in the world, but if people can’t find it, then what is the point? Search engine optimization is the number one marketing strategy for any business that wants to have a massive reach. One thing you can do is dig through expired domain names to find one that you can purchase and use –– it should have a decent search engine ranking. Starting from scratch can be a bit challenging because building your ranking isn’t really easy. So, finding a domain that is already SEO friendly might save you a lot of time and effort.

The importance of SEO is not just in people finding you. Studies show that most users never go beyond the first page on a search engine. So, they only view the very few results on that page, and you have to be in those. People automatically trust the first few links, and these are the websites they consider to be an authority. If you want to become one of those, you have to invest in SEO.

 

Pay Attention to User Experience

A website that grants users a poor experience is rarely trusted, and it is anything but an authority. You have to ensure the quality of your user experience is the best it can be. You should also know that this makes a difference in search engine ranking because Google takes into consideration just how satisfied visitors are with your site. So, the loading speed has to be minimal –– users don’t stick around for more than 3 seconds as several studies have shown. The navigation needs to be seamless; no one wants to spend 10 minutes trying to figure out how to reach you. Avoid having spam on your website at all costs, whether that is from you or the advertisers. Nothing annoys people more than spam. Those details might seem minor, but they make all the difference in the world in the user experience on your website, and in turn your search ranking and stature.

 

Be Transparent

The easiest way for a website to lose all credibility is to lie about anything. Transparency and honesty are the easiest ways to win your audience over. If you lose people’s trust, it becomes impossible to earn it back. So, never promise anything you can’t deliver. Always describe your service or products clearly and in a way that ensures that people won’t have to ask further questions. Make sure your contact information, as well as any credentials related to the industry, are present and easy to find. Perhaps the best way to ensure complete transparency is by adding a review/testimonials section. We all love to check reviews on the services/products we are about to buy before we do it. This will also show prospects that you have nothing to hide, and you do provide an excellent service.

Establishing your platform as an authority website is key to growing your business. You need people to associate your brand name with a certain need, and to check your website first when they want to fulfill that need. If you do that, you can make a lot of money.