Is Your Website Open for Business? How to Tell (And Show) Your Visitors

If you own and operate a salon or a retail store or a repair shop, it’s pretty easy to signal to your customers if you are, in fact, open for business. Unlike a brick-and-mortar store where you can see the lights on and doors open, websites don’t have that obvious “we’re open” sign. 

So how can you make sure your online presence screams “We’re here and ready to help!”? How can you show website visitors that your business is active, serving customers, and ready to work with them, too? We’ve got 7 tips that will communicate this message clearly to anyone who visits your website. 

Websites vs. Brick-and-Mortar Stores

When you walk into a physical store, you know it’s open because the lights are on, the door is unlocked, and maybe there’s even a friendly person to greet you. Websites, however, are a different ballgame. They don’t have a literal open or closed sign, but they do have plenty of context clues to show visitors that they’re up-to-date and the business is active.

Watch the Video: Is Your Website Open for Business?

Signs Your Website is Open for Business

1. Up-to-Date Content: One of the easiest ways to show your site is active is by having current content. Regularly updated blogs, news, and events signal to visitors that your business is alive and kicking. If you have a Flash Sale advertised on your site that expired months (or even years ago!) it’s a red flag for potential clients. They may conclude you are no longer in business and bounce right from your website in favor of another business who appears to be “open” and operating. 
2. Modern Design and Functionality: A site that looks like it hasn’t been touched in years can make visitors wonder if you’re still in business. Make sure your design is modern and free of obvious errors like missing images or broken links. It should be optimized for all platforms, especially mobile devices. If visitors come to your site on their phone and what they see is tiny font they can’t even read, they will get a bad impression of you at best, and think you’re a defunct business at worst. First impressions matter. Make sure your site works for visitors, no matter how they are accessing your site. 
3. Consistent Blogging: If you start a blog, keep it updated. There’s nothing worse than seeing the last post from July 2019. Visitors think either this business can’t keep up or they don’t care how bad it looks to leave your blog content stale and untouched. Either way, it’s not a good look. If you can’t commit to regular blogging, it’s better to remove the dates or not have a blog at all.
4. Seasonal Content: This is a fun one! Does your website reflect the current season? Maybe you have special offers or events that change with the seasons. Keeping this content fresh shows that you’re engaged and active.
5. Social Media Integration: Adding an Instagram feed or other social media updates to your site is a great way to show live activity. It keeps your content dynamic and current. And best of all! It can be automated so you don’t have to be directly involved in keeping this part of your site fresh and updated. 
6. Book Now Buttons: If you’re a service provider, having a “Book Now” button that links to a live calendar can show that you’re ready and available. Just make sure your calendar reflects your true availability so prospective clients don’t attempt to book with you only to be told you can’t meet with them. 
7. Updated Copyright Date: This might seem minor, but an outdated copyright date can make visitors question whether your site (and your business) is still operational. These small details make a bigger impression than you might believe. Update your copyright date annually, without fail.

Why Having an Active Website Matters

Consumers might not consciously think about whether a website is “open,” but they definitely pick up on the signals. An orphaned website with outdated content or design issues can make visitors hesitant to trust your business. They may wonder if you will care about them as little as you do your online presence. They will certainly wonder if you’re still in business anymore at all. First impressions matter and can make or break whether someone considers working with you or not…and these decisions are made in mere moments. On the flip side, a vibrant, up-to-date site can boost their confidence and encourage them to engage with you and your business. 

Wrapping It Up

Making sure your website looks open for business isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about showing potential customers that you’re active, reliable, and ready to serve. If you’re not sure how your site measures up, we’d love to help. At Spring Insight, we specialize in making sure your digital presence is on point, up to date, user friendly, and communicates your brilliance. 

Ready to give your site some TLC? Schedule a complimentary consultation (on our current and open calendar 😉) and let’s talk about how we can help.

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