5 Things To Keep In Mind When Making Your Website

  Creating a website can often be an overwhelming process, especially if you are new or inexperienced.  Typically we have content and design at the forefront of our minds, but there are some other things you need to consider, even if you have hired someone to do it for you.

1.     Does it work on all browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)? Firefox has strict security guidelines so if you don’t have a secure website this can be a problem there (and you may not realize it until you check!).

2.     Is it secure? Do you have an SSL certificate for your site? Make sure you see the little lock icon in the top left corner (and that it is locked, not open). Firefox is the best browser to confirm that it is secure.

3.     Does your contact form work? Always test this out. It’s not uncommon for client messages to go into cyberspace and get lost so you don’t even know what clients you’re missing out on. On a separate note, consider making mention that it’s not a way to send a secure message and that some HIPAA experts recommend not having one at all.

4.     Are you weeding out spam? Your website platform should be doing this, but you may need to purchase something extra, like a plugin, for it to be most effective.

5.     Does it look okay on different devices?  You may have a gorgeous site on a computer, but most people use mobile devices, so make sure to check the desktop, tablet, and mobile views. You should see these icons on your website builder.  Click on them to see how it looks, but don’t completely trust them—always use your own devices to see how it looks as well.

Keeping these things in mind from the beginning can save you some headaches and make sure you aren’t missing out on potential clients.