So, you’ve decided to invest on your local business website —awesome! I’ve been working with WordPress for over 12 years, and I’ve seen businesses from all walks of life transform into thriving online presences with just a little effort and the right tools.
If you’re a local business owner, you’re probably asking, “How do I create a local business website that actually brings in customers and doesn’t just collect dust in the corner of the internet?” Well, you’re in the right place because I’ve got your back. Forget the fancy jargon and complicated steps. In this article, I’ll break it down for you, share some of my personal experiences, and give you real strategies that have worked wonders for businesses like yours. Ready? Let’s dive in!
1. Pick a Theme That Doesn’t Look Like It Was Built in 1999
I’m sure we’ve all come across websites that look like they were designed when dial-up internet was still a thing—slow, clunky, and frankly, a little embarrassing. Don’t let your business fall into that trap! The good news is that with WordPress, there are a ton of themes that are both modern and easy to customize.
What I’ve Learned:
You don’t need to hire a design agency to make your website look sharp. In fact, you probably have more control than you think. One time, I worked with a local pizza joint that picked a theme that was so outdated, their website looked like a digital brochure from 2003. After a quick theme swap to Astra (my personal favorite), their online orders shot up by 20%.
Tip for Success:
- Pick a mobile-friendly theme that looks sleek and modern. Astra, OceanWP, and Divi are great, but make sure it’s easy to navigate. No one wants to search for your phone number for five minutes, especially if they’re standing outside your shop.
2. Make Google Your Best Friend with Local SEO
If your website isn’t showing up when people search for your services nearby, you’re missing out on potential customers. Local SEO is like a magic trick for businesses that want to show up when someone Googles “best coffee shop near me” or “plumber in [your town].” And trust me, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.
What I’ve Learned:
When I first started helping businesses with their SEO, I used to get overwhelmed with all the technical jargon (still do sometimes). But local SEO? Easy peasy. For example, after I helped a local florist update their Google My Business profile and optimize their pages with location-specific keywords, their foot traffic and online inquiries skyrocketed. It’s not magic; it’s smart optimization.
SEO Hacks That Actually Work:
- Google My Business: Set it up and make sure your hours, address, and contact info are correct.
- Local Keywords: Sprinkle keywords like “best bakery in [Your City]” throughout your website.
- Mobile Optimization: Google loves mobile-friendly sites. You love Google. Therefore, make sure your site works like a charm on smartphones.
3. Build a Site That Gets to the Point (And Fast)
Let’s face it: We all have the attention span of a goldfish when browsing the web. If your website takes more than a few seconds to load or is hard to navigate, I promise you that your potential customers will jump ship faster than a cat who just saw a cucumber.
What I’ve Learned:
I helped a local ice cream shop with their website once, and we shaved their site loading time from 7 seconds to under 3 by optimizing images. Guess what happened? They got 50% more orders online. Now they can keep up with the demand and their website is actually helping them grow.
My Speedy Tips:
- Optimize Images: Use Smush or ShortPixel to compress your images without losing quality.
- Caching Plugins: Use W3 Total Cache to make your site load faster.
- Fast Theme: Stick to lightweight themes. GeneratePress is super fast.
4. Have an Easy Way for People to Contact You (Really Easy)
So, people have found your site, they’re intrigued, but now what? If your contact form is buried in a sea of menus, you might as well be sending them on a treasure hunt. Don’t make your customers work for it. Make it ridiculously easy for them to reach out to you.
What I’ve Learned:
I once worked with a local dog groomer who didn’t even have their contact form on the homepage. She was wondering why no one was booking appointments. After I added a big, bright “Book Now” button and made sure her contact form was in a visible spot, appointments started coming in like clockwork.
Pro Tip for Contact Forms:
- Call to Action: Use a bold button like “Get a Free Quote” or “Call Us Today.”
- Simple Form: Only ask for the essentials—name, email, and message. No one has time to fill out a novel.
- Phone Number: Your number should be visible on every page (and clickable on mobile).
5. Get Your Customers to Book with an Easy-to-Use Appointment System
If you run a business where customers need to book appointments (like salons, gyms, or consultations), make sure they can do it online. I cannot stress this enough: online booking is one of the most important things you can add to your site. It’s 2024—no one wants to play phone tag anymore.
What I’ve Learned:
A local massage therapist I worked with was losing potential clients because people couldn’t book online. We added a simple booking system, and boom, within a month, bookings went up by 30%. Clients loved the convenience, and the therapist was able to focus more on doing what she loved (massaging).
Booking Systems You’ll Love:
- Bookly: Perfect for businesses that need to schedule appointments.
- Amelia: If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, this plugin is solid.
6. Blogging = Building Trust (And Sales)
I know, I know—“blogging” sounds like something you did back in 2008 for your personal diary. But hear me out: blogging for your local business is one of the easiest ways to build authority and drive sales.
What I’ve Learned:
When I helped a local bakery start a blog with posts like “How to Make Your Own Croissants at Home” and “5 Ways to Decorate Cakes Like a Pro,” they saw an uptick in local traffic and had customers booking custom cake orders just from reading those blogs. They were providing value, building trust, and boosting sales all in one go.
Blogging Tips That Actually Work:
- Write About Local Stuff: Blog about community events, industry trends, or helpful tips.
- Keep It Simple: No need for long-winded posts—just short, helpful articles.
- Use Local Keywords: Sprinkle in “best coffee in [City]” and other local terms.
7. Security Isn’t Sexy, But It’s Essential
Nobody wants to talk about security—until something goes wrong. Imagine waking up to find your site hacked and your business in shambles. That’s not a good start to your morning, trust me.
What I’ve Learned:
When a local bakery’s website got hacked because they didn’t keep their WordPress updated, it cost them a ton of time and money to fix. Since then, I’ve been preaching the gospel of WordPress security.
Security Tips for Peace of Mind:
- SSL Certificate: Make sure your site is secure with HTTPS.
- Regular Backups: Use UpdraftPlus to automatically back up your site.
- Security Plugins: Wordfence and Sucuri are my go-tos for keeping hackers at bay.
Ready to Rock Your Local Business Website?
There you have it—a simple, no-nonsense guide to building a WordPress website that not only looks good but actually drives sales for your local business.
Now, it’s your turn! What tips have you found useful? Are there any hacks I missed? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it. Your feedback helps make this blog even better, and who knows? You might even help another local business owner crush it online.
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