1. A Clean, Professional Design

Your website is your first impression to potential customers. If you have a bright, attractive website, your company will exude a sense of professionalism. Alternatively, if you fill your site with poor photography and clashing colors, your business identity will suffer.

There are a few basic keys to good website design. First, your site should have a simple, pleasant color scheme that is consistent throughout the site. Successfully designed websites choose one main color and two or three accent colors. The main colors are usually white, off-white, or charcoal gray. Accent colors often include a few complementing shades of the main color or some variation on the company's logo. Second, any text on your website should be easy to read, including your business name and the menu.

SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Responsive Web Design

2. Search Engine Optimized Content

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, refers to the process of writing website content that is accessible to search engines like Google and Yahoo. The more accessible your content is, the higher you will rank on these search engines. For example, if someone searches Google for "Home Automation in my area," you want to be one of the first options they see. A highly ranked website will generate online leads for your business and establish you as an industry authority.

Create optimized content by focusing on keywords. Keywords are words or phrases that a potential customer may use when searching for your services. Place dedicated keywords in the page titles, headings, and content throughout your website to improve your SEO rankings. Additionally, highly ranked sites often include regularly updated blogs. Search engines will see your posts filled with fresh, original content and your website ranking will improve.

3. Mobile Friendly Framework

In the past, designers ignored mobile friendliness because most internet browsers used laptops or desktops. However, in recent months, there have been more people surfing the web from their phones and tablets than from computers. Additionally, search engines such as Google and Yahoo are beginning to factor mobile friendliness into their ranking index. If your website isn't mobile-friendly, it won't rank as high with search engines.

A mobile-friendly website is easily scalable, meaning that it looks great on a variety of devices. Pictures quickly resize, and the text moves around so that it fits on any screen. Avoid using any website feature that frustrates a mobile user, such as popups or small buttons.

4. A Logical, User-Oriented Site Flow

Lastly, a good website is easy to use. Relevant information should be easy to find and the site navigation should be intuitive. As a rule of thumb, relevant site information should appear near the top of the website. A potential customer shouldn't need more than thirty seconds to know who you are, what services or products you provide, and how to get in contact with you.

Additionally, your website needs to be easy to navigate. Your clients shouldn't have to click through a labyrinth of web pages to find a contact form. Instead, display relevant pages clearly on your main menu where they're easy to locate and arrange any submenu items into logical categories.