Have you ever been interested in a company until you Googled them and saw their website?

With 84 per cent of the UK population now online, it's very likely that a potential customer will check you out on the internet before contacting you to buy your product or service. This means that your website is your showcase to the world, and forms an instant and lasting impression.

So, what can you do to ensure that customers have a positive initial impression of your business? There are a couple of simple visual tricks to consider for your whole site.

Firstly, symmetry is appealing to the eye, both offline and online. Now, we don't mean that you need to repeat your content exactly on both sides of the page, but a certain level of symmetry in your website will help to create the subconscious impression of balance and stability, which will in turn positively influence a customer's view of your company.

And it's not complicated. Having your logo at the top left of the page, balanced with some navigation buttons on the right, then in the body of your site, having side columns balanced with the main copy or other columns can easily help to introduce symmetry to improve your online presence.

It's also very important to think about what your customers are actually looking for when they visit your website.

A fantastic looking website is visually impressive, but if your customers struggle to find something like your contact details, they may consider looking towards one of your competitors for a similar product or service.

A great website can be your ultimate sales tool – find out how to get more enquiries from your website at one of our free masterclasses across the region.

For further information on the FREE Superfast North Yorkshire business support programme and how your business can get involved, please visit www.sfny.co.uk, phone 0845 002 0021 or email enquiries@sfny.co.uk.