Website Essentials 2026

10 Website Features Every Small Business in McDonough Needs in 2026

Your website is your 24/7 salesperson. It's working while you sleep, while you're on the job, and while you're spending time with family.

The question is: Is it actually selling?

For small businesses in McDonough and across Henry County, a good website isn't nice to have—it's essential.

Some websites convert visitors into customers. Others just sit there, collecting digital dust.

Here are 10 features that separate the winners from the losers.

1

Mobile-Responsive Design

We covered this in depth in our mobile-first design article, but it bears repeating: if your website doesn't work perfectly on phones, you're losing customers.

Load fast on mobile data connections

Display properly on all screen sizes

Have tap-friendly buttons and links

Show readable text without zooming

Mobile-first isn't optional anymore. It's the baseline.

2

Fast Loading Speed (Under 3 Seconds)

Speed matters. A lot.

53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load

Every 1-second delay reduces conversions by 7%

Google uses page speed as a ranking factor

For McDonough businesses, fast hosting matters. Choose a provider with good infrastructure, not the cheapest option.

3

Clear Contact Information & Click-to-Call

Here's a painful reality: some business websites make it hard to contact them. Don't be that business.

Visible on every page (header or footer)

Clickable on mobile (tap to call)

Consistent everywhere (same phone and address across all platforms)

For McDonough businesses, a local phone number (404, 678, 770 area codes) builds trust. Make it easy to call you.

4

Local SEO Optimization

If you want McDonough customers to find you on Google, you need local SEO.

Google Business Profile (claimed and optimized)

Local keywords in your content ('web design McDonough GA')

Your name, address, and phone on every page

LocalBusiness schema markup

Location-specific landing pages if you serve multiple areas

Local SEO is how you show up when someone searches 'near me' or 'in McDonough.'

5

Customer Testimonials & Reviews

Social proof sells. When potential customers see that others have had positive experiences, they're more likely to trust you.

Feature testimonials on your homepage

Create a dedicated reviews/testimonials page

Include reviewer names and locations (with permission)

Link to your Google reviews

Add review schema markup for star ratings in search results

For local businesses in Henry County, reviews from other local customers carry extra weight. 'Best web designer in McDonough' means more than a generic testimonial.

6

Easy Navigation & Clear CTAs

Visitors shouldn't have to think about where to go. Guide them.

Simple menu structure (5-7 items max)

Clear labels (not 'Our Approach' — use 'Services')

Breadcrumbs on deeper pages

Search function for larger sites

One clear action per page

Action-oriented text ('Call Now,' 'Get a Quote,' 'Schedule Today')

For McDonough businesses, your primary CTA is probably 'Call Us' or 'Get a Quote.' Make it obvious.

7

Service/Product Pages with Schema Markup

Each service or product deserves its own page. This helps with SEO, clarity, and conversions.

SEO (more pages to rank)

Clarity (visitors find exactly what they need)

Conversions (focused messaging for each offering)

Service schema for services

Product schema for products

FAQ schema for frequently asked questions

LocalBusiness schema for your company info

This is technical but important. It helps you show up in rich snippets and knowledge panels.

8

Blog for Content Marketing

A blog is how you attract new visitors who aren't searching for your business name yet.

How-to guides related to your services

Local news and events (shows community involvement)

Case studies and success stories

Industry tips and insights

Answers to common customer questions

Consistent blogging (2-4 posts per month) compounds over time. Each post is an entry point for new customers.

9

Social Proof & Trust Signals

Beyond testimonials, there are other ways to build trust.

Professional design — A polished site signals legitimacy

Security badges — SSL certificate, secure payment icons

Professional memberships — Chamber of Commerce, industry associations

Awards and certifications — Display them proudly

Years in business — 'Serving McDonough since 2010'

Photos of your team and location — Humanize your business

Trust is earned, but your website can accelerate it.

10

Analytics & Conversion Tracking

You can't improve what you don't measure.

Google Analytics 4 — Know how visitors find and use your site

Google Search Console — See what search terms bring people to you

Call tracking — Know which website visits lead to phone calls

Form tracking — Measure quote requests and contact submissions

Review your analytics monthly. Look for which pages get the most traffic, where visitors drop off, and how many visitors convert to leads.

How EJM Services Implements These Features

At EJM Services, we build websites for McDonough and Henry County businesses that include all 10 of these features—and more.

1

Discovery — We learn about your business, customers, and goals

2

Strategy — We plan the features and content that will drive results

3

Design — We create a mobile-first design that represents your brand

4

Development — We build a fast, secure, SEO-optimized website

5

Launch — We deploy your site and set up tracking

6

Support — We provide ongoing maintenance and optimization

Every site we build includes local SEO, analytics, and the features your business needs to succeed.

FAQ: Small Business Website Design

How much does a small business website cost?

For a professional website with these features, expect to invest $3,000-$15,000 depending on complexity. We offer free quotes—call 404-807-9258.

How long does it take to build a website?

Typically 4-8 weeks for a custom small business website.

Do I need to hire someone to maintain my website?

We recommend it. Security updates, content changes, and performance optimization are ongoing needs. We offer maintenance plans.

What if I already have a website?

We can assess your current site and recommend improvements. Sometimes a refresh is enough; sometimes a rebuild makes more sense.

How do I get more calls from my website?

Make your phone number prominent and clickable, add clear CTAs, improve your local SEO, and create content that answers your customers' questions.

Ready for a Website That Actually Works?

Your website should be your hardest-working employee—generating leads, answering questions, and building trust 24/7.

If your current site isn't doing that, it's time for an upgrade.

  • All 10 Essential Features
  • Mobile-First Design
  • Local SEO Included

Quick Website Assessment

Check your current website against these essentials:

Loads in under 3 seconds?
Works perfectly on mobile?
Phone number is clickable?
Shows up in local searches?
Has customer testimonials?

If you checked 'no' to any of these, let's talk.

Call for Free Consultation

Let's build something that converts visitors into customers.

Your Competitors Have These Features. Do You?

Every day your website lacks these essential features, you're losing customers to competitors who have them. Let's level the playing field.