If your business offers professional services or products to other companies, it probably falls under the business-to-business (B2B) category, and promoting it works a little differently than marketing a business-to-consumer (B2C) entity. For example, B2B website design best practices tend to differ from those that apply to B2C websites.
The role a website plays in this fast-paced digital age is crucial because it is one of the first places your potential clients will find you online, no matter your type of business. However, a professional website is even more crucial when trying to attract enterprise clients.
There are a few key B2B website goals you should aim for to win more business and grow. If your target audience is other businesses, you need a B2B website designed to attract and convert picky clients.
So, what is B2B website design and why is it important to partner with a professional B2B web design agency?
Table Of Contents
What Is the Purpose of a B2B Website?
A B2B website design agency creates websites for B2B businesses while keeping their enterprise clients or potential client base in mind. More often than not, the main purpose of a B2B website is to convert potential business clients. It should also make it easy for them to purchase your goods or services, request quotes, or contact you.
Types of B2B Websites
There is no one-size-fits-all B2B website design strategy. After all, it’s hard to find any two B2B websites that look or work exactly the same. Here are five common types of B2B websites and the purpose they serve.
Wholesale B2B Websites
Whether you sell wholesale gold, steel, or fruit to local smithies, jewelers, or grocers, hiring B2B website designers with experience in wholesale sales is ideal for you. A wholesale website may include a customer login as well as frequently updated online pricing, order, and quote forms.
B2B Marketplace Websites
B2B marketplaces are slightly different. A B2B marketplace website is a third-party platform where you may post your products and business contact details for other businesses to find. The best examples of global B2B marketplace websites are Amazon Business, Alibaba.com, Rakuten Marketplace, IndiaMART, and Global Sources.
eCommerce B2B Websites
While not a marketplace website, you may use an eCommerce B2B website to sell your products and services. However, your business would own and run its own eCommerce platform and you would be responsible for aspects such as order fulfillment, customer service, and inventory. In this case, you should consider using the services of a company that specializes in B2B eCommerce website design and development.
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SaaS B2B Websites
SaaS stands for software as a service. It refers to software that clients may buy or get a license for online with no exchange of a physical product. B2B website development for this segment is typically very demanding because most SaaS websites are responsible for selling, licensing, and storing their software.
Professional Services Websites
Professionals such as lawyers, accountants, brokers, designers, and different types of contractors fall under the B2B services sector. Whether you are a company, firm, agency, or sole proprietorship, a B2B website with content, testimonials, and contact details may boost your visibility.
The Difference Between B2C, C2C, B2G, and B2B Websites
With terms such as business-to-customer (B2C), business-to-government (B2G), customer-to-customer (C2C), and business-to-business (B2B) doing rounds, it’s fair to be confused. Here are the main differences between B2C, C2C, B2G, and B2B businesses and websites.
Business-To-Business (B2B) Websites
Business-to-business (B2B) businesses and their websites’ main customers are other businesses (including sole proprietorships). Your clients and customers could be restaurants, office blocks, real estate developers, and other types of companies and professionals.
What you offer could include weekly office cleaning, wholesale materials or goods, software, accounting, construction, or other B2B products/services. The B2B web development path you choose may vary depending on your specific offering.
Business-To-Customer (B2C) Websites
Business-to-customer (B2C) businesses and websites sell goods and services directly to the public or end-consumers. Generally, these offerings come in the form of goods and services required for personal use, not aimed at other businesses. Food, clothing, toiletries, decor, electronics, furniture, software, automobiles, and one-off services are a handful of B2C examples.
Customer-To-Customer (C2C) Websites
Customer-to-customer (C2C) websites are ones where the general public may buy, swap, and sell services to each other. While typically managed by a business, the business managing the website offers no direct product to users besides the use of the website or platform. However, in exchange, it may take a cut of the customers’ sales or earn revenue from ads.
Business-To-Government (B2G) Websites
Business-to-government (B2G) businesses and websites offer goods and services directly to governmental organizations. Software, electronic data storage & transfer, supply chain, and infrastructure websites that aim to sell to the government fall under this category.
Why Hire a B2B Website Design Agency
Determining if you should get a B2B website design company to create a new website for you or revamp an existing one requires taking a look at what you stand to gain. Here are the top five reasons why you should consider partnering with a professional.
1. You want your B2B website to stand out from the crowd.
There’s a good chance many of your competitors already have websites. When you use the services of a B2B web design company, you get an easy way to stand out from the crowd. A professional and polished website is also crucial if you want to attract enterprise clients. This is the case even if you own a small business or sole proprietorship or don’t plan to sell goods or services online.
2. You want a B2B website to increase walk-ins.
B2B websites help generate offline traffic, and not just online traffic. This is because a large number of people and businesses find physical businesses online first. A cutting-edge B2B website may drive foot traffic to your location by impressing your potential clients. Alternatively, it might encourage them to call your business or send you an email asking for a quote or consultation.
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3. You wish to set up a B2B eCommerce store.
If you sell products/services to businesses, you may be looking for the best ways to advertise and sell them online. Opening an eCommerce store is one of the top ways to cast a wider net, putting your products in front of businesses nationwide, or even globally. Unlike using third-party platforms, you won’t lose a percentage of your profits. Besides, while you may partner with a B2B website design agency, you still get to decide your website’s design, content, and add-ons.
4. You want a website that follows B2B website design best practices.
If you don’t have the required knowledge about web design and B2B web design best practices, it might be in your best interest to discuss your requirements with an experienced B2B web design agency. This is the case irrespective of whether you want a simple or intricate platform.
Bear in mind that custom B2B web design demands specific skills such as programming, UI/UX design, and graphic design. While you may not possess these and manage to create the quality of website you envision, a professional B2B website design firm will.
5. Your B2B website needs a redesign.
If your existing website is not getting your business the attention, leads, or enterprise clients it deserves, it may be time to hire a professional B2B web development agency to give it a makeover. A B2B website redesign may involve adding new sections or building an entirely new website from scratch. Alternatively, it may include optimizing all or parts of your website.
No matter what your existing website lacks and needs, a B2B website redesign agency will know how best to approach the process.
The Top Five B2B Web Design Best Practices
According to data collated by Gitnux, 48% of internet users think that web design is the most important factor when determining the credibility of a website. However, website design is not just about visuals. Here there are other key B2B website goals your site should aim for to win business.
Here are the top five B2B web design best practices a web design agency may implement to boost online leads, conversions, and visibility for your business.
Eye-Catching B2B Web Design
When opening and browsing your website, it should impress existing and potential clients. Unique and eye-catching web design for B2B will ensure that other businesses take note of and remember your website. A flawlessly designed website also gives a professional impression, which helps build trust and rapport.
Search Engine Optimization
A B2B website’s design is not complete without search engine optimization (SEO) because it helps your website rank higher on search engines such as Google and Bing. Without it, even a stellar website could be hard to find in the online world.
Industry-Related and Topical Content
Content is vital for your B2B website. It may include information about your goods and services, your team bios, an about page, and contact details. According to B2B website content best practices, you should also post industry-relevant or topical content on your website. When done right, content marketing through blog posts related to your industry holds the potential to boost web traffic and conversions.
Calls to Action
Calls to action (CTAs) are usually short and motivational phrases such as “call us now,” “ask for a quote,” and “grab your X now!” Including CTAs on your B2B website is vital, as doing so may help boost your conversions and leads. If you look at the best B2B website designs, you’ll notice they include CTA buttons that help potential clients complete desired actions easily and quickly.
Responsive UX/UI Design
User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are the latest buzzwords in B2B website design and app development, and they go beyond visuals, branding, and color coordination.
Professional B2B website designers work on streamlining websites for different devices and users, ensuring that they look good and work flawlessly. Ease of use is essential in our fast-paced world, where being able to complete an action on your B2B website swiftly and efficiently may mean the difference between converting a client or not.
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How Much Does B2B Web Design and Redesign Cost?
If you are considering getting a new B2B website or having your B2B website redesigned, you’re probably interested in knowing how much it may cost and how much time it might take. Here are some general guidelines on how much a website design or redesign may cost and estimated turnaround times.
B2B Website Design & Redesign
It’s difficult to put an exact price on a B2B website design or redesign. Generally speaking, businesses spend upwards of a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars on a website. According to Freshbooks’ guide on how much web designers charge, the average website design spend for businesses stands at $6,760. A B2B website redesign usually costs around the same as a website design unless the required changes are minor.
B2B eCommerce Website Design
The cost of B2B eCommerce website design might be on the higher end of the spectrum due to the complexity of these types of sites. Besides adding inventory, an eCommerce website may also need additional software and features to run quickly and effectively.
You may create an eCommerce store using online design platforms. However, if you want a completely customizable site that is future-proof, it’s worth partnering with a B2B eCommerce website design company.
WordPress B2B Website Design
A B2B WordPress website is an affordable option for businesses looking for a basic website that they may design and manage. If you design a B2B WordPress website yourself using free templates, it may cost you less. However, you may also employ a professional B2B website design agency to create a completely customized WordPress website for you. In this case, it would cost around the same or less than a regular website.
Additional B2B Website Design and Redesign Costs
Aside from B2B website design or redesign, there are a few additional monthly and annual website costs for which to account. You mainly need to budget for hosting, your domain name, server costs (if hosting yourself), as well as website management. B2B website content best practices advise you to add topical content to your website to boost its authority and search engine ranking.
How Long Does a B2B Website Design or Redesign Take?
The time it takes for a professional B2B web design agency to complete a website design or redesign project varies. A very rough timeline is around 50 to 500 hours. Largely, this time frame depends on your B2B website’s complexity and size. A B2B website redesign may take just as long as a B2B website design or slightly less, depending on the required changes and optimizations.
Conclusion
The top B2B websites implement industry-specific web design best practices, including SEO, content, and conversion optimization. Whether you want a B2B SaaS website, an eCommerce store, or something else entirely, consulting a reputed B2B website design agency to get your plan underway might be the best way forward.
