In today's digital age, your website is a crucial tool for driving business growth. Here are the essential web design features every business needs to maximize ROI in the coming year.
With competition rising across all sectors, businesses must ensure that their web design is not just aesthetically pleasing but also efficient in converting visitors into customers.
User behaviour over recent years sees more and more people using their phones to access websites. A responsive web design is now more important than ever to ensure that your website looks and functions flawlessly on mobile devices. This approach isn't just about resizing elements; it's about considering your site's navigation, layout, and content to cater to mobile users, ensuring quick load times and intuitive user journeys.
Nothing deters a potential customer faster than a confusing website. Your site's navigation should be straightforward, with a clear hierarchy. Menus should be concise, and essential information should be no more than a couple of clicks away. Additionally, consider adding a search function to assist users in finding what they need quickly.
With attention spans diminishing, the right visuals can convey your brand's message faster than text. High-quality images, infographics, animations, and short video clips can engage users, reduce bounce rates, and convey essential information efficiently. However, ensure these elements are optimised to prevent slow loading times.
A clear and compelling CTA guides users toward your desired outcome, whether that's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you. Position your CTAs prominently and ensure they stand out, but avoid being too aggressive. The language should be action-oriented and convey a sense of urgency or benefit.
With online security concerns ever present, users need to know they can trust your website. Incorporate elements like testimonials, client logos, certifications, and SSL certificates. These not only boost credibility but can also positively influence purchasing decisions.
In the digital sphere, speed is of the essence. A delay of just a few seconds in page load time can lead to significant drop-offs in user engagement. Optimise images, ensure reliable fast hosting, and consider implementing lazy loading techniques to ensure your site loads swiftly.
An often-overlooked aspect of web design is ensuring accessibility for users with disabilities. Incorporating features like text-to-speech, alt-text for images, and easy font readability can make your website inclusive, expanding your potential audience and ensuring compliance with web accessibility standards.
What's the use of a beautifully designed website if it doesn't rank on search engines? Ensure that your web design is SEO-friendly, with proper use of headings, meta tags, and structured data. An SEO-optimised website attracts more organic traffic, boosting your opportunities for growth.
Embed analytics tools like Google Analytics to monitor user behaviour, identify pain points, and understand which parts of your website are driving conversions. Seek feedback from stakeholders, partners and customers to gain valuable insights directly, helping you refine and improve.
Your website is your shop window and your business deserves to be represented in the best possible light. There are many elements that go into designing and building a successful website. Consider the DNA of your brand and how to surface that across this key touchpoint, ultimately you want to engage your audience in an authentic and credible way. Never neglect your website, if it's underperforming it will really hold your business back.
Additional Tip: If you're looking to embark on a new website project, it's absolutely key to understand the DNA of your brand, what you want to surface across this key touchpoint. This is where brand development comes into its own, laying the foundations for further success. You can read more about our Bespoke Branding Service on this link.