A good website is more than just a site that looks pretty; while aesthetics certainly play a role, there's a lot more that goes into building a website than meets the eye. Running a well-developed website is a team effort, and website design involves many intricate components coming together seamlessly to create a digital masterpiece.
Think about it – your website is often the first impression you make on the internet. It's like your digital storefront, your voice to the world, or your online superpower. So, it's not just about making it look good; it's about making it work brilliantly.
Today, we're taking you on a journey into the fascinating world of website design. We're going to unravel the mystery behind what makes a website not only easy on the eyes but also super user-friendly and great at getting the job done.
Buckle up because your website is about to get a whole lot more exciting!
Website Design
Let’s start with the ‘visual part’ of the website, what users see upon landing on your site. When it comes to the aesthetic aspects of website design, several key elements play a role in creating an appealing and effective website. Here are some important considerations:
Call to Action (CTA): Eye-catching and strategically placed CTAs are vital. These buttons or links should guide visitors toward desired actions, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting your business. The CTA buttons should stand out and use compelling text.
Clean Design: A clean and uncluttered design not only looks visually appealing but also helps visitors focus on the most important content. Minimalistic layouts, ample white space, and a consistent color scheme can contribute to a clean design.
Typography: Selecting the right fonts and typography is crucial. Fonts should be easy to read and consistent throughout the site. Combining complementary fonts for headings and body text can add visual interest.
Customer Testimonials: Displaying customer testimonials or reviews can add credibility to your website. They serve as social proof and show potential customers that others have had positive experiences with your products or services.
Backend Services (CMS “Content Management System” / Software)
Think of your website like a car. When people admire your fancy new sports car, they focus on the shiny exterior, the sleek tires, and the comfy leather seats. In the online world, this is what users see when they visit your site.
But just like a sports car needs a powerful engine under the hood to run smoothly, your website needs something called the "backend" to make it work. The backend is where all the real magic happens. Without a strong backend, your website won't be able to impress your visitors. It's a bit like having a sports car with no engine – it won't get you very far.
When it comes to different kinds of websites, there are specific tools that work best in the background. For instance, if you're running an online store, Shopify is a fantastic option, while for websites with loads of information, like blogs and news sites, platforms like Wix or Wordpress can be very adaptable.
Simplify Page Navigation
Design your website for easy navigation, so visitors can quickly locate what they need. Just like in a mall where signs show you where each store is, and store employees help you find products. Online, you achieve this with smart website design. Each topic should have its own dedicated page, and everything should be logically organized. The objective is to create a delightful online experience for your visitors.
Now, you might be thinking that all of this is a lot of work. But here's the good news: you don't have to do it all on your own. Web development experts can help you create an awesome website. They're skilled at turning your ideas into a fantastic online destination for customers.
A terrific website will show its success through online data. Metrics like how many people make a purchase, how much they buy, how many pages they view, and more will tell you how well your website is doing.
Data Tracking
Speaking of data, using tools like Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools, and Bing Webmaster Tools, you can efficiently track your website's performance and measure their return on investment. These tools work for both traditional and mobile sites, helping you monitor traffic, engagement, and conversion rates.
By analyzing this data, you can identify which marketing campaigns are successful and which need improvement. These insights enable your team to refine marketing strategies and enhance user engagement, ensuring your online presence remains effective.
Selecting a Domain and Hosting
The right domain name is essential. It should be easy to remember, spell, and represent your brand well. A good domain also boosts your chances of showing up in search results. In short, being easy to find online means more customers for your business.
When you're comparing hosting options, think about your website's needs. Will it have lots of media like pictures and videos? Do you have tech experts on your team, or do you need responsive support from your hosting provider? Consider your website's expected traffic. Can the hosting company adapt to your needs? Check their backup, security, and extra features. And, before deciding, read reviews about the company's performance on social media and other websites.
Choose The Right Color Scheme
Color choices play a more significant role than most people realize. Colors have the power to evoke emotions like calmness, joy, or even frustration. When it comes to using colors in your website design, it's vital to think about your industry, your target audience, your branding, and the principles of color theory.
Consider which colors will resonate with your audience. Does your color scheme complement your logo and branding, or does it overwhelm? Are you aiming for a lively, vibrant image with colors like bright orange, or a professional, soothing look with calming blues? No matter your decision, investing time in choosing the right colors will leave a positive impression on your website visitors.
Update Your Blog Section Regularly
Having an active blog on your website serves as a valuable tool for keeping your customers informed about new products, company events, and industry insights. It's not just about sharing information; it's also a fantastic way to engage with your audience.
When your blog posts encourage readers to connect with your brand, it fosters a sense of community. Consistently updating your blog demonstrates your commitment to open communication and your brand's core values.
Now when I mention blogs, I don’t mean copying what’s already out there. It's crucial to write good, original content that talks about your company and what you sell. The quality of your content and the words you use affect how well your website shows up in search engines. Doing some research on the right keywords can give you ideas for what to write about, and if you use these keywords wisely, it makes it easier for customers to find what they're looking for.
To make your web pages more attractive, you should put links to other trustworthy websites and pages on your own site. The content you put on your site should sound like it's coming from your brand's unique style. Before you publish anything, it's a good idea to check if it's copied from somewhere else using a tool like Copyscape. If you put the same content that's on other websites on your site, Google might penalize you, and your site could be removed from search results
Plus, it's worth noting that an active blog also contributes to improved SEO, as search engines love fresh, informative, and captivating content. This positions your brand as a trusted resource and an authority within the industry while helping you climb search engine rankings, which brings us to our next point.
Clean, SEO-Friendly Code
Ensuring your website's code is clean and SEO-friendly is a must, whether you're creating new pages or fine-tuning existing ones. This investment pays off in the long run. SEO-friendly code is like a map for search engines, helping them understand what your website is all about. Platforms like WordPress offer plugins that make it easier to tidy up your code and boost your search engine rankings. Even if you're not a coding expert, WordPress can help you if you're struggling to get more visitors to your site.
SEO involves using specific keywords in your content. It's not about making things overly complex, but it's essential to mention the main topic on each page. For instance, if you want people looking for "air conditioner installation" to find you, be sure to talk about "air conditioner installation" a few times on each page.
Remember, SEO is a long-term effort. You won't see instant results, but over time, it can greatly improve your online presence and how easily people can find you in search engines.
Mobile Phone Optimisation
In recent years, the use of mobile devices for online searches has seen a remarkable surge. In fact, mobile devices are the preferred choice for browsing websites, accounting for more than half of all web traffic, approximately 55%. So, to stay relevant, you need to adapt. One smart approach is to design your website with a mobile-first mindset.
For well-established companies with existing web presences, developing a separate mobile-friendly website optimized for various devices can be a strategic choice. However, for businesses planning to launch a new website, a more forward-thinking approach is to adopt a responsive web design strategy that can seamlessly adapt to any device.
It's not just about user experience but also impacts how search engines rank your website. Search engines evaluate the mobile-friendliness of your site, taking into account factors such as screen size, easily clickable buttons, readable text, and a user-friendly, easily accessible menu. In short, businesses should prioritize responsive web design to cater to the increasing mobile user base and satisfy search engine requirements.
PRO TIP: The longer people stay on your site, the better it ranks on search engines, and to get people to stay on your site, you need to provide an excellent user experience.
Slow Websites
I don’t know about you but, there's nothing that gets under my skin quite like lagging websites. When I'm searching for information online, the last thing I want to deal with is the frustration of waiting for a web page to load. It's not just an annoyance; it can be a deal-breaker for potential customers.
As a marketer, your job is to ensure a top-notch user experience. And to do that, it's absolutely crucial to put your website to the test in advance and tackle any loading time issues before your big launch. Fast load times are the name of the game, ensuring your audience gets what they want when they want it. Because if your site doesn't deliver, you can bet your bottom dollar a competitor's will!
PRO TIP: To keep your users happy and coming back for more, remember to regularly check your website's loading speed even after it's live.
Incorporate CAPTCHA Tests
Spam is a persistent problem for many businesses, overwhelming their comment sections, contact forms, and site forums. This issue can be alleviated by implementing captcha tests, those familiar sequences of random letters and numbers that users must complete before submitting web-based forms.
These tests serve the purpose of distinguishing human users from automated bots. By incorporating these brief tests into your contact forms, you can safeguard your site's resources, ensuring that only human users can access them, ultimately saving your business valuable time and resources.
Strong Security
It's no secret that websites encounter progressively intricate security risks that can jeopardize their integrity. These threats encompass a spectrum from malware and viruses to malicious apps and the looming specter of hackers, necessitating comprehensive security measures for both the front and back ends of a website.
When it comes to websites handling online transactions, such as e-commerce platforms, the need for heightened security becomes even more pressing. In these cases, safeguarding customer information is important. To diminish the potential risks of browser-based threats, it is essential for businesses to integrate SSL certificates into their websites.
Throughout the development phase, a meticulous review of the security features embedded within your website's framework and design is critical. Moreover, businesses, particularly e-commerce platforms, must recognize the importance of protecting the sensitive financial information that customers input.
Therefore, it is highly advisable to conduct regular security assessments or collaborate with a service provider offering such services to fortify the security of your website. This is especially important for e-commerce sites, where your clients are keying in sensitive financial information.
Images
Everything you find on your website, like pictures and graphics, is protected by copyright laws. Getty Images, one of the top sources for stock photos, ensures that images are used correctly online. If you use copyrighted images without permission, you could face fines. When you want to use images on your website, it's important to get written permission and pay any required fees.
There are also websites like Pixabay, Unsplash, and Pexels where you can find images that are free to use without worrying about copyright. These sites provide a range of images that you can use legally without paying fees or obtaining special permissions. However, be sure to read their terms and conditions carefully before using these images. For many businesses, it's often better to pay for images and use them legally, even if it costs a bit, rather than risk problems with using images without permission.
With these 24 considerations in website development and design, it's evident that creating a branded website involves many factors. Your website should not only attract more visitors and generate leads but also engage customers with its design, ease of use, and content. As you work on your website, refer to the tools and information provided in this guide to make sure your site has what it takes to succeed.
Offsite Reviews
With Google's changes in how it ranks websites, local searches have become a higher priority. Review platforms such as Google and Yelp play a significant role in generating valuable leads for businesses. Nowadays, when people search for a local business or product, they often see reviews about the company right on the first page of search results. Gathering reviews on third-party websites not only boosts your brand's credibility but also makes it easy for potential customers to gauge the satisfaction level associated with your brand.
To ensure that customers can leave reviews about your company, it's essential to claim your business profile on third-party review platforms like Google and Yelp. You can then create a call to action on your website, prompting clients to write a review and guiding them to these external review services.
Google offers an excellent way to connect your Google+ business page reviews with your website. If your business has a qualifying address and a Google+ account, you can search for your business page and, if it doesn't already exist, create one. Once Google confirms your ownership, your Google+ business page will be linked to your website and will appear whenever your site is listed in the search engine results.
Final Words
As you navigate your way through the digital marketing landscape, remember that you don't have to go it alone. Web development experts like us can help turn your vision into a remarkable online destination for your customers.
A successful website is about more than just aesthetics; it's about crafting an online experience that resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting mark. So, as you embark on this journey through website design, make sure your website is not just a pretty face but a powerful tool that reflects your brand's identity and values.
SO, WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS PARTNER?
Well, aren’t we glad you asked! We at DigiCom are obsessive data-driven marketers pulling from multi-disciplinary strategies to unlock scale. We buy media across all platforms and placements and provide creative solutions alongside content creation, and conversion rate optimizations. We pride ourselves on your successes and will stop at nothing to help you grow.
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