Designing a website is tricky. You need to provide site visitors with the information they need while making sure that information is easily recognized by search engines. The site also needs to be easy to navigate.
(Pixabay / Unsplash)
There are countless design options for your site, but you need to choose just one that fits your business. Otherwise, your site could look like a messy hodge-podge of conflicting elements.
Whether you already have a website or are setting one up for the first time, consider adopting the following qualities for optimal design:
- Responsive design – Your design should adapt to any type of screen and device. You will have a very limited reach if you design a website that is limited to just one type of user—whether desktop or mobile. A significant number of users frequently switch from one device to another.
- Simple design – The trend in website design still focuses on minimalism, favoring a simple approach. Gone are the days of incredibly complex web designs. People now appreciate flatter, cleaner looks.
- Moderate use of stock photos – Stock photos are cheap and handy but bear in mind that people will notice if you rely too heavily on them. Consider producing some of your own photos for a unique, personalized look.
- Simple navigation – Avoid bogging down your website with too many navigation options. Users want to get to different pages in a matter of seconds. The more effortless you can make your navigation, the better.
- Accessible contact information – Users rely on websites to make contact with companies. Make sure your website has clear information for getting in touch with you. It should be available on every page of your site, as a side menu or footer.
- No social media feeds – Positioning your social media feed on your website can be distracting. You may think that social media is doing you a favor by driving traffic to your site, but the feed might actually be sidetracking people and sending them away.
- Clickable banners – Your logo or banner should be “clickable” so it can easily bring users back to the homepage. This makes navigation easy.
- Every page a landing page – Make each page of your website an opportunity to drive people closer to completing your sales funnel. This can be achieved by making every page a landing page that contributes to the final sale.
- Review regularly – Website design and customer demands keep on changing. You should review your website every six months to keep up with current trends and shifting consumer interests.
There’s no need to overhaul your site, but periodically assessing and tweaking it is a smart practice that can keep your design on the cutting edge.