If you just opened your business, you may think the hard part is over. Well, not quite.
You’ll still have to stay on top of marketing and advertising trends to get those valuable customers. Right now, having an online presence should be your top priority.
Of course, that all starts with your website. But you don’t want just to throw something together overnight and be done. Your website design plays a huge role in how effective your website is.
If you’re asking questions like, “what is web design?” and “what makes a good website?” keep reading. We have all the answers you need and more!
What is Web Design?
So before we can get into the logistics and benefits of web design, it’s important to understand what exactly it is.
The term web design refers to the process of planning an online website. This may seem simple, but it includes a lot of moving parts.
It encompasses the physical aspects, like color, fonts, layout, images, and content. But it also includes the “behind the scenes” work, like setting up site navigation and making it compatible with different operating systems. Anything that you can think of that goes into making a website can be considered web design.
It takes a lot of work and expertise to create a great website. This is why many people hire a professional web development company to ensure they get the best website possible.
Why Should You Care?
All right, so now that we know what web design is, let’s talk about why it matters. We’ve outlined some of the top benefits of good web design below.
Better SEO Results
With the internet easier to access than ever, most people turn to a quick Google search to find local businesses. But 93% of people never go past the first page on their search engine.
This means that for your website to be effective, it needs to have a high ranking on search engines. This is achieved through SEO or Search Engine Optimization.
Many things can affect your SEO, and your website design is one of them. A quality webpage that loads quickly is mobile-friendly and has the right content will appear higher than a low-quality website. So, to get your website seen, you want to ensure it’s well-designed.
First Impressions Matter
Since so many people turn to the internet to search for businesses, this means that your website will likely be your customer’s first impression of your company.
You’d never show up to a business meeting in stained sweatpants and unwashed hair. So, your website shouldn’t be filled with errors and bad design choices. Good website design helps ensure those customers are getting a good first impression and view your company as professional and well-put-together.
Build Your Customer Base
Chances are, your customers are looking for convenience when they visit your site. If your site is frustrating or hard to use, they’ll likely turn to a competitor with a better site.
If you include features like easy-to-use chat boxes or online shopping, you could attract those customers who are looking for a convenient experience. Making sure your information is easy to find can give you an edge over competitors with poor website design.
Utilizing Website Design
“All right, you convinced me! Now, what does good website design entail?” This is a fair question.
The truth is that there is no one right answer. What’s right for one company may not be right for another. With that being said, there are a few elements that any type of business can employ to help improve their web design and get all those great benefits.
Keep It Simple and Easy to Load
Have you ever felt overwhelmed the second you entered a webpage? Maybe it was filled with bold colors, images, and text, and you didn’t know where to look first.
You don’t need a bunch of crazy colors and images to make an eye-catching website. Keep your design clean and simple so users have an easier time figuring out where to click next.
An overcrowded design may also cause your website to load slower. If it takes too long to load, people will start clicking away faster. Not only does this mean you’ll miss out on those customers, but slow loading times hurt your SEO rankings, so people will be less likely to come across your site on the internet.
Stay Consistent
Once you’ve decided on a color palette and overall style, make sure you stick with it. Your potential customers may feel confused if your pages are so different that they look like completely different websites.
Now, this doesn’t mean you have to keep everything identical. But you should have matching design elements throughout every page of your website to keep things consistent.
Make it Easy to Navigate.
Remember, your website isn’t just to get your name out there. It’s supposed to be a source of valuable information for your potential customers. If they can’t find the information they’re looking for, they’ll likely try a competitor’s website.
This is why your site has to be easy to navigate. You should have headers going across your screen with obvious titles, like “about us”, “contact us”, and “our products.” When a user clicks on the headers, they should be taken directly to the relevant page.
Make it Mobile Friendly.
More people are now using smartphones to browse the internet than regular desktop computers. Unfortunately, not all websites translate well onto mobile devices.
To reach all those smartphone users, you’ll have to design your website to be mobile-friendly. Not only will it help your customers see your website no matter what device they’re on, but having a mobile-friendly site also boosts your SEO.
Update Your Website Today
If you were wondering, “what is web design?” we hoped this article shed some light. With the right website design, you can increase your online presence and build your customer base to help you turn a higher profit.
Are you ready to have a professional and well-designed website? Check out services for more information on how we can help.
