Whether you’re just starting your first business website or you’re creating something new for an existing website, there’s a lot to keep in mind. There’s no one-size-fits-all to website design, but you can utilize the perfect web design formula to make your online presence as strong as possible.
From great content to making sure your website is searchable for big-name engines like Google, there’s a lot you need to know. Working with a web design expert is a great way to ensure you don’t forget anything along the way, but taking the time to understand the best web design formula for your website will also help you maintain your website long-term.
1. Mobile-First Design
Mobile-first design is more than a buzzword. It’s a reality of our online world today. Websites that are built for mobile are more likely to be indexed first in search engines. According to Google’s 2018 update, mobile-first indexing is already in effect.
What does this mean for your website design? It means you’ll need to ensure your design, content, and any social media sharing is done in a mobile-friendly way. Creating a website that works on all screens isn’t particularly challenging today, and most themes and presets are already designed to work in a mobile world.
2. Prioritize Website Speed
Next, something that’s often overlooked in the web design world is website speed. The research has consistently shown that your load time impacts your conversion rate. If it takes more than a second or two to load properly, you’ll likely lose visitors.
What slows down websites? Too many requests, large images, and multi-media content. Does that mean you have to avoid all of these things? No, but you’ll need to be wary of how much space each one is using and your average load times. It’s important to invest in making your website as fast as possible.
3. Stick to Simple
There’s nothing wrong with interesting, complex web design. In fact, this has its place in the online world. However, there’s also something to be said for the simplicity of a less-is-more theme. Google conducted a study to see how website designs stack up against each other. In this study, they found that visitors aren’t big fans of visual complexity.
Stick to standard layouts that people expect. Even if you use nontraditional elements, keep them within these expected frameworks that make it easier to navigate and find what you’re looking for. In addition, consider removing your sidebar in favor of a single-column layout. This keeps the focus on your content.
4. Use Visual Cues
Design today often relies on visual clues. Humans are visual creatures. They sometimes need help knowing where to look. If your design is overwhelming, your users might not know where to look, and this will keep them from converting on your page.
First, decide where you want users to focus on. This might be a block of text, blog post, or even a signup form. From there, you need a plan to draw attention to this feature. Using well-planned images, arrows, or even just bolt text can act as a visual cue to direct user attention.
5. Integrate Your Marketing
Last but not least, integrate your marketing into your website design. This is called integrated digital marketing and it’s a way to think about marketing in all aspects of your business or website. Including the same design elements throughout your website as you do in your social media and beyond will help users get to know your branding and messaging.
You’ll want to create content on your website that’s easy to share, speaks to your audience, and reflects your message. Create a persona you’re speaking to with both your design and your marketing, and be true to this persona.
Final Thoughts
Is your web design converting visitors into customers? If not, you need this design formula above. If you don’t have any of these things, you’ll notice your website struggling behind the competition.
With so many websites fighting for the same users, you need to optimize your entire design. From focusing on mobile-optimization to using the right visual cues, all of these things come together to create stunning, easy-to-use design.
About the Author: Brad Fogel
