Ok the below post I wrote for 2n2designs.com. So it is fine for me to share it here as well.
Getting started on a good website design
When you’re starting a new business or you’re new to the online marketing scene, the first thing you would look into creating is a good website. There is a huge amount of information out there especially when looking for what makes a good website design. Due to this huge amount of information it could get quite overwhelming and difficult to figure out how to get started.
To help you sort out what to focus on first when starting your website we have created 8 key elements of a good website design. If you already have a website ask yourself “Does your website have these key elements?”
1. The Perfect headline text
When users land on your website they must be able to understand its purpose as fast as possible. There are a lot another website out there that you are competing with and if a user does not immediately understand what you’re selling them, they will simply move on to the next website.
Your website’s headline should be clear and simple. You do not need to get too descriptive. The headline’s main point is to capture the user’s interest so they will keep reading.
2. Give them good content
The main reason we conduct web searches is to get information. So if you want your potential customers to stay, you need to give them exactly that; information. As a business, this may seem difficult as you are trying to sell your product. However, if you think about it no user really wants to hear you go on about how good your service is, by providing the valuable and helpful information you have given what they needed. In doing so you would establish that you’re an expert in your field and that you are willing to provide assistance.
They may not initially convert as a customer however they will recognise your business as a trustworthy source and should they ever need your service they would not hesitate to contact you or even recommend you to friends. You can call it an investment.
3. Give a clear Call to Action (CTA)
Always remember to make it as easy as possible for the users to know what to do next. Make your “Call to action” buttons clear. CTAs are designed to guide users through to a sale or inquiry.
Most websites use the basic CTA such as “Buy Now”, “Call us now” or their number. Don’t be afraid to go into more detail of what is next. Be descriptive in your CTA, the more a user knows what is on the other side of that button the easier it would be for them to click it. Check out the CTA of Unbounce below:
4. Responsive Design (Mobile Friendly)
Today there is a huge variety of devices in which your website can be viewed in by a user.
To make sure you do not lose any potential customers or client your website must adjust and appear on all of them without compromising its visual appeal and user experience.
Some business in order to cater to this and avoid creating a responsive website they instead create a separate website specifically for their website visitors using mobile devices.
5. Great user experience.
This is probably the most important element your website needs to get right. However, this is easily attainable if you are able to apply all of the above elements into your website.
User experience is an ongoing element and can always be improved by tracking and studying website data (we will talk about this below). To get you started here is a couple of tips about having good user experience.
- Not at any point should a user of your website/app not be able to find what they are looking for.
- A perfect user experience is made up of actions that require no thought (second nature).
- Your website/app should always take your target audience into consideration.
6. Appealing visual design
This element is the first impression, to put it in everyday language it is what you look at first during a blind date. A great design can give a user the impression that a business is trustworthy and successful. Additionally, it could create enough interest for a user to browse further into your other pages.
However it’s important to remember that anyone can create a pretty website. The key to a good website design is a balance between visual aesthetics and user experience.
7. Collect, Track Data and Learn
Like everything related to marketing and technology there is always room for improvement. However without being able to determine how your current website is working in achieving your business goals or stats such as bounce rates, conversions, user time spent you would not be able to make any smart decisions to improve your online marketing.
Use tools such as Google analytics, mixpanel, w3counter, etc. Personally the best one to use is google analytics but requires quite a bit more knowledge in getting set-up. Do abit of research to find what works best for you.
8. Website company support
This is important if you’re not managing your online marketing in-house. Should you hire a designer or online marketing company make sure they understand your business goals and what you are looking to do online. They need to be able to provide you expert knowledge on these key elements and how they plan to improve it.
There you have it, 8 key elements to consider when creating a good website design. However keep in mind many businesses assume that once you have created a good website design, a project is completed. This is where they are absolutely wrong. Creating a good website is an ongoing job that requires being up to date with the latest trends and advances in technology to be able to provide your users with the best online experience possible.
Have any questions?..
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Feel free to contact us if you have any inquiries regarding website design or any other services.