What Makes For a Great Website?

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is not just a nice to have, but is vital for businesses of all sizes who want to remain competitive. Your website serves as the digital storefront for your brand, often making the first impression on potential customers, and should be one of the main tools to market and grow your business. Done right, it has the potential to deliver an incredible number of new leads and customers on a regular basis.

But what exactly makes for a great website design? Let’s explore the key elements that can contribute to your website’s success and how you can ensure your online presence outperforms your competition.

1. Clear and Intuitive Navigation

Easy-to-use navigation menus help visitors find what they're looking for quickly and easily. Don’t make them guess – make it super easy to find what they’re after!

• Organize your website's pages logically and use descriptive labels for menu items.
• Implement breadcrumb navigation to provide users with a clear path back to previous pages. This is especially important for complex websites with many pages.

2. Engaging Content

Compelling written content is essential for informing and engaging visitors.

• Use clear and concise language to communicate your message effectively.
• Incorporate multimedia content, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics, to keep visitors entertained and informed.
• Be sure to add new content to your website on a regular basis – at least monthly (the more the better).

3. Strong Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Implementing SEO best practices helps your website rank higher in search engine results and attract more organic traffic.

• Optimize your website's meta tags, headings, and content for relevant keywords.
• Build high-quality backlinks from relevant, high traffic external websites.
• Create valuable, shareable content, including blog posts, on a consistent basis to improve your site's authority and search engine visibility.

4. Responsive Design

A responsive website design ensures your site looks good and functions seamlessly across all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

• Mobile-friendly design is crucial, as more users are accessing the internet from mobile devices than ever before.
• Test your website on various devices and screen sizes to ensure optimal performance.

5. Compelling Visuals

High-quality photos, graphics, and videos can captivate visitors and convey your brand's message effectively.

• Use professional photography or carefully selected stock images to enhance your website's visual appeal.
• Incorporate visual elements that align with your brand identity and resonate with your target audience.
• Align your website’s color scheme with your logo’s color scheme.

6. Strong Calls to Action

Clearly defined calls to action prompt visitors to take the next steps, whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting your business.

• Use persuasive language and visually appealing buttons to encourage action.
• Place calls to action strategically throughout your website to maximize conversion opportunities.
• Consider adding motion to your calls to action.

7. Fast Loading Speed

A fast-loading website is crucial for providing a positive user experience, reducing bounce rates, and achieving strong search engine results.

• Optimize images and multimedia files (i.e., reduce the file size) to minimize load times.
• Use caching and compression techniques to speed up your website's performance.
• Monitor your website page load speed using Google’s Search Console or other tools.

8. Secure and Trustworthy

It’s important to create a sense that your website is trustworthy, secure, and authoritative, because if your viewer has any doubts then they may move on rather than continue exploring your pages.

• Ensure your website is secure by using HTTPS encryption and installing an SSL certificate. This is also important for SEO purposes.
• Display trust signals, such as customer testimonials, security badges, and privacy policies, to instill confidence in visitors.
• Regularly update your website's software and plugins to protect against security vulnerabilities.
• Prove your expertise by adding relevant blog posts related to your products and services on a regular basis. Add blog feeds to your home page and to your main service or product category pages.

9. Analytics and Tracking

Utilize web analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to track visitor behavior and gather valuable insights into your website's performance.

• Monitor key metrics, such as traffic sources, bounce rates, and conversion rates, to identify areas for improvement.
• Use data-driven insights to refine your website and optimize its effectiveness over time.

10. Continuous Improvement

• Regularly review and update your website to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
• Create new blog posts on a regular basis.
• Solicit feedback from visitors and stakeholders to identify areas for improvement.
• Stay informed about emerging web design trends and technology advancements to keep your website ahead of the curve.

Again, a great website is more than just a digital brochure – it's a powerful tool for attracting, engaging, and converting visitors into leads and customers. By including these 10 elements into your website design and strategy, you can create a compelling online presence that drives increasingly greater results for your business month after month, and year after year!

Let’s Create Your Perfect Website. Contact Us Today!

If you're ready to grow your business by building a new website or redesigning your existing site to include these best practices, we're here to help make it happen.

Contact us to learn more about our web design services and take the first step towards creating a website that puts you head and shoulders above your competition!