What parts of your website really matter to
customers?
Can I make do with what I have? Is it worth investing in a
new website design? Is my website really affecting sales that much?
There are certain aspects of your web design that visitors
absolutely care about and if they don’t get their needs met, they’re going to
leave… almost immediately.
There is no point in spending good marketing dollars driving
people to your site if they are simply going to hit the back button right after
arriving. The goal of driving traffic to your site is to increase conversion
rates, whatever that conversion looks like to your business.
So, what do your visitors care about when they enter your
website?
5 Crucial Pieces to
Good Web Design
Now, when we say good design, we don’t just mean that your
website looks pretty. A website with a good design means that it is easy to
navigate, is organized efficiently, offers visitors value, and of course, it is
aesthetically pleasing.
1. Navigation
A survey from Hubspot showed that 76% of people say the most
important characteristic of a website is ease of use. Navigation is a huge part
of creating a well-organized and user-friendly website.
If you want visitors to stay on your website and work their
way towards a conversion, it’s imperative that they’re able to find the
information they’re looking for. Also, keep in mind that most people don’t
actually use their back buttons, therefore, your navigation should be able to
get them back to where they started easily.
Creating a smart navigational system for your entire website allows users to
browse through easily, which keeps them there longer with an increased chance
for conversions.
2. Organization
A well-organized website provides a clear picture of what
you’re offering, why your visitors need it, and how they can get it.
Your pages should be organized so that they clearly display
what is most important using a visual hierarchy with calls-to-action larger, bolder
and easier to see. By directing visitors’ eyes to what you want them to see,
you can direct them to the action you want them to take.
3. Value
Giving visitors value with your website can mean many
different things.
What it boils down to is making sure your website visitors
are getting what they’re promised. If they come to your website searching for
information about your product or service, it’s important they receive it
quickly and easily.
The biggest way to provide value through your website is
with high quality content.
4. Aesthetics
At the end of the day, aesthetics do play a part in the
effectiveness of your website in capturing new leads and converting customers.
Is it visually appealing? Does the imagery reinforce your brand message?
The first impression visitors have of your website could be
the deciding factor on whether or not they trust you, want to do business with
you, would refer you to their friends or would ever come back again.
Finding the right aesthetic for your business means
determining who your audience is. For example, if you’re a law firm, you’ll
want to forgo the bright, flashy colors and cartoonish graphics. Remember that
it’s not about what YOU like; it’s about what YOUR CUSTOMERS need to see.
People aren’t generally playing around when researching law firms.
Another portion of web design aesthetics is using appealing
imagery and video content to break up text and help break down information in
an easy-to-digest form.
5. Speed & Responsive
Design
This last section isn’t always considered “part of your
website design” but they are both crucial in keeping visitors on your website.
The longer a visitor has to wait for a page to load, the
more likely they are to abandon that page and hit that back button. The
majority of people are willing to wait about 6-10 seconds for a page to load,
but there are some that are only willing to wait 1-5 seconds, and a small
percentage that will not wait even 1 second.
Along with page load speed, HOW your page loads can affect
how long people stay on your website. This is where having responsive web
design is so important. More people today are using their smartphones to search
the web than desktops. Responsive web design takes your website and adjusts the
different elements to make sure your website is delivered with the optimal
viewing experience and is easy to navigate, read and use without having to
resize in their device.
Don’t guess whether you need a website
redesign…
Let the experienced and skilled Orlando web designers and
web developers at Sales & Marketing Technologies give you a professional
opinion... for free!
If you are in Orlando, Florida come in and let’s go through
your site together. We can show you all the areas your site can be improved.
Can’t make it in? No problem. We can do a screen share with you and show
you. If you don’t need a redesign, we’ll
tell you that too. Call SMT today at
(407) 682-2222 and ask for your free, no-obligation web design consultation.