The human mind works incredibly fast. It took you about 1/10 of a second to decide if this website was worth staying on.
But you’re here to learn 7 tips from the top agencies for designing a good website, so you decided to stay.
We won’t let you down.
1. Have a Plan
When designing a website, the number one thing you should have prepared is a plan. Even if that plan veers off course, at least you had a starting point.
Answering any of these questions is a good way to start.
How do you want users to navigate the website? Do you want them to go to a specific page first? Or would you rather they jump around at their leisure?
Your website says a lot about your company, and the tone you set with navigation is a big one.
To guide someone through your website, use calls-to-action. However, having call-to-action buttons that only lead clients to trials or consultations is a no go. You need to have call-to-action buttons that educate consumers.
This is the chance to assert your brand. Tell them why they should be interested in your website.
If you’re selling physical products and advertise as an “eco-friendly brand,” then tell the consumer why you’re eco-friendly.
Tell them about your ethics. Tell them a story. Tell them why your website is worth their time.
2. Mobile-Friendly Website
This is a big one.
Americans spend more than 5 hours a day on their phones. In 2019, 5.1 billion people had smartphones. Allowing mobile access to your website is essential.
Making your website user-friendly goes back into navigation. Streamlining your website design will allow users to quickly find what they’re looking for.
Keep the media to a minimum on the homepage. If there are images, make sure they’re optimized for web use. If a page is filled with large files or too much content, it won’t load quickly.
Slow loading times and complicated navigation meant for a computer screen are two of the quickest ways to lose users’ attention before you’ve even had a chance to get it.
3. White Space
The eyes need a break.
You can’t overwhelm a webpage with a wall of text and expect users to stay on your site.
Breaking up chunks of text or images with white space makes things easier to process.
The best website design will have plenty of information but will be balanced out with plenty of white space between that information.
4. Contrast
Contrast can come from a lot of different things. Color and fonts are two big examples.
Using different fonts can be appealing, but they should complement one another. For example, if you’re using a sans serif font then keeping both fonts in that family is a good rule of thumb.
If you’re having a hard time deciding, remember that sans serif reads best on the screen while serif reads best in print. (Sticking to this rule isn’t essential, though. It’s your website design!)
Color is another large aspect to take into consideration.
There needs to be a stark contrast between the print color and the background color, otherwise it can be hard to read. Again, these should be complementary.
Images play a part in this too. Doing some research on how color affects people—and their mood—could add something unique to your website.
5. Choose Relevant Images
While color is important, the content you choose when designing a website plays a big part in consumers choosing to stay or leave too.
No matter what colors you choose, images you include need to be relevant to your content. If you’re writing an informative post, pair it with an image. This will be the first thing users are likely to remember.
Putting thought into the art you post on your website can make or break a user’s remembrance, and decide whether they come back.
6. Immediacy Is Key When Designing a Good Website
Immediacy can be thought of in a lot of different ways.
Creating a sense of urgency—a sense of immediacy—for users on your website makes a big impact.
Creating a hashtag specific to your brand, and then featuring user photos from Instagram in your website’s design can be a great way to achieve this.
It gives them an immediate interaction with your brand and a way to get directly involved. Allowing users to feel connected guarantees a positive experience with your website and your overall brand.
Users also respond well to convenience.
A great way to achieve this is a chat feature on your homepage. This makes it easy for users to get in contact with someone directly from your business if they have any questions.
If you’re selling a product, having a chat feature is even better.
Nobody likes waiting in an email or over the phone. Having someone present to answer their questions directly on the homepage provides a positive customer experience, which will make them remember your brand.
7. Unique Design
Think about it. How many websites do you personally visit on a daily basis?
What do you look for when you’re visiting a new website?
Implementing unique designs like a sideways scroll can make the difference between an ordinary website and an immersive experience.
Bringing Everything Together
These tips are a great way to get started with designing a good website, but you should remember to make everything your own.
Visit a few of your favorite websites and take note of what made you revisit them.
While you shouldn’t copy anyone’s website design, you could put your own spin on it. If they have a good color scheme, take note of what makes it good.
Do the colors contrast? Are they complementary? Is there plenty of imagery to look at? Are there any calls-to-action? Where do those calls-to-action lead you?
Remember, you may be designing something for your business, but you should have fun doing it. Get creative, and remember that there are no limits.
If you need more ideas, keep reading our blog.
