As a modern company, having a well designed website is an absolute must. In many cases the majority of your interactions with customers will occur through your website. Being able to grab the attention of customers and hold on to their interest can make the difference between a successful company and one that can’t quite keep up. When it comes to effective website design, there are several important characteristics that companies should focus on.
Intuitive Design And Navigation
Quite possibly the most important aspect of good website design is that it should be intuitive for your customers to use. Links to pages should be clear, and it should be obvious where important information is located. If users can’t figure out how to use your website or get the information they want, they are liable to leave your website and your company behind. Clear website navigation is an absolute must.
Write Great Content
Another important component of good website design is dynamic content. Your website content should be focused on the needs and interests of your customers. This will serve your goals as a company better than content that seems focused on the goals of the business. Your content should be well written, engaging, and express a clear perspective. Additionally, keep it brief. Too much content, even if it is well written, can be overwhelming for customers.
Avoid Distractions
Equally important is the absence of distracting pop-ups, videos, and other visuals. Many advertisements employ such features. Users become frustrated and annoyed with these types of visuals, and you risk having them leave your website. To make your website easy and appealing for customers to use, keep the design simple and keep distracting visuals to a minimum.
Maintain Contact
It is not enough that users be able to easily navigate your website and engage with the content already there. Users need to be able to go beyond the content. This means that your website should include an easy way for customers to contact your business. It is unlikely that your website can answer every customer question – and for clarity and simplicity reasons, it shouldn’t try to. Providing a clear way for customers to contact your business by email or phone is an important part of designing a great website.
Be Smartphone Ready
One final important feature of website design is compatibility. This is a new concern that has arisen mostly with the increasing use of smartphones or other mobile devices. A well designed website should be accessible not just from a computer, but also from a smartphone or other device. This may mean creating a mobile site that mirrors but doesn’t replicate the design of your main website. If your website is inaccessible, you risk losing business to mobile-ready companies.