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The Internet is full of websites, but not all of them are memorable. The majority of businesses prefer a simple business card-like website design with limited content and no interaction. But website design doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, an exceptional website can make the difference between a potential customer viewing your site once and again or becoming a repeat visitor who shares your page with their friends. If you’re ready to take your company to the next level by creating an eye-catching website, keep reading for some great tips that will help you stand out from the competition. Remember that there are no exact rules when it comes to building a website; different businesses require different solutions for their websites. Your company might fall into one of these categories: startups and small businesses, personal blog or portfolio site, eCommerce store or local business. Whatever type of business you run, the tips below will give you enough information to begin planning your new site today.
Be Clear and Concise
The first thing your potential customers will notice is your content. If it’s filled with jargon and marketing fluff, they’ll click away as quickly as they arrived. On the other hand, if it’s clear and concise, they’ll stay and read on. Make each page on your site stand alone. Avoid creating a long scroll that requires your visitor to click through multiple pages just to find out what your business does. Be sure to include a short introduction about your business, followed by a list of the services you offer. Use bullet points to break up long paragraphs, and include plenty of subheadings so your readers can see the information is broken down into easy-to-read chunks. Be sure to proofread your content meticulously. Incorrect grammar, spelling, and poor sentence structure will distract readers from your core message. If you’re not confident in your ability to produce flawless content, consider hiring a professional copywriter to help you.
Don’t Forget Your Audience
While you want to be clear and concise, it’s also important to remember who your audience is when you create your new website. If your core demographic is senior citizens, don’t use a flashy, kaleidoscopic color scheme that’s usually found on websites targeting millennials. Instead, focus on clean lines, simple backgrounds, and large font sizes so everyone can easily navigate your site. Remember that not everyone has the same level of technology experience as you and your team. If you’re designing a site for businesses, avoid complicated navigation bars and include links that are relevant to your customers’ needs. Keep in mind that your website is a reflection of your company. If it’s cluttered, confusing, or difficult to navigate, it reflects poorly on both your brand and your customers.
Use Video to Show, Not Just Tell
Today’s customers want to know that you care about your products and services. If your previous website featured a “we sell” section, you need to update that to a “we share” section. Adding a video to your homepage or product pages is a great way to share a glimpse into your business. You can either create a video of your team talking about your products or create a video showcasing and demonstrating products and services. Video animation is an excellent addition to any website. Keep the video short and friendly, and always keep the focus on your products. If you have the resources to create custom videos, that’s even better. But don’t let the lack of a video hold you back from launching a new website.
Don’t Be Afraid of Color
If you’ve been afraid to use bright colors on your website because you think they’re only for eCommerce sites, don’t be. You can use color to highlight important information, create a sense of urgency, or just break up pages that might otherwise be too plain. Consider what mood you want to create on each page of your site. For example, does a particular product require urgency? If so, you can use bold red font to indicate this. Do you want to draw readers’ attention to a specific product? Use a bright color to highlight the item. If you’re worried about your site being too “in-your-face,” use a muted palette. If you want your site to create a sense of professionalism, but you’re not sure what colors to choose, consider using a neutral palette.
Build a Responsive Website Design
If your website isn’t responsive, you’re missing out on an enormous amount of traffic. In fact, statistics show that nearly 75% of all potential customers will abandon a site if they have to scroll horizontally to view the content. No matter what device they’re using, they’ll click away without even thinking about it. While you might have designed a brilliant static website that looks great on a computer screen, you could be turning away three-quarters of your potential business by neglecting to create a responsive website. Build a responsive website, or hire a web developer to do it for you. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about keeping your business relevant in today’s online world. If your business is one that relies on online sales, this is an essential feature.
Don’t Forget About SEO [Bonus]
If you’re not sure what your SEO strategy is, now is the time to decide. There are a few things you can do to boost your SEO, but remember that it’s a fluid process and what works today might not work tomorrow. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
- Use a unique title for every single page on your site. This helps search engines identify your content more easily
- Include keywords whenever possible. This is particularly important for the content of each page
- Include your keywords at the beginning of your content and at the end.
- Create a sitemap and include the names of all of your pages. Include your keywords in this sitemap as well
- Submit your website to the major search engines
Conclusion
When creating a new website, it can be easy to get carried away with the design and features. While aesthetics are important, don’t forget to keep your core message and target market in mind. You don’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a flashy website; in fact, it’s often better to build a simple website on a modest budget and scale gradually over time. Thought Media offers all-inclusive website packages that can help you get started. We also work with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WordPress, which are some of the most popular website designing platforms for businesses. We also specialize in full custom website design and development – completely tailored for your business. Learn more today by calling toll-free 1 (800) 916 3864.
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