Is your website up to scratch? Any business’ website often serves as the first impression that can make or break user engagement and hugely influence customer decisions. That’s why it’s crucial for successful businesses to have a well-designed website that seamlessly blends creativity, user experience, SEO and functionality.
In this blog, we discuss our top points to consider if you want to create a website with the ‘wow’ factor.
Define your purpose and audience
Before you get stuck into the visual aspects of website design, it’s smart to first make sure you’ve clearly defined what you want its purpose to be, and who your target audience is. Do you want your site to be a brochure style site, does it need to generate leads, direct sales or to fundraise if you’re a charity, should it inform investors and/or do you need it to attract new talented employees? Taking the time to outline your goals will provide you with the foundation for every website design choice you make. Having a deep understanding of your target audience will help you create a user-friendly website that resonates with your visitors.
Focus on the user experience
User experience (UX) is arguably the most important aspect of website design. A well-thought-out UX ensures that visitors can easily navigate your site, quickly find the information they’re after, and interact with all its features without getting frustrated. You can achieve this through a clean and intuitive navigation system, decluttered pages, and a well-prioritised content hierarchy. Your design should also be fast and responsive, so your website loads quickly and functions flawlessly on various devices, from desktops to tablets and smartphones.
Create captivating visuals
The aesthetic appeal of your website is how you captivate your visitors and keep them engaged. Invest in high-quality imagery, graphics, and videos that align with your brand identity and your audience. You should also choose a colour scheme that complements your brand and creates an enjoyable visual experience. Keep in mind that simplicity can often be most effective, so avoid overwhelming your visitors with excessive visual elements and let your content do the talking.
Lead with your brand value proposition
To create an immediate connection with your audience when they land on your site, lead with your purpose. Having a clear and punchy purpose creates an instinctive, emotional connection. We’d then recommend stating clearly in one sentence what it is that you do. It’s effective to include copy on why customers should choose you and your differentiated approach or key attributes. In the first few seconds when impressions most count, you want your audience to have an emotional connection, understand your beliefs, what you do and ‘why you’.
Optimise your SEO and performance
A stunning website isn’t very useful if it doesn’t get any visitors! Therefore, search engine optimisation (SEO) is essential to allow your website to improve its Google ranking and attract more potential visitors. So, conduct keyword research, keep on top of your meta titles and descriptions, and use descriptive URLs. Don’t forget to consider your SEO strategy beyond the website launch. Your site will need to be readily updated with the right type of content to maintain and increase relevant traffic. When it comes to speed and performance, optimise your images, use caching techniques, and regularly conduct performance checks and updates to keep your site in great condition.
In a nutshell
Designing a website that wows visitors and achieves your business objectives can seem like an overwhelming task. But by keeping these key factors in mind, you can make your website your digital masterpiece. With thoughtful design, attention to detail and a well-optimised user experience, your website can leave a lasting impression that translates into meaningful connections and business growth.
This latest thinking article was written by:
Jack Lenton
Senior Content Executive
