Do's and Don'ts of Web Design

As a small business owner, you need a website. Aside from making it look modern and engaging, you also want to ensure that the website is running smoothly and is responsive. When you are a business owner, this is just the cherry on top of all the things you need to worry about.  

The process of creating an inviting and exciting website can sound daunting at first, but we are here to help break it down for you to better understand. That being said, what are some industry standards that you will want to include when designing your website?

1. Branding
   With any web design, it is extremely important to make sure that your brand is recognized throughout the entire page. This means that the colors, fonts, slogan, and personality of your company should all be understood by your visitors. If the visitors on your website have to work to figure out what you do or who you are, you’ve likely already lost them as a customer. Consistent branding is key to brand recognition and customer loyalty.

2. Clear CTA (Call to Action)
   When your website attracts visitors, you want to give them a reason to stick around. Motivate your visitors to become customers by including a clear call to action. A call to action directs consumers to do something. Your CTA can be as simple as suggesting the viewer subscribes to your newsletter or can be a clear call to purchase your products or book an appointment. No matter what your CTA is, make sure it is clear and direct.  

3. Mobile-First Design
   Did you know that the websites you use are programmed for mobile first? With the rise in mobile devices, this means that the majority of your future clients will likely find you for the first time while they are on their smart phone or other smart device, such as an iPad.  
   Understanding how your target audience will engage with your content will make you more aware of how to design the layout of your website. This enables you to create a website that is effective, simple, and easy to navigate. Make sure you look for this mobile-first or mobile friendly feature next time you are on your website builder.

4. Easy Navigation
   When a customer visits your website, they should be able to navigate their way around with confusion. Eliminate confusion by adding navigation and menu bars in obvious locations, such as the header or to the side. Most users will expect to find the important information in the same place for all websites. Don’t confuse your customers by trying to be hipster and putting it somewhere they will have to work to find. Keep it simple!  

5. SEO
   Strong SEO will ensure that your website appears higher on the search engine results pages, also known as SERP. This will drive more traffic to your website, bringing in new visitors and returning customers! Think of the last time you searched a type of company, you likely just scrolled through the first page of results. SEO will become your best friend in order to make your business seen.

Now that you have a better understanding of what key elements are important to include your website, let’s talk about things to avoid.

1. Unimportant Information
   As a business owner, there is a lot you can say about your business; however, this does not mean that you should write about every detail on your website. When you add too much information on your website, it makes it look cluttered and too busy to want to read. Your website should display only the essential information in a nice, neat layout. If your website is too busy, you risk your visitors getting lost on the crowded page.

2. Using Text That’s Too Small
   Typography is an important detail when it comes to your website design. If your text is too small, your website visitors will have trouble reading it. This is a major pain point as your customers will likely exit out of your webpage if they can not read what you have displayed. A trustworthy number to stick to is 16px for your body font. Your customers will not have an issue reading this size and you won’t have too worry about making them squint~

3. Busy or Outdated Design Layout
   The information on your website is the most important element, but if it isn’t displayed in a beautiful and aesthetic way, you may lose potential customers’ interests. This can be especially true if they are debating between you and another competitor. Customers enjoy companies that they feel drawn to. It is hard for them to connect with a website with a poorly designed layout or outdated style. This may lead to sensory overload, especially if there are so many images and text that there is hardly any room for whitespace on the page.

Have you found yourself thinking, “this sounds like me” during any of these points? Has your business been struggling to convert website visitors into customers? Or perhaps, has your business struggled to drive traffic to the website at all? It's time to upgrade and modernize your website.  

Allow your website to create a first impression worth returning to by hiring our team to build or update your website. We customize each website to fit your business’s needs and budget.  

Schedule your FREE consultation with Manski Media today and learn how we can help your business build an online legacy.

(541) 257-8833

www.manskimedia.net