How Web Design Can Make Your Business Stand Out

Attractive looking website templates are pretty easy to find nowadays and they don’t cost a lot of money. Getting the design right for your business, however, is about a lot more than just picking out an off the shelf product.

There’s a lot that goes into creating the perfect site, everything from how assets are placed on a web page, how you maximise SEO so that you show up on searches and ensuring your site delivers a seamless user experience that leads to deeper engagement.

First Impressions Count

According to some research, you have less than 50 milliseconds to make a good impression and this all comes down to that initial visual appeal. If you are trying to attract new customers and build a following for your website, that visual impact plays a vitally important role.

Another important stat suggest that 38% of us will tend to stop viewing a website if we find it visually unappealing. An eye-catching page creates the right impression and improves the chances of any visitor exploring your site in greater detail.

In short, beauty may only be skin deep but it’s a good starting point to begin building a relationship with your customers.

Why Mobile-First Should Be a Priority

Over the last decade, the way we view websites has changed in one particularly significant way. We are more likely to surf the internet on our smartphones rather than a larger desktop. We can also access the online world wherever we are, at work, on the sofa or travelling on a train.

The smaller screen that mobiles have, however, means there are a number of design challenges.

85% of visitors now think that a company’s mobile website should be better than the desktop version. Mobile-first means starting your design journey fully focused on how your website looks on a smartphone rather than any other device. It’s now the industry standard and vital if you want to make sure your design is fit for purpose.

What is UX?

The user experience or UX is increasingly important when it comes to website design. Ideally, you want a site that is easy to use and gets your potential customer from A to B in as few steps as possible. The key to UX is having all the essential elements in place that provide a smooth experience for visitors.

This can include options such as:

• Easy to navigate menus.
• Focused pages with meaningful information that get to the point quickly.
• Checkouts that give a variety of options.
• Services like one-click buying.
• Images that download quickly.

UX and graphic design now go hand in hand and a great business website needs both to be successful.

Design Elements That Appeal to Your Audience

Who your audience is may well determine the design of your business website. If you are focusing on millennials who like fancy eating, for instance, your site might well be more visual and have some funky tools included. A site that is targeting technology lovers may well be more features heavy.

Getting the right mix that delivers on the wants and needs of your target audience means understanding what motivates them and how they see the world. Then translating that into a compelling graphic design is an art form in itself.

Great website design is all about bringing a number of different elements together. Whether it’s working with an off the shelf design or developing a site from scratch, the team at Simplicity Digital will help you build a site that not only creates an amazing first impression but delivers on all aspects of current web design.