Creating a quality website might seem easy, especially with all the platforms available today. You can use a template for guidance and then publish what you think is most important to your brand in some very fun ways. But with all the bells and whistles out there, however, it’s easy for business owners to lose sight of the reason for their site in the first place: to attract and inform potential customers.
Your customers and clients are the roots of your business, and neglecting their needs when designing your site can be detrimental — and different audiences look for different things. Below, five members of Forbes Communications Council shared some fundamental web design tips that will help you draw in, and keep, new clients. Here’s what they said:
Members share a few design tips to help strengthen your website’s design.Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Create Interesting Copy
Copy is the key and the foundation to great web design because that’s what creates the first impression. The audience will notice the first header and paragraph before anything else, absorbing the structure, layout and flow. Grab your reader with enticing content, and the rest should naturally follow. – Maria Juan, Peerfit
2. Get The Basic Elements Right
A website requires a few elements to be successful. It should always have a clear copy that shows what your company offers. What’s the value proposition? What distinguishes you from competitors? You’ll also want to include links and downloads to relevant content to offer value and encourage continuous engagement. Add a navigation menu with clear calls to action, which will allow clients and potential prospects to easily acquire the content they are seeking. Last but not least, the website should have a consistent brand look and feel throughout. – Anna Maria Lee, CultureIQ
3. Provide Educational Content
Make your website an easy-to-use library of educational content. The more you demonstrate your expertise, the more your audience will come to you for help. Build a beautiful, searchable website that is filled with case studies, best practices and thought-provoking considerations to optimize decision making. Create content using different formats — eBooks, infographics, videos and more. Promote your content, and let your expertise shine through your website. – Leela Gill, Direct Commerce
4. Focus On Your Users’ Needs
It all boils down to the user experience. Many people think about search engine optimization and what styles are popular right now (think the parallax scrolling phase) when developing websites. What drives optimization factors is often, “What will get me ranking on Google?” but at the core of that is a focus on what users want and need. Are you a creator of custom products? Have an easy form for your customers to request a quote. Are you a doctor? Make it easier for patients to find availability and service offerings. Think about your users! – Mary Silva, Riephoff Sawmill
Read more in Answering Consumers’ Needs Without Relying On Third-Party Data
5. Take Your Visitors On A Journey
Visiting a website is an experience and should be treated that way. Guide your visitors on a journey they want to take by making it simple to follow your calls to action with intuitive design elements. Think directional icons and buttons, and images that tell your story. Keep a copy to a minimum, optimize for mobile and have a content flow that demonstrates your understanding of their needs. – Kathleen Hertzog, Canton & Company