Are you looking to design a small business website to help stand out? Have you been wondering how to use website design to drive success? Look no further! This blog post gives you an in-depth guide on using website design to reach your business goals and maximize success. Read on to find the best tips on creating a website that resonates with potential customers and increases your bottom line.
Most web users will unconsciously judge your brand based on the experience they’ll have on your website. However, the whole look and feel of the site add to their overall experience. A great web design sets an impeccable first impression. An appealing look encourages visitors to learn more about your business. It gives you an edge over competitors by aiding your SEO.
1. Keep it simple
The first rule of thumb regarding website design is to keep it simple. Overly complicated designs with too much going on can be confusing and turn off potential customers. When it comes to small business websites, less is more. A simple, clean design will help your website visitors quickly find the information they need without being overwhelmed.
2. Make it mobile-friendly
In today’s world, your website must be mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their phones and tablets to access the internet, so you want to ensure your website can be easily viewed on all devices. In addition, a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes is essential for providing a positive user experience no matter how someone views your site.
Your SEO rankings can drop super-fast if your website isn’t mobile-friendly. Today, nearly 60% of online searches happen on mobile devices. Website designs that aren’t responsive end up losing traffic to competition. Optimizing for mobile search ensures that visitors enjoy their online experience. People can find what they want without getting frustrated. Use a responsive web design to make your website adaptable to various devices. For example, please remove flush because it misses on some phones. Add schema markup to enhance rich snippets and boost your visibility on SERPs.
3. Use high-quality images
Make sure to use high-quality images on your website, as these can make a big difference in how professional and trustworthy your site looks. However, be careful not to use too many images, as this can make your site appear cluttered. A few well-chosen photos can go a long way in giving your website a polished look. In addition, a high-quality image can attract attention and stir emotions in people, persuading them to continue interacting with your brand. Instead of only lengthy blogs, most people will prefer a mixture of watching a video or photos.
If you’re using any visual, ensure it’s high quality and value to your visitors. For example, use photos that reflect what your business stands for. Also, ensure each image sends the right message; for instance, a picture of a person smiling can make your visitors comfortable.
4. Use effective calls to action
Your website should have a clear purpose, and it should be easy for visitors to understand what they should do next. This is where effective calls to action come in. A call to action is a statement or button that tells visitors what you want them to do, such as “Sign up for our newsletter” or “Download our eBook.” Placing effective calls to action throughout your website will help guide visitors toward your desired goal, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for your email list, or something else.
5. Include customer testimonials
If you have happy customers, don’t be afraid to show them off! Customer testimonials are a great way to build trust and show potential customers that others have had positive experiences with your business. Be sure to include testimonials on your website and make them easy to find so visitors can see them immediately.
By following these tips, you can design a small business website that is professional, trustworthy, and effective at driving success. A well-designed website is an essential tool for any small business, so make sure to put in the time and effort to create a site you’re proud of.
1. Prioritize Speed
The probability of bounce rates increases with slower page loading. For instance, websites that take one to five seconds to load have up to 90% bounces. Bounce rises to 123% when page loading speeds slow to 10 seconds.
Faster online experiences are now a key consideration when designing business websites. People want rapid search results when looking for any product or service. Higher Speed can result in more revenues because faster loads have more page views and conversions.
Test your website speeds and audit it to discover the cause of slow-loading pages. Get rid of the heavy design elements that may slow down your website. For instance, some on-page ads and pop-ups may slow loading times if you’re using light CMS.
2. Reduce the clutter
Less is more when it comes to small business website design. Studies show complex websites or disruptive features put off most website visitors. In addition, the more design elements you add to your theme, the more the design seems confusing. The trick to a likable and attractive website is to embrace simplicity. Focus on the necessary elements to help your visitors’ experience. Use a website design that brings out your content well and takes advantage of white space.
Avoid designs with many columns, such as content, rails, and navigation. Don’t use sliders and sidebars because they may limit content visibility. Also, reduce menu items and forms; it would be best if pages contained one call to action.
5. Show products and services clearly
Many small business website designs tend to fail in displaying products to users. Sometimes, the product descriptions don’t tell enough about a product. Some pages may also contain lots of products and end up chaotic. A great small business website design takes into account the customer’s time. Unfortunately, no one has enough time to spend digging up your website. A cluttered product’s page scares users, and it’s one primary cause of bounce rates. So, make sure the product pages are comfortable to use. All the buttons should be visible and load quickly. The images should be high quality, and the copy clear and readable.
Here are some tips on how to create a great product page design.
- Design your website with conversion in mind. A solid, clear call-to-action on every page of your website is essential for converting potential leads into clients. In e-commerce, the first thing shoppers need to see is an image of the product they’re buying, and then they should be able to read a clear description that explains all the features of that product. This is called a hero image, and it’s essential; if users can’t find it or have trouble reading it, they’ll lose sales.
- Use high-quality images
- Highlight special offers and promotions
- Use bullet points for easy reading
- Include attractive-looking social media icons so visitors don’t have to search for them.
- Use detailed descriptions of products or services offered so customers know what to expect from your business or site when spending money on your product/service.
6. Use colors to captivate
According to a study at the University of Maryland, colors can trigger specific emotions in people. For example, red is associated with energy and passion, while blue is associated with calmness and tranquility. Therefore, the colors you choose for your website should reflect the message of your brand’s personality and goals.
When choosing colors for your website, it is essential to consider the emotions associated with each. The colors you choose should reflect the personality of your brand. Here are some examples of how colors affect users’ moods: Green – Green represents nature, growth, and health. This color can make users feel safe and comfortable on a website. With colors, you can also use contrast to create interest in your design. For example, using warm colors like red against cool colors like blue creates a contrast that attracts attention to certain parts of your design.
Colors not only beautify a website, but they also influence emotions and how people react to your website. For instance, blue, the primary color in small business website designs, can represent stability or trust. So there’s a psychology of how colors work with our psyche that you can use for your brand’s site. First, to avoid user confusion, let the colors on your website reflect your brand message (keep a consistent brand across platforms). Then, use colors in your website design to influence visitors by capturing their attention.
Make navigation user-friendly
What’s one of the most important things you can do to ensure a website visitor’s positive experience on your site? Make sure the navigation is user-friendly! Navigation is how your users navigate your site, so you want to ensure it’s easy for them. There are a few things you can do to make sure your navigation is user-friendly:
- Make sure the navigation is easy to find. The last thing you want is for users to search for the navigation!
- Keep the navigation simple. You don’t want users to get overwhelmed with too many options.
- Use clear and descriptive labels. Users should be able to quickly and easily understand what each option in the navigation will take them to.
- Use drop-down menus sparingly. Drop-down menus can be helpful in some cases but can also be confusing and overwhelming for users. So if you use them, ensure they’re straightforward to use.
By following these tips, you can design a small business website that is professional, trustworthy, and effective at driving success. A well-designed website is an essential tool for any small business, so make sure to put in the time and effort to create a site you’re proud of.
Let’s Start Something New. Say Hello!
Contact us today to see how we can help your Alaska small business! Also, please read our Alaska Web Design blog to learn more about branding, website design, and digital marketing in Alaska!