These days, the vast majority of people research a service or product online before making a purchase. That said, your online presence — and the look and feel of your website — can honestly make or break your business. In fact, 38% of folks will simply stop engaging with a website if they find it unattractive in any way, as the perceived credibility and quality of your business or brand goes down.
While it doesn’t necessarily need to have all of the latest technological bells and whistles, your website should certainly be well-designed, professional, and user-friendly. Read on for a few reasons why high-quality website design is crucial, especially in this day and age.
A great first impression.
It only takes visitors 50 milliseconds to form a first impression, good or bad, of your website design. (Fun fact: One second equals 1,000 milliseconds, so that’s pretty darn fast.) If they don’t like what they see, they’re more likely to move on — and nobody wants that! Font selection, photography, content, and placement of buttons and features all play a part in the overall design and aesthetic.
User-friendliness and ease of use.
When visitors click on your website, they’re generally seeking product or service information or one of the other usual suspects such as contact info or an About page. This is why it’s important to display these items prominently and in such a way that they’re easy to find for a positive user experience. This includes streamlined and well-appointed navigation, in addition to a responsive, mobile-friendly design.
A desired call to action.
Certain design features can draw the eye in, and if optimized well, it can even help boost your conversion rate. You can attract attention to special promotions or offers, clickable buttons, and other action items. Take, for instance, the yellow “Add to Cart” button on Amazon’s product pages — it’s one you can’t miss, and it was definitely designed that way for a reason!
Behind-the-scenes SEO elements.
Search engine optimization (also known as SEO) plays a huge part in how customers find you online through search engines like Google. Cumbersome coding, too-large images, and certain design elements may actually make your website slow to load, which can drive visitors away, negatively impacting SEO.
Stand out from the competition with good website design.
A well-made website is a simple way to differentiate your business or brand from online competitors and give yourself an edge. Hiring a professional web developer can make it happen, whether you have an artistic vision you want to bring to life or seek recommendations from design experts.
Considering a new website design? You’re in the right place. Contact us today for a free quote!