No matter how hard we try not to judge a book by its cover, humans are visual creatures who are influenced by the way things look. But when it comes to designing a quality website, there are a number of factors that are going to determine how long a visitor stays on the site and if they ever return.
Building a good website can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re new to web design, there are a few important things you’ll want to focus your attention on to ensure that it has the effect on visitors and potential customers that you want it to.
1. How well the site functions
If a user reaches your site and has a hard time navigating or being able to find exactly what they’re looking for, they won’t stay for long. A clear menu, whether you use a dropdown or tabs, is a good place to start.
Once your site has a menu that gets visitors where they want to go, you’ll also want to make sure that each featured page has been completed. A page that says “under construction” or has Lorem Ipsum filler will not only be a detriment to your site’s function, but it will also decrease its credibility.
2. The purpose of the site
It should be very evident what the purpose of the site is from the moment a visitor arrives on the homepage. If the design of your website is ambiguous or requires some digging before a user can figure out whether or not they’re in the right place, they are unlikely to do the legwork.
Make it as easy as possible for visitors to determine that they’ve found what they’re looking for. Relevant images, brief descriptions, and helpful graphics can all go a long way in gaining the trust of your visitors and assuring them that you can provide what they need.
3. The quality of content
Your website can be beautifully designed, but if its content isn’t helpful, informative, or unique, users will not be inclined to return. The content has to provide some sort of value to them. If it doesn’t provide them with anything they didn’t already know, there will be no reason for them to think that will change in the future.
4. How the mobile version looks and works
As you can imagine, most people are visiting websites from their phones. If your site doesn’t have a mobile version or if the mobile version doesn’t function very well, they will seek out whatever they are looking for from somewhere else.
5. How well the website ranks on Google
This factor is as useful for you as it is for visitors to your website. The better your site ranks, the more visitors you’ll get, which as a website host is exactly what you want. Alternatively, the higher it ranks, the easier it is for the user to find, which not only expedites their search but also strengthens their trust in whatever service your site offers.
Start your website off right with a solid foundation
It can be hard to determine the best place to start when building a website, but by focusing on a few of the most important aspects, you can create a great website without getting lost in the process. Better yet, build your website with Adaptive Media! Our website designers can help build your new website from the ground up complete with functionality and a sleek design. Contact us today!
