Introduction
Many factors go into making a great website and this article will discuss the main things to be aware of when getting a website built.
It doesn’t matter what website development platform you use, the following principles are key to ranking well and keeping your clients happy.
Well Designed and Functional
A great website should be easy to use, look good and load quickly. Please don’t make your users work hard to find information or content on your site; instead, make everything available right in front of them.
Great design is a critical element in the success of any website. Good design is generally considered to be a combination of form and function. Ideally, your website should have great aesthetics (the art of creating an attractive or appealing visual design) and usability (how easy it is for visitors to find what they’re looking for). Your site should also be easily navigable by both visitors and search engines alike.
Easy to Use
The navigation of your website is supposed to be easy. An excellent navigation bar will let users know where they are, where they can go, and how they got there. The navigation bar is essential for any website, especially when you want people to find what they are looking for quickly.
It’s also essential that your site is easy to read and understand. You don’t have to have fancy words or complicated sentences on your website; however, it should be grammatically correct and well written so that visitors stay engaged with each page they visit.
Optimized for Mobile
Google has prioritized indexing and ranking mobile-friendly websites, so if you want to be found through a search on Google, you better have a mobile-friendly site.
Mobile is the future of internet usage, and as more people switch from desktop computers to smartphones, having a responsive website will help ensure your business stays top-of-mind for your customers.
With a responsive site design, people can view your content no matter where they are—whether they’re using their phone or tablet while sitting at home or in bed before bedtime, shopping or on vacation.
Fresh, Quality Content
Content is the most crucial part of a website, and it’s what makes your site unique. It will attract people in and keep them coming back for more. Content drives your website’s search engine ranking, so it’s essential to have plenty of fresh and high-quality content on your site.
Adding new content regularly will keep people coming back to see what you’ve added recently. If they can’t find new information on your site because it hasn’t been updated in years, they may decide that there isn’t anything worth seeing there!
Readily accessible contact and location
When you think of a great website, you probably picture something like this:
- A contact number (and email address)
- Location details like address and hours of operation
- Social media information that’s easy to find and understand. You can even include your profile picture!
- If it’s an e-commerce site, a map shows where people can pick up their orders. This might be unnecessary for some people if it’s not an e-commerce site. Still, if your business relies on local foot traffic, it’s worth ensuring people have access to directions or the ability to look up directions themselves.
Optimized for Search and the Social Web
It’s easy to think that a great website is about the design, but it’s also about how it performs in search results and social media.
If you want your website to be seen (and acted on), you need search engine optimization (SEO), which involves keywording and link building. You also need social media sharing – people will find your site if they follow someone who links to it or if it shows up on their Facebook feed.
Search engine marketing (SEM) refers to buying ads on search engines like Google AdWords or Bing Ads; these ads will surface at the top of results when people search for what you offer. Search engine advertising is an online form of marketing where specific keywords are purchased so that when someone searches those words, your ad appears next to relevant content or products similar in concept but different from SEM.
Aesthetically pleasing
Aesthetically pleasing design is making something visually pleasing, usually through colour, typography and other design elements. In web design, this often refers to how a website looks when a visitor comes across it for the first time. Is it easy on the eyes? Does it look professional? Aesthetically pleasing design is essential because if your site looks unprofessional or ugly, people won’t want to use it; they’ll leave immediately and go elsewhere.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that there are many things to consider when building a great website. From visual design to SEO, keeping the user experience in mind is essential. These pointers will help you start on the right path toward creating a useful and attractive site for your business.
If you would like a professional team to manage the creation of your website, please take a moment to give us a call so we can make a time to have a chat about your options. It’s a simple step that could save you from building a website that just doesn’t work!