It’s reported that 95% of American adults are internet users. With this many people online, it’s more important than ever to have an engaging website design that not only attracts site visitors but keeps them interacting with your content.
Your website also needs to showcase your brand to its full potential, showing users why they should use your products or services and not head over to a competitor. Unfortunately, you can have the best product on the market, but if you can’t accurately convey this information to your visitors, then you’ll have a difficult time converting leads to sales.
This is where a website design company in NJ can help. They understand your business’s unique needs and can help you create a website that not only attracts visitors but keeps them scrolling.
As you search for a “website design company near me,” you should have an idea of how you want your website to look. This helps them to create a site that effectively communicates with users, incorporating the following tips and tricks.
Let’s delve into the “11 Principles of Effective Web Design” below:
1. Keep It Simple
Although a fun design might be enticing, it’s important to understand that users come to your website for a specific purpose, and this varies from website to website. Yes, a good design can be engaging, but the primary goal should ultimately be simplicity.
You don’t want to confuse users; you want them to visit your site, clearly locating the information they came searching for. So, when in doubt, custom website design in NJ looks to keep things simple instead of unnecessarily complex.
But what does “simple” look like? For starters, you want a website with pure text. This means that any type of content blockers or advertisements can detract from your website and turn users off, sending them to competitive sites. They’ve come to your site with a specific goal in mind, and confusing them with a ton of ads isn’t helping them.
If you were in a brand new city without a map of where things were located, it would be more than a little confusing — and offputting. And your website works the same way. You want a simple layout that provides visitors with the tools to easily navigate your website and all its content. Your users should feel relaxed when accessing your website, not stressed and confused.
To add some simplicity to your website, ensure each page has a clear menu for users to return to other pages. Additionally, don’t hide buttons. Make everything as user-friendly as possible.
Your design element should be clear without unnecessary details confusing users, and a website design company in New Jersey knows how to achieve this. Each page should be free from clutter with only the essentials. This doesn’t mean you need a minimalist website without pertinent information; a website design and development agency will keep relevant information and consider what’s essential and what’s superfluous.
Additionally, it’s best to keep your reading level at about a grade eight when creating blog content, so keep that in mind while writing. A web design agency can help with this aspect of your website, as simplicity also translates to readability just as much as it equates to usability.
Piggybacking off of simplicity, your website should be self-explanatory from the get-go. This means that anyone visiting your site should understand your products or services without having to toggle between a host of pages.
To achieve this, make your purpose visible and clear for all users. If you’re unsure of how to do this, a marketing agency offering WordPress website design in NJ can assist you.
When in beta testing, ask users if your website has any question marks. If there’s something about your site that is confusing or needs clarification, find this out during its developmental stage. Your visitors are on your website to decide between the pros and cons of your business, and website design companies in NJ can help them access all the necessary information they seek.
This ranges from content to navigation. Ensure all your links work and that none are broken. Have options for users to click on links, taking them to other pages on your website.
As previously mentioned, have clear and visible navigation bars and menus. Your website design firm in NJ will create a site as user-friendly as possible to remove the guesswork.
If you want your users to register for an online course, website design companies in NJ can assist you with button placement so visitors know where to go. If you want site visitors to contact you for a free estimate, ensure your contact information is readily available. Remove the guesswork at every conceivable turn.
It’s no surprise that our brains are always searching for patterns. When we find patterns in everyday life, we’re able to predict what’s coming, expecting possible outcomes. And your website is no exception.
There are two types of patterns worth considering. This is the “F” and “Z” pattern that a NJ website design company will utilize on your website.
The “F” pattern, for example, is a common eye-tracking form that users take when on websites. Individuals look at key headlines first, moving their eyes downward in an “F” pattern.
When a website design service in NJ incorporates this pattern onto your website, you’re essentially recreating a person’s normal eye movements, naturally drawing their attention to the most important parts of your content. You’ll commonly see this pattern on any type of sales or landing page.
The “Z” pattern is equally important. Since it forms horizontal lines, this pattern is ideal for pages that highlight the call-to-action. So if you have a page that’s designed to get readers to take action, consider implementing the “Z” pattern, keeping the rest of the page fairly simple.
4. Consistency Is Key
Although it’s tempting to create a website with a thousand different pages, each one more visually striking than the next, this can create a feeling of confusion among users trying to navigate your site. Instead, look for consistency when working with a website design company in NJ.
When you have cohesive, consistent design elements from page to page, it creates a feeling of trust with your audience. You’ll also gain credibility by having a uniform website design. Professional website design services in NJ will keep the same visual design elements on all your digital and print marketing materials, so prospective customers come to recognize your brand.
It also looks professional when you have one color scheme displayed across a variety of channels. Whenever readers see your products, they’ll recognize them thanks to your congruous design elements, trusting that your product or services are consistent like your website. Website design in NJ understands how to use these themes appropriately, which is one of the countless reasons to work with professionals.
5. Fast Loading Speed
Does your website load in three seconds, if not faster? Seeing as more than half of online shoppers expect e-commerce pages to load this quickly, a fast loading speed can make or break your website. If you’re unwilling to lose visitors to the competition, you need a site that loads quickly. This is something that local website design companies can help you achieve.
Your conversion rate is directly connected to how fast your website loads, keeping users on your site for longer. A fast-loading website also improves the user experience while helping you to rank higher on a search engine results page (SERP).
Additionally, a fast-loading website can improve customer retention, reduce your bounce rate, increase traffic, and improve credibility, thanks to NJ custom website design.
6. Be Mindful of Communication
Communication is just as important as a fast-loading website. If you can’t effectively communicate, then page speed alone won’t turn website visitors into customers. A web design website company understands that the text on your site should be clear and concise, from headers to the main content on different pages.
You want your visitors to understand your website’s message, so be mindful of your language. This is especially true if you have a blog for readers.
Keep in mind that content isn’t created equal, so the type of text you use varies depending on your website and the services or products offered. If you’re selling an item, your text will read differently than if your website is intended to inform or entertain. It’s all about understanding your audience and effectively communicating information to them, so speak to your website design company in New Jersey about how to do so.
Text isn’t the only way to communicate with readers, however. You can also use photos to communicate messages in a fast and efficient manner. Just be sure to use pictures that complement the rest of your website’s mode of communication.
It’s also important to focus on titles and headers. Readers look for fast and accurate information, and your headers can quickly convey pertinent details to them. Use titles and headers to express any key ideas or main points of interest, so site visitors know what to expect from the rest of your website and its content.
When working with professional website design in Monmouth County, NJ, you’ll find that icons are another way of effectively communicating with site visitors. If they’re familiar with a certain icon, they’ll have an easier time navigating your website and finding important links.
Although links and text are key for helping visitors understand your website, the type of web design you use also helps them understand the message you’re looking to convey. If you’re in a professional industry, you may want clean, professional design elements.
On the other hand, a website that sells comic books might consider a more vibrant web design scheme. The goal is for your site visitors to engage with your web design. You want them to understand what you’re selling just by looking at the type of design style you incorporate, communicating without words.
7. Be Mobile Friendly
Nearly 60% of website traffic comes from mobile device users. With more and more people relying on cell phones, your website needs to be mobile-friendly. A mobile-friendly website can increase the user experience while increasing conversions as your visitors become customers.
If your competitor doesn’t have a website optimized for mobile use, you’ll have a significant advantage. You’ll also work to create brand credibility, showcasing a professional site accessible on a variety of devices.
8. Don’t Forget Your Call-to-Action (CTA)
Websites benefit from a call-to-action, so don’t forget to include this design element. This is where you encourage visitors to take a specific action, such as purchasing a product or service, scheduling a meeting, or downloading an ebook.
Your call-to-action should be succinct and to the point, with actionable language such as “Buy Now,” “Download Here,” or “Schedule a Meeting.” If you’re unsure about the best CTA to add to your site, consult with your website designer in NJ.
There are multiple ways you can incorporate a call-to-action into your website design, from buttons to hyperlinks. No matter what type of CTA you use, it’s important to include a CTA in some way, shape, or form. It helps your site visitors know what action to take next, especially if you want them to sign up for your newsletter or enroll in an email subscription.
When you include a strong CTA, you’ll help to move your user down your sales funnel. Without a call-to-action, there’s a chance visitors will leave your website without completing an actionable task, so be sure to have one that’s visible and concise.
9. Content, Content, and More Content
Content is a major part of your website design. For example, if you’re offering blogging services and your content has typos and other grammatical errors, you lose credibility with visitors. But that’s not the only thing that matters with content.
Your content should be directed at your user’s specific browsing habits and preferences. If you’re looking to promote a product or brand, your content shouldn’t be too long. Readers tend to gloss over lengthy walls of text, especially if there aren’t any images. But short, easy-to-read paragraphs with bold and italics will help to engage readers with your content.
Your content should also use compelling language that resonates with readers. Additionally, you want to organically incorporate keywords that can help visitors find your website in a Google search.
When new visitors check out your website, you want to grab their attention right away. Unfortunately, long blocks of text are a turnoff that makes your website look clunky and cluttered. But content that’s easy to navigate works to organize your website while delivering your brand’s message in a clear, concise way.
Make sure to focus on scannable content that consists of short paragraphs, succinct headers, and subheaders as needed. Bulleted lists can also help readers consume information.
10. Consider a Grid
The layout of your website is just as important as your content. A popular way of structuring your design scheme is with a grid, as it keeps your content organized.
When you implement a grid design element, your page looks clean and organized, arranging your content with neat columns. When your website’s sections align properly, you’ll have a site that’s visually pleasing and easy to navigate.
You can use grids to organize web pages, with complementary rows and columns both vertically and horizontally. This creates an organized appearance that’s professional and neat. Since you’ll have vertical and horizontal lines, you’ll have an easier time creating a consistent design on your website.
11. Color Palettes
It’s reported that color could increase brand recognition by upwards of 80%. This is why you need to be selective with the color palette you use on your website, considering the mood you’re looking to set for your visitors.
When selecting a color scheme, it’s important to pick between three to five different colors. Otherwise, you’ll overwhelm visitors with your overall design.
The images — and their colors — you use should also fit your product, brand, or service, so keep this in mind. If an image isn’t pertinent to your website, you might want to delete it.
Your color scheme can be simple but effective. It’s important to use colors and images that engage visitors without overwhelming them. A professional web design company understands this and can help you pick the best color scheme for your brand and website.
As you search for “website design companies near me,” you’ll find that the best agency understands your brand and knows how to make your website engaging yet informative. This means creating compelling text, using meaningful images, and incorporating a strong CTA that works to turn leads into sales.
Let’s B Media has the experience to achieve all this and more. Contact us today to learn more about our services, from creative design to website hosting and everything in between.