Boost Your Startup's Online Presence with These Expert Website Design Tips

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Mark Ridgeon
May 17, 2024
5 min read
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Boost Your Startup's Online Presence with These Expert Website Design Tips

Renowned usability expert Steve Krug once emphasised the importance of website clarity with his quote "Don't make me think." The key idea is that websites should be intuitive and easy to navigate to keep visitors engaged. A recent study by HubSpot in 2021 highlighted that 94% of impressions are influenced by site design.

Having a captivating 'About' section adds a touch to your startup. Sharing your startup journey, mission and values can create a connection with visitors. Introducing team members along with their photos and brief relatable bios is a great way to humanise your brand. For example, Mailchimp effectively shares their brand story and team information to make visitors feel more engaged.

  1. Pages for Products/Services; It's important for each product or service page to provide information on benefits, features and pricing. Using high quality images, videos and persuasive writing can greatly impact how users perceive your offerings. Take Evernote as an example; they utilise design elements and engaging content to clearly explain their features.

  1. *Blog/Resource Centre Keeping your content updated regularly showcases your expertise in the industry builds credibility and boosts traffic through SEO efforts. The Mozs blog stands out as a model by offering valuable articles that enhance user skills while positioning Moz as a top player in the field.

  1. Contact Us Page; Ensure that it's easy for visitors to reach out to you by providing contact methods such as a contact form, email address, phone number and links, to social media profiles.

Airbnb's contact page is easy to use, providing options for reaching out or getting assistance.

  1. Traffic Origins; It's crucial to know where your website visitors are coming from. Whether it's media, search engines or direct visits. Utilise tools such as Google Analytics to delve into this information and fine tune your marketing strategies accordingly.

  1. Website Loading Speed; A sluggish website can frustrate users leading to bounce rates. According to Amazon even a mere one second delay in page loading could result in a loss of $1.6 billion in sales for them. Utilise resources like Google PageSpeed Insights to ensure your page loads within three seconds.

Websites such as Airbnb utilise captivating visuals to share stories about their listings and hosts.

  1. Customer. Success Stories; Sharing real world examples helps establish trust and credibility. Showcasing client testimonials and success stories can be very convincing. Dropbox presents customer case studies that demonstrate how businesses have found value in their services.

  1. Brand Consistency; Maintaining use of colours, typography and logo reinforces brand identity. Take Spotify, for instance. Their green, black and white colour scheme is easily recognisable. Remain consistent, across all their platforms offering users a cohesive and enjoyable experience.

Ensure your website is visually appealing and functional on all devices by utilising design frameworks like Bootstrap.

Avoid overlooking the basics of SEO as it plays a role in reaching your target audience. Focus on optimising on page elements such as keywords, meta descriptions and image alt text. Tools like SEO for WordPress offer guidance in maximising these aspects.

To prevent loss of site visitors, regularly update your content to maintain its relevance and engagement. HubSpot suggests revisiting and refreshing content every six months to keep it current.

For an advantage, consider implementing the following advanced strategies:

Utilise data driven design by analysing user behaviour through tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar to make informed design choices based on data rather than intuition.

Conduct A/B testing on webpage versions, such as testing varied call to action buttons to gain insights into user preferences and optimise conversion rates. Platforms like Optimizely simplify this testing process.

Leverage proof to enhance credibility and trust among users.

Utilising user feedback, ratings and social media mentions to establish trustworthiness is crucial. According to BrightLocal, a majority of consumers rely on reviews when considering local businesses.

  1. Incorporate Call to Actions (CTAs); Ensure every webpage prompts visitors to take action. Clear and persuasive CTAs play a role in boosting conversions. Dropbox's prominent "Sign up for free" button effectively guides users towards their objective.

  1. Prioritize Accessibility; Ensure your website is user friendly for all individuals, including those with disabilities. This involves incorporating features like text for image keyboard navigation and compatibility with screen readers. Tools such as WAVE can assist in evaluating your site’s accessibility.

Putting in the effort to refine it will bring benefits in terms of higher interaction, trust and success in the online world. As you start on this path, remember; paying attention to details backed by data-driven findings and designs focused on users is your key to making a meaningful impact online.

Boost Your Startup's Online Presence with These Expert Website Design Tips
A man with a beard wearing a gray shirt
Mark Ridgeon
May 17, 2024
5 min read
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