We’ve come a long way since the invention of the World Wide Web, but the majority of business websites still fail to engage customers, and many may even be turning some customers away. In fact, MarketingGrader handed out a failing grade to more than 70 percent of the business websites reviewed.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of web design tips for businesses with struggling websites that are not performing to their full potential.
Optimize Your Website for Mobile Devices
Although employees in your industry might spend a majority of their time at a desktop computer, the majority of your customers are using a mobile device to access the web. Unfortunately, many businesses fail to cater to this large segment of customers, who often have trouble reading web pages that don’t fit nicely onto the screen of their handheld devices.
According to local marketing experts, it pays to design a website specifically for mobile. Simple, streamlined designs are instantly appealing to mobile users.
Use Animation Wisely
When it comes to website design, we tend to want to show off our creativity and capability with eye-catching animation, but it’s important to make sure that any flashy animations being used are adding to the overall user experience, not taking away from it. Too much animation is a distraction for users. In general, it’s best to keep it simple.
Keep It Clutter-Free
Some business websites try to do too much. Instead of telling people every single thing about your business, simply tell them what your business does and what they as the customer should do next. An overload on information, links, and images can easily become overwhelming.
Simplify Your Language
Clichés and corporate jargon can be found all over the Internet—but that doesn’t mean they should show up on your website. Instead, use conversational language that gives your business a more personal feel, one that customers will easily comprehend.
Make It Customer-Centric
Rather than focusing on your business’s accolades and achievements, a website should tell customers what you can do for them and how. Keep bragging to a minimum and allow the clarity and usefulness of your website speak to the credibility of your business.
Also, it’s equally important to use your website to present your business as a reliable source of information or entertainment. A solid content creation strategy is a must for any business. Publish blogs, videos, and other resources that give customers a reason to keep coming back.
Give Customers a Clear Call to Action
The ultimate goal of any website is to get customers to complete an action, whether that be to buy a product, schedule an appointment, or sign up for email updates. When customers visit your website, they should know exactly what the next step is without having to think too hard about it. If you give them too many options too quickly, they will just get confused and leave your website.
Update Your Website with Fresh Content
The more often you’re updating your website with fresh and new content, the more times it’ll be indexed by search engines like Google. What this means is that the more times your website gets indexed, it increases your chances of appearing higher in local search results. You’ll want to create content that around your business’s expertise and what separates you from the competition. Anything you can do to move the needle in terms of recency (how often you update your website and online presence) and prominence (how authoritative your website is), the more you’ll attract new customers.