8 web design tips for designing a website that works

As creators, we want to believe that a good website is determined by the visual design elements used. But this is simply not the case. A nice website doesn’t mean a website actually works. This beautiful site I was a fan of may have poor site performance metrics (such as high bounce rates, low time on site, low pages per visit and even low conversions), all because they fail to prioritize the usability and usefulness of the site.

So, what makes good web design? Below we explore 8 powerful web design principles that will make your website aesthetically pleasing, easy to read and use, attractive and efficient.

1 Start with purpose-driven design

Website design is not something that has to be configured on the go. The wing is not a design strategy. Getting started with a custom goal gives you a clear plan of how to approach the project as well as a guide to design and content creation. If you don’t have a specific goal in mind, you won’t know what to prioritize.

In order to define a site’s purpose/objective, start with your target audience – who are they, what are their pain points and how will your site provide a solution to the problem? Knowing these things will help you find the right direction for your site.

2 Keep your website design simple

When you are designing a website, you want to remove as many question marks for your website visitors as possible. The web page you create should be clear and clear. An over-designed website can distract your visitors from the main purpose of your website.

It’s Heck’s Law – “The time taken to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of options.” In other words, the more options a user has on your site, the more difficult it is to use it. Your job is to get rid of these options and focus on reducing distraction options throughout the design process for a good user experience.

3 Prioritize the user experience 

The fewer steps you require from a user before they can try a service, the more likely they are to actually try it. First-time visitors don’t want to fill out long forms to try a service they’re not sure would suit their needs. Allow your visitors to explore your site and discover the services you offer without forcing them to share private data with you. Requiring the user to enter an email address once you find out is unrealistic. Let them play with your services and encourage them to want to share that information.

4 Engage visitors with visuals

While you are designing a website, you have the option to use both static and dynamic content to grab attention. Oftentimes, these visuals can be distracting but are used sparingly in situations where a visual enhances the story or text can be useful. An image will be more eye-catching than a block of text. Use this knowledge to your advantage.

Use visuals to:

• Help the user get from point A to point B without having to think about the actions they are taking
• Balance the text or split the page to give visitors a break from reading
• Make an impressive first impression with aesthetically pleasing graphic elements
• Get people moving and go from a mindless necessity to an interactive experience
• Add energy to your design, not just take up space

5 Create a visual hierarchy

Visual hierarchy is the principle of arranging elements to show their importance. As creators, we like to think that everything on the page matters. The truth is that certain parts of your website are more important than others (eg conversion points, call to action, value proposition, etc.) and you want those areas to receive more attention.

The better you can provide users with a sense of hierarchy, the easier your content will be to understand. Use color, size, images, negative space, and texture to create a focal point that indicates to the visitor where the most important elements will be located.

6 Smart Ditch for Effective Typing

Writing for the web is different from writing for print. You should always maintain the voice of your brand but using promotional writing on the web will not cut it.

Our best advice? Skip company-specific buzzwords, technical jargon, and language in favor of using words your customers use to find companies like you.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to effective writing:

• The best is short and concise. No fluff needed, just get to the point
• Scanable content is your friend. Bulleted lists, headings, and visuals help with that
• Do a keyword research (SEO) to identify and use words and phrases important to your business

7 Don’t be afraid of white space

The white space helps the images and content stand out while keeping the design from cluttering. The importance of white space is hard to overestimate. Without it, key messages can turn out to be an inconspicuous point.

It is important to note that white space is not just empty space. The white space allows the things inside it to exist. It helps reduce cognitive load, allowing visitors to be aware of the information being presented and creating a scannable layout that gives the content the dominant position it deserves.

8 test, test, test

Usability tests often provide important insights into important problems and issues related to any given layout. It is important to test and test often as this is a key component of any great website.

Need help designing and developing your website? call us.