85% of consumers search online before deciding to make a purchase. A lot of times, your website is the first touchpoint your customers have about your business and products/services. The kind of impression they have will determine whether they will do business with you or not.
So what makes a website great? Videos, content and images are all critical aspects but there’s more, right?
For instance, 79% of visitors scan websites, so if your website is not scannable, it won’t engage your visitors. Credibility is another important aspect. And the list goes on!
There are several little things that go together to make a good website. Here are the crucial elements of a quality website:
Usability
Your website’s visitors are there looking for information. The reality is that today’s online users are impatient and distracted. They will leave your site instantly if they can’t find what they are after, can’t comprehend how to use your site’s functions or are simply unimpressed by your site.
For instance, a site offering a wide range of products must have an effective search function, a product catalogue and a user-friendly e-commerce shopping cart.
Moreover, a responsive, welcoming website will mean visitors can have a seamless experience no matter the size of their device.
A website that’s built on a well-planned wireframe will also be compatible with all types of browsers and mobile devices.
Overall Design and Visual Appeal
Your website’s layout is one of the most important components. First impressions are crucial, so you want to impress your visitors as soon as they land on your site.
Users take less than 50 milliseconds to decide whether they want to stay on a website or leave it.
This means the design must be familiar, simple, clean, intuitive and accessible. Use lots of whitespace to give the elements of your website breathing space and use grid-based designs to keep the design elements organised and clutter-free.
Every design element on your website must fall in line with the visual hierarchy you are aiming for.
Images and Video
Be sure to include images or videos in every new page/blog post your publish. Websites with images and videos are far more successful at engaging visitors and even have better rankings in Google.
Professional photography, graphics or icons complement the website copy. However, ensure the images complement each other as well as the brand image you want to create.
User-Focused
Your visitors will ultimately decide whether or not your website is a success. A user-focused website is one that’s accessible and functional at the same time.
Many business owners become distracted by their specific expectations for the website that they forget about the needs and wants of their target customers.
As your designer, our job is to keep everyone happy and satisfied. And that can sometimes mean offering sound advice and to remind our clients that they are veering off the path from what their site must be achieving.
Navigation
Site navigation might not seem like an important element to pay attention to. That’s a mistake!
Visitors should be able to find the information they are after effortlessly. They shouldn’t have to struggle. The menu options must be limited so they don’t feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.
Page Load Speed
The sooner your website loads, the higher the conversion rates would be. It’s as simple as that!
Do not settle for the cheapest web hosting service or web design agency you can find. You are going to get what you pay for.
Paying a little extra can mean you will avoid technical difficulties and ensure your website loads quickly every time.
Testimonials and Reviews
Displaying customer reviews and testimonials creates social proof. This holds true if you get a testimonial from someone who’s an industry expert.
You must also dedicate a section on your site where customers can leave their reviews easily.
Although good reviews are what you are aiming for, some negative comments might even boost your credibility. If all customer feedback on your site is positive, it may seem fake.
Be sure to interact with every customer who leaves a review. It helps build your credibility as a professional business that’s not shy of accepting mistakes and is committed to making improvements.
Your Contact Information
This goes without saying but you would be surprised to know how many business owners skip this part. We come across several websites that do not provide any contact information.
Not displaying contact information can work against you! Visitors may find your business sketchy and may hesitate to do business with you. You may lose their trust.
Be sure to place the following information on your website:
- Physical address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Links to social media profiles
Quality Content
Creating well-written, engaging and useful content is one of the most important components of building a good website.
Quality content is purposeful, original and delivers value. It is also optimised so that search engines and people are driven to view, read and share your content.
Google recognises relevant, high quality content and amply rewards such websites with higher rankings.
Focus on creating nothing but the best quality content. It will go a long way in boosting your search engine rankings whilst delighting your audience.
Conclusion
All of these components must be in place when you want to build a quality website. When your goal is to impress visitors, engage them, convert them and have them come back for more, you cannot skimp out on these important aspects.
If your website looks untrustworthy or incomplete, it can dramatically affect your traffic and conversions.
If you are looking to build a new website for your business, get in touch with Numero today. Our team of professional web designers will take the time to understand your requirements to build a stunning website for you. Whether you want a brochure website, booking website or an e-commerce website, we’ve got you covered.
Book your free consultation today!
