Your website is often the first point of contact between your business and your audience, influencing their first impression of your brand. … and you know what they say about first impressions.
Your website is a digital representation of your company’s values and credibility, making every detail significant. Keeping this in mind, we’re sharing some tips to take your website from meh to ah-mazing.
Tip #1: Look At Your Analytics
You can’t know how to improve your website without knowing how it’s being used! Maybe you think nobody looks at a given page, but it’s in your top 3. Maybe a page you love is where most people bounce from your site. Ultimately, analytics are crucial for understanding how users interact with your website and for making informed decisions about its design and content.
Tracking metrics such as page views, bounce rates, and traffic sources can provide valuable insights into user behavior. It’s also vital to understand the devices your audience is using to view your website (mobile, desktop, tablet). With mobile usage surpassing desktop in many cases, ensuring a seamless experience on smartphones and tablets is crucial for retaining users.
Tip #2: Reorganize Your Main Menu
Do you have 14 top-level navigation items on your menu? Time to pare those down to reflect what people are actually looking for. This may mean deleting duplicates or moving items to dropdown menus. On the other hand, do you only have 3-4 menu items, and your analytics say people are constantly searching for pages, or worse, bouncing? Then you need to add/replace menu items.
Tip #3: Ensure Consistency Across the Site
We’ve all visited websites where it feels like there are more colors, fonts, and font sizes than actual words on the page. So, unless you’re going for that ‘ransom letter’ look, it’s best to minimize the variety of typefaces and stick to a limited color scheme – ideally, your brand guidelines that have been strategically identified and brought to life. Exceptions can be made if there’s a deliberate design choice, like emphasizing a header. However, for a clean and polished presentation, consistency in fonts and sizing throughout the site is key.
Tip #4: Use Real Photography Wherever Possible
Pitting real photos against stock imagery is like comparing homemade to store-bought cookies. Real photos simply have an authenticity that you just can’t beat. If you can’t use real photos, consider illustrations or premium stock photography instead. And remember, whitespace is okay; you don’t have to cram in images just to fill space.
Tip #5: Speed Matters
A slow website equals a fast goodbye from visitors. The exact ways to improve site speed vary from site to site, but typically ensuring your images are optimized is a good place to start. From there, consider something like a CDN (many web hosts offer this as an add-on) to improve load times further. A web developer can help with further speed improvements by optimizing and deferring scripts.
Tip #6: Don’t Sleep on SEO
Even the basics can give your site a boost. Search Engine Optimization ensures each page incorporates elements like site titles, engaging meta descriptions, and descriptive alt text for images. For more robust optimization, consider enlisting an SEO specialist to handle advanced tasks like keyword research. And don’t forget about a local SEO strategy that helps your business be more visible in local search results on Google.
Tip #7: Hire an Expert
When it comes to your website, it’s usually best to call in the experts. Web designers, copywriters, and developers who understand your industry can work wonders. Don’t underestimate the power of professional know-how—it could be the difference between a mediocre site and one that knocks it out of the park.
Your website is more than just pixels on a screen—it’s your digital ambassador, the face of your brand in the online world. By implementing the tips outlined above, you can take your website from just good to really, really great. From understanding user behavior through analytics to prioritizing site speed and SEO, taking proactive measures when it comes to your site can bring you closer to creating a digital experience that resonates with your audience.
Ready to take a deeper dive into website design and development? Check out our Definitive Guide and contact us if you want to chat.