What makes a good website?
The world of web design is changing. When building a website today, there are a whole host of factors to consider. You need to ensure your site doesn’t only look great, but it also works well. In this article we look at some of the keys to a good website.
Related post: Why Does My Website Look Bad On Mobile?
1. Use the right platform
There are many different options when it comes to designing your website. But if your developer designs your website using a program you find difficult to access or hard to use, then you will run into trouble. Effective websites need to be maintained well with plenty of fresh original content.
2. Design
Modern design usually consists of well-organized layouts, modern fonts and current styles and themes. Chaotic pages with too much content appear old-fashioned.
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3. Ease of Use
Your website must be simple to operate. Make certain you don’t feature banners that prevent customers from interacting with your brand. Being user friendly is one of the most important keys to a good website design.
4. Scalable
A good design should be responsive. Your website might work well on the screens it’s viewed on today, but what about tomorrow? Good website designs adapt to whatever device they are being viewed on.
5. Content
Content is extremely important. Content must be easy to understand and straightforward. It needs to be relevant to the page it is on, and it must be SEO-friendly. Crucially, your site must feature a call to action that will help your user achieve a specific goal. This might be to subscribe to a newsletter, fill out a contact form, call you or make a purchase.
6. Time to go live
Gone are the days when developers could take months or even years to redesign your site or even build a new one. A complicated site will still take far longer than a simpler one. But if your developer is dragging their heels, you need to find out why and hurry them along.
7. Works on different browsers
Your site should be tested on various browsers including Internet Explore, Firefox and Chrome, to see how it responds to different screen types (laptop, mobile, tablet). Responsive design means a website reacts differently to different devices and screen sizes, and is one of the keys to a good business website.
8. Analytical information
You need to keep an eye on your traffic statistics to see how well your website is performing. This can help you concentrate on getting the most of your weaker pages and in directing better quality traffic to your site.
9. Resources
Make sure you have the correct resources to maintain your site. If the site requires a blog then you need to make sure you have the time to publish posts regularly. If you don’t have time to write, you may want to consider hiring someone. What about the rest of your website? Can you find someone to keep your website updated? There’s not much more of a turn-off to users than badly outdated content. You may need outside help if you want to keep your content fresh.
10. Take Pride
You should be proud of the website that you create. If for any reason you are unhappy with the way your site looks or operates during its development, take stock and don’t be afraid to change direction if it’s required. You need to have a site you are totally satisfied with. Nothing less will do.
Your website will be a crucial factor in developing your online business strategy. A well-planned site with a great layout, appearance and logical roadmap will help you drive your business forward and bring plenty of new customers into direct engagement with your brand.