Understanding the importance of website design can be difficult. This is especially true when your business is putting forth a big investment towards it. Many come to terms with the mentality that if the website exists and functions, then it’s “good enough”.
This is far from the case, unfortunately.
In a digital era where the majority of your clients see your business first online, being able to draw them in with your website is essential. This doesn’t mean you need to spend half your marketing or IT budget on web design. But it is important to take the time to understand the need for an eye-catching and well-designed site that fits within your business’ style.
Review these reasons why web design is so important and how it should be used to market your business.
Clear Brand Consistency
Having a clear brand voice, and then transferring that message throughout all your print and online marketing collateral is essential. As mentioned before, your website may be the first thing a future customer will see pertaining to your business.
You want that to match everything else that represents your business as well. This can range from your business cards to your pamphlets. This also includes the message that you are conveying to your customers. It’s important for your customers to recognize your brand across all mediums, be it your website or even your brick and mortar location.
SEO
You want to make sure that you can be found online, and that goes beyond simply having a website. In order to get more customers, you need to be sure you are ranking high on search engines like Google and Bing. This keeps those potential customers aren’t being directed to the competition. One of the most important aspects of a website is search engine optimization (SEO).
SEO is much more than simply putting keywords into web content. SEO includes understanding that most users read content from top to bottom and from left to right, just like reading a book.
SEO also takes content placement into consideration. That includes putting the most important information in the upper left-hand column. All of these features are help make your website an important and successful tool for your business’ marketing.
Easy to Navigate
Once you’ve taken SEO into consideration and have gotten your website easily accessible for your potential clients, you want to make sure that they can easily navigate around your website. This could end up making or breaking a website, especially if you have a larger website with many different pages.
Easy navigation can include multiple variables. You want to have sections of your website easy to distinguish and easy to get to. For example, if you have a larger website with many pages, you want to have an easy to identify toolbar that can be easily read so that your customers can find the page they are looking for, like your contact page. If they’re ready to make a purchase, or just want to hop on a call or email you, then you want that to be easy to do!
The customer visiting your website should be able to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. A good rule of thumb is that your business’ website should be so easy to navigate that even your grandmother can use it.
Company Message
Similar to maintaining a consistent brand voice throughout your website and with all your marketing material, you want to make sure that you have a solid company message that is spoken across your website content. This includes what your company strives to achieve and its promise.
Whether you create the content yourself or send it over to a web design company or copywriters, you want to ensure that you have clearly articulated what your business is. This includes your brand’s position and promise, and any other important elements that should be taken into consideration when relaying your company message.
Customer Service
Building a foundation of trust starts with having great customer service in your business. You’d be surprised by how your website design plays a key role in creating trust with your customers.
How is this done? By creating a website that looks welcoming and inviting for your customers, an easy to use website that shows your customers how easy it is to work with your business and contact them, as well as clean and digestible information that is necessary for your customers to know.
Wrapping Up: Importance of Website Design
If your website is the first thing your customers see, you want to make a good first impression. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t want to have your business located in a dark alley in a poor part of town. You’d never get any business and may even feel ashamed if a customer stopped by. The same goes for your website design.
The internet can be a little intimidating for some, and that may be a big reason why some are slow to pull the trigger on investing in a full website design.
Don’t worry! With digital playing a huge role in businesses today, you can ensure that you work with a team that holds complete transparency when creating your website so that you can provide your customers that you are proud to advertise.
For more information on the importance of website design and a wealth of information about search engine optimization and other digital marketing capabilities, check out my website at TimOxendale.co.uk. When you are ready to jump into creating a new website design, contact me so we can create a great website for your business together.
