Having a solid online presence in today’s digital-led business landscape is non-negotiable. But if your web design is sub-par you could actually be losing business as a result, writes Shayne Tilley, head of marketing at 99designs by Vista.

Regardless of whether your business operates solely online or provides an in-person service, your website is often the first place customers look when trying to learn more about you.

Your website should not only attract potential customers, but provide them with a great user experience that presents your business and brand in the best possible light.

This is where good web design plays a critical role. It makes your site look and feel consistent with your brand, and is highly effective at creating an experience that drives visitors to take action.

That sounds like a tall order, but luckily there’s a couple of simple design tips that you can implement today that will help take your website from out of date to outstanding.

Three simple tips to bring your website from outdated to outstanding

1. Simple design that puts customer needs first

Most of the most common web design mistakes we see time and time again are when brands add excessive elements on their pages, just because they are available.

Less is pretty much always more when it comes to designing your website. The more elements on a page, the more likely you are to distract your customer. By keeping your design clean and clear, you can keep the focus on the desired outcome, such as the sale.

However, clear design will only get you so far. If you want your web design to really connect with your audience, put yourself in their shoes and consider what they need from your website and how they might navigate through all its different facets.

This goes for all your pages – from the homepage, product pages, right through to the checkout. The more intuitive you can make their experience, the easier it will be for them to find what they’re looking for and make a purchase.

At the end of the day, there are just a few things your potential customers want in an online experience – something that’s easy to navigate, well-designed, and makes the overall process of doing business with you straightforward and hassle-free.

2. Prioritise consistent branding

When it comes to interacting with businesses online, people want to buy from and work with brands they can trust. And the number one way to foster that trust with any prospective customer is with a consistent brand identity.

Your brand is the DNA of your business; it’s who you are as a company, what you’re about, and how you’re different from your competitors. It plays a key role in building a connection with your audience by showing them what makes you special. And nowhere is branding more important than on your website.

If you want to get the most from your website design, it should reflect your overarching brand strategy at every scroll and click.

Branding consistency isn’t just about slapping your logo on every page. Your customers should have the same visual and emotional experience with your brand, no matter where they interact with it. So, things like your logo, header images, typography, imagery, colour palettes, and tone of voice in any copy or written content such as blog articles, all contribute to your brand image and should be consistent.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of colour

There’s more to colour than meets the eye! Choosing the right colour for your website goes much further than just picking something you like personally.

Understanding the psychology of colour is a really powerful tool for defining who you are as a brand, but also evoking different feelings and emotions in your customers when they are interacting with your website.

People tend to have strong associations with colour. For example, playful colours like yellow and orange let your customer know you are friendly and vibrant, whereas blue is often used to instil a sense of maturity and trust.

Not only that, but colour can also inspire action – bright colours like red are often used for purchase buttons to make them stand out and create feelings of excitement and passion, which are key drivers behind spending habits. In other words, if used well, colour can have a huge impact on the success of your website.

Designing a great website can be tricky. Not only does it have to look good and be on-brand, but it also needs to drive visitors to take action.

But as long as you’re prioritising your customers’ experience of your website through great branding and design, the more likely you are to build something effective and memorable that will keep customers coming back for more.

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Now read this:

https://www.kochiesbusinessbuilders.com.au/4-of-the-freshest-design-trends-to-power-up-your-small-business-branding-in-2022/