So, you need a website for your business but need to decide whether to hire someone or do it yourself. Awesome choice!
But before you start picking out color schemes and fonts, let's chat about what it takes to build a website.
Spoiler alert: It's not just about looking good.
A well-designed site has more than pretty colors and appealing graphics. It helps users have a confident experience, knowing they completed the tasks they aimed to complete quickly and easily.
Imagine walking into a messy, disorganized store and beginning to search for the item you wanted to purchase. Five minutes in, you're completely lost and overwhelmed. Now, imagine walking into a well-organized, clean store where everything is neatly displayed and easy to find. The difference in these two experiences is similar to the difference between a poorly designed website and a well-designed one.
At this point, you should walk right out.
The same goes for websites.
Your website is often the first interaction people have with your business.
A well-designed site cannot only make visitors stay, explore, and eventually become customers, but also significantly enhance your business's online presence and reputation.
The longer a visitor stays and continues to engage with your site, the more it indicates to Google that they are interested in your content, increasing your site's authority with Google. Higher site authority leads to higher rankings on Google.
Conversely, a poorly designed site can send them running to your competitors.
That's why your website needs to make a stellar first impression.
It's like your business's handshake – firm and confident, not weak and forgettable.
This brings us to the meat and potatoes of any great website: the user experience. It's not just a buzzword but a crucial element that can make or break your site's success. Let's dive into why.
Okay, let's get real.
You can have the most stunning website in the world, but if it's a nightmare to navigate, people will bounce faster than you can say "404 error."
User experience (UX) is the secret sauce that makes your website functional and easy to use.
Think of it like a well-organized kitchen – everything is in the right place, and you can find what you need without tearing your hair out.
Imagine entering a stranger's house and being told to prepare a meal. I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty terrifying to me. Why?
Well, I don't know where they put their kitchen items, leaving me feeling lost and overwhelmed—two emotions you don't want any visitors to feel, whether they are visiting your website or your home. But what if as you began searching for everything you needed to complete the task, everywhere you looked was exactly where you needed to look the first time? You would immediately feel excited, happy, and more confident about the task you need to complete.
The same goes for your website. Good UX means intuitive navigation, fast loading times, and a design that guides visitors to their desired destination quickly and easily.
As mentioned, people who enjoy using your site are likelier to stick around and take action, leading to increased site authority.
Here's a fun fact: more people browse the internet on their phones than desktops.
Crazy, right?
Responsiveness means your website looks and works great on all devices, not just on a big screen.
If your site isn't mobile-friendly, you're turning away potential customers.
Nobody likes pinching and zooming on their phone to read tiny text or click on microscopic buttons.
With more and more people using their smartphones to browse the web, having a mobile-friendly site is no longer a nice-to-have, it's a must. It's time to adapt or get left behind.
It ensures that your site is accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of how they visit it.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the key to making your site rank higher in search results, and good design plays a crucial role in this. It's not just about keywords, but also about providing a great user experience that Google loves.
SEO might sound scary, but it shouldn't. Simply put, it's how you get Google to notice you.
And let's be honest; we all want Google to be our BFF.
Good website design includes SEO best practices, like fast loading times, clean code, and easy navigation.
More visibility = more traffic = more potential customers.
Simple math!
SEO isn't just about keywords – it's about providing a great user experience.
Google loves websites that are fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate.
But what do you need to do to have good SEO besides good UX? Here are a few basic steps to take to have better SEO on your site:
Use relevant, simple keywords in your content, titles, and URLs.
Write informative and engaging content that provides value to your audience.
Compress images and minimize the use of heavy scripts.
Make sure your website looks good and works well on all devices.
Use clear and descriptive title tags and meta descriptions for each page. Use header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content. Basic hierarchy is crucial for Google to index your site. For example, the first bit of text on a page of your website should be an H1, and each heading below that is an H2, H3, H4, and so on.
Link to other relevant pages on your site to help users find more information.
Add descriptive alt text to your images to help search engines understand them.
Use HTTPS to provide a secure connection for your users.
Submit your sitemap to help search engines index your site. Here's how to add your sitemap to Google Search Console:
The question of using a template for a website is one that I'm asked often, and my answer is very situational. Using a template can save time and money, especially for small businesses or individuals with limited resources. On the other hand, building a custom website allows for unique design and functionality, which can be beneficial for businesses with specific branding or technical requirements.
Choosing a template for your website depends on your website's unique needs, your project budget and timeline. A template could be an excellent option if your budget is limited. A very limited budget is the only time I recommend a template. Templates offer a quick, cost-effective solution for getting your site up and running without extensive customization. But, there are drawbacks to templates.
I'm not a fan of templates. Not all businesses are made equal, and the same goes for websites. A great website should cater to the business it represents and its potential customers.
Consider this question: "How much money can a bad website, which fails to provide a great user experience, cost a business?" The answer is often thousands in lost revenue. Investing in a custom website becomes much easier to justify when you realize the cost of trying to save money with a subpar site.
Imagine you're planning a big party. At this party, you will have the opportunity to network with others who could be prospective customers of your business. You have two options: buy cheap, pre-packaged snacks or invest in high-quality, delicious catering.
If you go with the cheap snacks, your guests might not enjoy themselves, and some might leave early. On the other hand, investing in good catering ensures your guests have a great time, rave about your party, and stay longer.
A bad website is like those cheap snacks. It can drive potential customers away, costing you thousands in lost revenue. Investing in a custom website, like opting for quality catering, ensures a great user experience that keeps customers returning and boosts your business.
Now, let's address the DIY approach. Learning how to build a website takes many hours. This dedication of time can be wasted if you don't know what users want on a site.
Creating a website from scratch involves a steep learning curve. From understanding design principles to mastering coding languages, the process requires significant time and effort. For someone new to web development, this can mean countless hours spent watching tutorials, reading articles, and troubleshooting issues that arise.
However, dedicating all this time can be counterproductive if you lack a deep understanding of what users want and need in a website. User experience (UX) is a crucial component of web design, and without proper knowledge, it's easy to make mistakes that could turn visitors away.
Consider the importance of intuitive navigation. Users expect to find information quickly and easily. Visitors may become frustrated and leave if your DIY website has a confusing layout, with important links buried or hard to find. This impacts your site's usability and can harm your brand's reputation.
Moreover, design aesthetics play a vital role in attracting and retaining users. A DIY approach might lead to an amateurish site with mismatched colors, poor font choices, or unprofessional images. These design flaws can make your business appear less credible and trustworthy. Remember, your website often gives potential customers the first impression of your brand.
Performance issues are another common pitfall. Websites need to load quickly and function smoothly across all devices. Without the technical know-how, you might end up with a site that is slow to load or difficult to navigate on mobile devices. This can result in a high bounce rate, where users leave your site almost immediately, negatively impacting your search engine rankings and overall user engagement.
SEO is another area where a lack of expertise can hurt your DIY efforts. Optimizing your website for search engines involves more than just adding keywords. It includes technical aspects like meta tags, alt texts for images, and proper URL structures. Missing out on these details can make it harder for potential customers to find your site through search engines.
While the DIY approach might seem cost-effective initially, the time spent could be wasted if the final product doesn't meet user expectations or deliver a positive experience. Investing in professional web design ensures that your site is built with the user in mind, incorporating best practices for usability, aesthetics, performance, and SEO. This saves you time and sets your website up for success, driving more traffic, engagement, and conversions.
People are naturally skeptical of the internet.
Can you blame them?
With so many scams and shady sites, knowing who to trust is hard.
A professionally designed website can help build trust and credibility.
When your site looks unique, polished, and professional, it gives visitors the impression that you're a legitimate business that cares about their experience.
What if that visitor recognizes your site template from another site they have visited? Do you think that would increase or decrease your trust in the site
Imagine you're shopping for a unique gift and walk into a boutique. You're impressed with the unique items and excited about finding something special. Then, you visit another shop and see the same items displayed in the same way. Suddenly, the boutique doesn't feel as unique or trustworthy anymore.
The same thing happens with websites. If a visitor recognizes your site from another, it can decrease their trust in your brand. They might start to question your originality and credibility. Like unique boutiques draw customers in, a custom-designed website builds trust and sets you apart.
Trust is a crucial part of converting visitors into customers.
Without it, you're just another faceless entity on the web.
Your website is a reflection of your brand.
It's where you tell your story and connect with your audience. Transparency is one of the best ways to increase your brand's trust.
Another basic way to build trust is consistent branding across your website. From colors and fonts to images and tone of voice, these help create a cohesive and memorable experience for visitors.
It's like a virtual handshake, giving people a sense of who you are and what you stand for.
When your branding is consistent, it builds recognition and trust.
People will remember you and what you offer.
Your website's main job is to convert visitors into customers.
Good design plays a massive role in this.
Clear calls-to-action, intuitive navigation, and a user-friendly layout can guide visitors toward making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or whatever your end goal is.
Think of your website as your best salesperson – make sure it's up to the task!
Imagine you have a top-notch salesperson in your team. They are knowledgeable, personable, and know precisely how to address your customers' needs. They greet each customer with a warm welcome, understand their preferences, and guide them seamlessly through the buying process. This salesperson ensures that every interaction is smooth and every question is answered, ultimately leading to a sale.
You want that salesperson to talk to every customer who walks through your door, and your website should do the same.
Every element on your site should serve a purpose. Everything, from the layout to the text, should be strategically designed to engage visitors and guide them to take action.
Consider the layout of your homepage. It should be visually appealing and easy to navigate, making it effortless for visitors to find the information they need. Clear calls-to-action (CTAs) should be prominently displayed, encouraging visitors to sign up, purchase, or contact you for more information. Like a skilled salesperson, your CTAs should be persuasive and compelling, gently nudging visitors toward the desired action.
The content on your website is your pitch. It should be concise, informative, and tailored to your audience's needs. Use engaging headlines and persuasive copy to attract visitors and keep them interested. Provide valuable information that addresses their pain points and showcases how your product or service can solve their problems. Just as a great salesperson listens and responds to customer concerns, your content should anticipate and answer common questions.
Visual elements, such as images and videos, should support your message and create a connection with your audience. High-quality visuals can evoke emotions and help visitors visualize themselves using your product or service. Think of them as the body language of your website, reinforcing your message and building trust.
Your website should be easy to use. A confusing or cluttered site can frustrate visitors and drive them away, just as a disorganized salesperson can lose a sale.
Your website is more than just an online presence; it's your 24/7 salesperson. It should have all the tools and strategies to convert visitors into customers. By focusing on purposeful design, compelling content, and user-friendly navigation, you can ensure that your website always works hard to drive your business forward.
The digital world is constantly evolving.
And so should your website.
Keeping up with the latest design trends can help your site feel fresh and current.
Staying up to date doesn't mean overhauling your site every year, but regular updates and tweaks can keep it looking modern and relevant.
A stale website can make your business look out of touch.
Staying updated shows that you care about your online presence and your audience.
Google favors regularly updated sites. It wants to serve the most recent content that provides useful information to searchers.
Good website design is about more than just aesthetics.
It's about creating a positive user experience, building trust, improving SEO, and ultimately driving conversions.
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to revamp your existing site, remember that good design is an investment in your business's future.
So, make your website a pretty face and a powerhouse performer!
Ready to give your website the makeover it deserves?
Let's chat! We're here to help you create a site that looks amazing and works even better.
