You spent a lot of time working on your website and trying to make it look as nice as possible. It has served you well over the years, but now it may be time to make a few small changes to help it become more efficient. Your customers are evolving and changing in 2021, and your website should do the same.
Each website needs to be unique and offer value to the audience who comes to take a look at it. This means that you may have to utilize a few different methods to help improve your website this year. Borrow these tips from web design firms to help improve your website in 2021 includes:
1. Test the Website
You need to have a website that is accessible to all of the people who want to view it. You may assume that the website is perfect and can work well, but this is not always the cause. A website audit will help you look over all the websites and then see which parts of the design should be improved.
Even if you used clean code throughout the website and did the standard web design guidelines, it is possible a few elements are missing that you originally thought were there. Like media alt-tags that will help to describe the visuals you use.
Running this kind of test allows you to find any of these missing elements. You can then use them to make improvements to the website. There are different tools you can utilize to see results with this audit and to make sure your website works the way you want.
Periodically test out the website to see how it works and whether there are more improvements that you can do to it. This is one of the best ways to catch any mistakes or issues that may turn customers away from staying on the website and making a purchase.
2. Use Real images
There are some elements that you may try to add to your website that could detract from the value and the message that you would like to convey. If the animations are too complicated, the content is too long with no breaks, or you use images from stock sites, then you will really decrease the value of your website.
Keep in mind that your audience has a short attention span and will not stick around on a website that they do not instantly find value with. And this can start with some of the images that you decide to use on the page.
Your goal needs to be using real pictures and images, ones that have to do with your business and what you are all about. Most customers can tell when a stock image is used and it can make them a little wary of working with you in the first place. Real images show you as more unique and open so you can make a better connection with your customer.
3. Use the Social Proof
There is nothing better for getting people to look at your website and try out your product than a little bit of social proof. This is basically getting others to praise your business because it will help convince potential customers to give it a try too.
Adding real testimony from customers onto the website can really work. Many customers are on the fence about a product and they want to make sure that they are getting the right one. When they can read reviews from past customers, they are more likely to jump on board as well.
The goal here is to go with genuine testimonials. Do not pay to have these on. Most customers can tell when a testimonial is fake and this can quickly make them pick a competitor when they see this. The right testimonial will build up the necessary trust with your prospects before they become clients.
4. Add the Call to Action
Once a customer has gotten to your site you need to be their guide to the different locations on the website in order to convert them to working with you. Keep in mind that your customer does not want to spend a lot of time looking around for what they need. The easier you can make this for them, the easier it is to get the sale.
One of the best ways to do some improvements to the web design is to use a call to action in the right areas. The top right of the navigation, below sections that convince the customer to do something, and at the bottom of each website page.
Even though these are important, you should never lose sight of your buyer’s journey as well. It is easy to inundate your users with the call to action at every turn. But if the customer is not ready to purchase, then they are likely not to take any action at all.
Rather than doing that, you need to meet the user where they are. And you can tell this based on the page they are viewing at the time.
For example, you may have a customer visiting your page on how to build a custom closet. During this stage, the customer is most likely not ready to purchase yet; they are learning something new and becoming aware of the problem.
Rather than using a call to action here, you should give them a link to see a comprehensive guide on the materials needed to build a custom closet. If they go to that page, they are closer to making a purchase and the call to action may fit better there.
Designing the Best Website
There are a lot of things that you need to add to a website, which is why it is an evolving process that may utilize a few different drafts before you find the perfect one. Use some of the tips above to help you make the perfect website for your needs.
