Every business, no matter how small, needs to have some sort of web presence. With people connecting online more than ever, they expect to be able to do the same with their favourite brands. Here
Every business, no matter how small, needs to have some sort of web presence. With people connecting online more than ever, they expect to be able to do the same with their favourite brands. Here are six important design tips to bear in mind.
- Make a great first impression
According to business.com, website visitors make an initial judgement about your brand within a couple of seconds; therefore, you should steer clear of cluttered text and images and aim to create something that is easy on the eye. You don’t need to study web design techniques in depth; instead, make sure your core message shines through and that all the necessary information is easily accessible.
- Choose a distinctive name
Your domain name represents your online brand, so it needs to memorable and easy to type. Before you buy domain names, you can check to see what is available and complete your domain registration at names.co.uk or another provider. Most sites offer an initial discount against the first year, so make sure you understand what the cost will be once the full price is applied at the end of your discounted period.
- Consider your hosting options
Some DIY site builders let you build your site and will host it on your behalf. While this can appear a convenient option when you first start out, bear in mind that it can limit your options further down the line. When your business grows and your site needs to expand, you might be charged hefty fees for moving it elsewhere. Self-hosting packages offer greater flexibility for any business that has plans to develop.
- Test your website thoroughly
Some visitors will use their PCs to access your site, whereas others will use tablets and smartphones; therefore, you should make sure that you test your site across a variety of devices, operating systems and browsers. Don’t assume that just because your website looks great on your own laptop, it will look great for everyone. Test, test and keep testing your site to make sure every visitor has the same high-quality experience.
- Be transparent
Even when planning a purchase from a bricks and mortar shop, the majority of shoppers like to do some online research first; therefore, it pays to have an online presence, even if this is a single page of information. Include details about who you are, what you do, and where you are based. Pictures of your premises are good, while contact information is an absolute must so that people know how to get in touch.
- Make your site fast to load
We have incredibly short online attention spans; therefore, if your website takes more than a couple of seconds to load, it won’t be getting the maximum number of views. Check the page loading speeds regularly to make sure your site visitors are not leaving and heading off to your competitors due to something that can be easily fixed.