An attractive and informative website is critical for businesses to succeed in today’s digital age. Everyone wants a great web design but many are mislead about what makes a successful one. Take a look at some of these common myths about web design:
Myth #1: The Home Page is All That Matters
Even though your website’s main page usually gets the most visits, since it’s the first thing a visitor sees, that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing that matters when it comes to your website. In reality, every part of your website is important. You want your website to capture and keep the audience’s attention as a whole. Some of the ways you can utilize web design to engage your audience and to keep audiences engaged are by including:
- Photo galleries
- Interactive forms
- Banners
- Videos
- Simple navigation
Myth #2: A Website’s Design Doesn’t Have to be Updated
There is a common myth that once you develop a website, it will be good enough to last forever. This can’t be further from the truth. Technology is constantly changing, which means that the ways consumers access information are constantly changing too. You never want your website to feel outdated, as it can easily turn potential customers away before they even get past the first page of your website. Make periodic changes and updates to your website’s design and content in order to keep your visitors interested.
Myth #3: All Content is Good Content
There’s a difference between content that will help your website rise to the top of Google’s results page and content that doesn’t. Web content, at the very least, needs to:
- Be clear
- Be informative
- Interest and engage potential customers
- Call your website visitors to action
- Be geared to your specific target audience
- Have on-site SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The right content will ensure that users navigate further than just the first page of your website, while subpar content can easily be the reason for a high bounce rate of website visitors. A good rule of thumb is to keep it as simple as possible. You don’t want to overwhelm your users. In addition to keeping it simple, you want to include content that explicitly conveys your main message quickly and easily. To do this, consider limiting the amount of text needed to convey your message, and incorporating videos and images to your web design.
Myth #4: A Well-Designed Desktop Website is Good Enough
In 2020, over 60% of consumers who access websites and shop for products and services online will do so on a mobile device. That percentage will only continue to increase as more advanced smartphones and other mobile devices are developed. Because of this reality, a mobile-friendly design is absolutely necessary for your website. Not every desktop web design converts to mobile properly. In fact, if mobile-friendliness wasn’t considered when your website was first developed, chances are it’s causing some problems for users who access it via smartphone or tablet. Pictures may not show up properly, links may be un-clickable, important text may be missing, and so forth. A website that includes a professionally crafted mobile web design that is simple, clean, and fast is something no business should go without.
Myth #5: Your Website Just Has to “Look Good”
Oftentimes, people think that the key to a great website is that it looks sleek and attractive. Even though a website’s aesthetic is very important, it’s certainly not the only thing your website needs to ensure your business’s success. The ideal website design will be both attractive and functional. Think about it: What good is an attractive website if users can’t easily:
- Navigate the pages?
- View it clearly on a mobile device?
- Find the information they’re looking for?
- Understand what your business has to offer?
- View your credentials?
- Contact your business?
The key to gaining solid leads and getting conversions is ensuring your website can do all of the above, and do it well.
Need Help With Web Design in Maryland?
If you’re looking to create a beautiful new website for your business or redesign an existing one, look no further than Advantage Internet Marketing. We take the time to learn about your business, your target audience, your brand, your mission, and your goals in order to create the perfect website for you. Our expertise in web design allows us to ensure that your website is attractive, functional, mobile-friendly, and has the content it needs to increase brand awareness and get you the leads your business deserves. Contact us today to get started!