If you’re just about to start out designing your first website, then there are a few key features you’ll want to make sure are included.
Not all websites are created equal, and there are some essential elements that set apart the best from the rest. So, what makes a great website?
Well-Designed and User-Friendly Interface
Great web design is key to keeping visitors on your site. If your website looks outdated or unprofessional, people will be less likely to stick around.
A modern, stylish design will help keep people engaged and make it easy to find the information they’re looking for.
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Navigation should also be easy to use; if people can’t figure out how to get around your website, they’ll quickly give up and move on.
Quality Content
People visit websites for a reason. They want to read, learn, and be entertained. Make sure you have a lot of quality content that’s interesting and helpful.
Some websites include interactive elements like polls or quizzes, but these won’t necessarily keep visitors engaged for long periods of time; it’s the information on your site that counts.
Whatever the content, be succinct and get to the point. This way, readers won’t get bored or overwhelmed and will be more likely to actually read your content.
Don’t forget that if you want people to keep coming back to your site, you have to keep updating your content. Quality content will ensure that your site stays fresh and keeps visitors engaged.
Easy-To-Use Shopping Cart
If you’re running an online business, then you’ll want a website with an effective shopping cart system. People shouldn’t be forced to work hard to find the items they want or need; easy navigation is key for e-commerce websites.
However, make sure there’s enough room in the shipping area, as people don’t like being restricted in terms of when they can receive their orders.
Strong Brand Identification
No website stands alone. It’s only part of an overall branding effort that includes all communication channels, including written text, logos, symbols, design style, and color schemes.
Make sure that your website’s design is consistent with your other branding efforts and that it correctly represents your company or organization.
If you can check all of these boxes, then you’re on your way to creating a great website. Remember to keep updating your content and keeping things fresh, and you’ll be sure to keep visitors coming back for more
Fast-Loading Website
It can be frustrating to visit a website only to find it takes forever to load up on your computer screen. This is why it’s essential to make sure your website loads quickly – any longer than five seconds, and people will probably go elsewhere!
One of the best ways to speed up a slow-loading website is to use a content delivery network (CDN). A CDN will host your files on servers around the world, so they will be delivered faster to your visitors.
You can also minify your scripts and stylesheets, which will reduce their size and make them load faster. Finally, use a caching plugin to store your pages and assets in memory for faster loading on future visits.
Clear Contact Information
You should always include your website’s URL (or ‘domain name’) in the footer of every page, along with your name and any other relevant contact information.
Be aware that not all internet users know how to find this type of information, so you might want to include an email address or telephone number somewhere on each page so people can easily get in touch.
If you’re concerned about spam then a contact us form is quick and easy to install and removes the need to publish your email address.
Easy-To-Find Navigation Menu
As we’ve mentioned, it’s important that visitors can easily navigate around your site by using the site map. This makes it easier for them to find what they’re looking for and reduces their chances of getting frustrated and leaving.
We recommend keeping the main navigation menu at the top of every page, as this is where most people expect it to be.
Compatible With Different Devices
There’s a good chance your visitors will be using a range of different devices to access your website – from desktop computers and laptops to smartphones and tablets.
That’s why it’s essential to make sure your website is designed in a way that looks good and works well on all types of devices.
For example, you should have a separate mobile website that displays the main elements of your site in an easy-to-read way for people on smartphones.
You might also find it helpful to use responsive web design practices which automatically detect the type of device being used and displays your site accordingly.
If people have to resize or scroll around to see what they’re looking for, they’re likely to get frustrated and leave.
Don’t Forget About Accessibility!
It’s important that all visitors are able to visit your website without any issues or problems, including those who are visually impaired or blind.
That’s why it’s essential to make sure your website is designed in a way that everyone can easily access the different pages and features it offers.
Secure Website
One of the most important features of any website is security. It’s essential that you take steps to protect your site from hackers and malware.
This includes keeping your website and server software up-to-date with the latest security patches and making sure you retain a good reputation for speed and reliability.
You should use an SSL certificate to encrypt any sensitive data, such as credit card details. It’s also a good idea to get your site audited by a professional security consultant every so often.
SEO-Friendly Website
Finally, you’ll want to consider how friendly your website is towards search engines. This is known as ‘search engine optimization (SEO) and involves using certain strategies that make it easier for search engines like Google or Bing to crawl and index your site.
This will help improve the chances of people finding your site when they search for keywords related to what you do or sell online.
However, bear in mind that there are also some techniques you should avoid because they can have the opposite effect – one example is purchasing search engine optimization through an organization that doesn’t know what it’s doing.
These are just some of the key features you should focus on when designing your website.
Keep in mind that having an attractive design is also important, but if visitors can’t read or understand the information on your site, this isn’t going to do much for building trust and generating leads!
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