Did you know? First impressions of websites are 94% related to design, according to Research Gate, and it only takes a mere .05 seconds for users to create an opinion about your website, according to Behaviour and Information Technology. So, it makes sense that Adobe reports 59% of people prefer browsing “beautiful and well-designed” sites compared to basic ones.
Here are the specific aspects that are critical to the actual process of creating a captivating, engaging, and effective website for your company and audience.
Overall Design
When a user lands on a website, they take careful note of its overall design. Almost immediately, a user can tell if a website is modern and professional versus dated and second-rate, with the latter raising questions of authenticity. A company that puts the time and effort into creating a well-designed website and logo demonstrates to its customers that they’re a professional company committed to providing quality customer service and products and/or services. Keep in mind that consistency is key, so your website design and logo should be uniform not only across all webpages, but other online presence you may have, such as your social media accounts, as well as all other marketing materials. This will help solidify your company’s image and help your audience easily recognize and identify with your brand.
Navigation and Intelligibility
Trailing closely behind first impressions and the overall design and feel of your website, is the degree of usability. It’s crucial that your website is easy to navigate for first-time visitors and return customers alike. Ask yourself, are all the links in working order and are the photos high-resolution? Are the different tabs and subsections logically categorized? Is the content well-written, concise, and free of grammatical errors? Does it quickly give the visitor an accurate understanding of your company’s mission, vision, values, and offerings? These considerations should be top of mind. There is a distinct difference between displaying your company information and offerings on your website in a coherent, organized manner, and a having a cluttered website that lacks structure and gives users an overwhelming number of choices. Remember, first impressions are formed in a fraction of a second, so you don’t have much time to capture, let alone maintain, the interest of your users.
Mobile Responsiveness
The vast majority of Americans, 97%, are cellphone owners, according to the Pew Research Center, which should come as no surprise in this day and age. All the more reason it’s imperative that your company’s website is mobile responsive. More often than not, consumers are browsing the web, reading company reviews, and making purchases on their mobile devices instead of using a desktop. If your website is not mobile friendly, you’re missing out on a massive and pivotal customer base.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
In its most basic sense, SEO involves the process of maximizing your visibility. A major factor in developing a successful SEO strategy involves the careful selection and inclusion of keywords in your website’s written content. Therefore, you want to ensure that you include words or phrases that your customers would actually type into Google or another search engine to find your company or the products or services you offer. Conducting keyword research to determine what specific words or phrases to include is fundamental in terms of maximizing your chances of success.
A full-service marketing and communications agency, the experienced professionals at RSPR specialize in website writing and design as well as SEO, keyword, and web analytics. Please visit our website for more information about the services we provide or give us a call at 414-354-0200 to schedule your complimentary meeting.