The Adobe State of Content survey report (2015) claimed that 38% of people would stop engaging with a website if its design were poor. Can you believe somebody spent thousands of dollars to figure that out? It is like saying that 38% of people will spit out food if it tastes off, or 38% will avoid you if your breath stinks.
Does good website design increase traffic? Common sense suggests that, at the very least, it won't hold you back. This article offers tips for website design to increase web traffic because having a bad design would damage your traffic numbers.
Website Design to Increase Web Traffic
Let's start with the basics. Assumptions prevalent for today:
- Your website is responsive, so it works just as well on mobile devices as on a desktop.
- Your mobile website variation doesn't subtract too many features from the original website. Features differ from website to website. For example, you wouldn't expect a tool like ahrefs or even SEMrush to display its functions and features on a mobile website.
- Your website design and marketing match your brand, and you are not allowing artistic creativity to mar your overall design.
- You have a dynamic website where appropriate; i.e., you do not have one because it is trendy; you have one because it improves web traffic and conversions.
Merchants Keep It Simple
If you plan to sell things you drop-ship or deliver online, your website design needs simplicity. However, simplicity may directly conflict with your traditional beliefs because your main priority is to sell. Selling is not supposed to be simple, but it is now simpler than ever.
Take the example of somebody looking for an energy-efficient dehumidifier. This customer may read articles on the best power-to-output ratio and the most advanced technology. They may then decide that a specific brand or certain wattage or size is best for them and search for it. This opportunity is where your website comes into play.
Your job is to show and tell. Your visitors want to see sizes, wattage, brand names, etc. However, they do not wish to see a fireworks display as they slowly uncover that Dehumidifier X uses 30% less power than its previous version.
Do not misinterpret this tip for simple marketing website designs
You can stuff your web page with sophisticated pictures, audio, and video. You can load it with epic amounts of text and selling points. The "Simplicity" tip refers to the website design itself and not its content.
Take Amazon as an example. It is one of the most profitable companies globally, and its web design is fundamental. It has search options, a panel showing images, space for plenty of text, a shopping cart, and then reviews. The design is burningly simple, but the weight of the content can be epic (especially if a merchant goes to town with images, videos, and written details).
Some Websites Need to Forget First Impressions
Read every other article on good web design; they will all tout the benefits of an excellent first impression. But unfortunately, a good first impression is not needed in the real world. You often need to forget first impressions and focus entirely on return users.
For example, Bet365 is famous because it is a great gambling platform with a massive marketing budget. However, the first time you visit their website, it looks like a giant ad for their services, creating a good impression. Yet, skipping past the first-time offers to sign in is annoying if you are a returning user.
Let's take Amazon as an example again. What are your first impressions of their website? It looks like a warehouse inventory with cleverly dynamic features to present you with products you may like.
As first impressions go, it is pretty underwhelming. Yet, long-term users will appreciate that they can bounce from Bing or Google and land on the exact product page they desire without searching the website first. Of course, branding is essential, but Amazon has put convenience before branding and first impressions.
Good website designs and good first impressions are essential if your website is used less frequently and on an ad-hoc basis.
For example, many chain hotels have very sleek and sophisticated websites. Images gliding smoothly across the screen often show the rooms and facilities. In addition, the website is optimized for straightforward use.
First impressions count. First impressions, in this case, are crucial because few people will visit and revisit very often. This visitor pattern is especially true with most ad-hoc websites such as hotels, travel companies, car sales, etc. In addition, it may be years before the customer needs your service again, so you can prioritize good first impressions over catering to frequently returning users.
Conclusion - Building a Traffic-Friendly Website
Driving traffic to your website is partly about marketing and not doing a terrible job when traffic arrives. And a quality website design to increase web traffic can go far in helping your business grow.
For an interesting angle on web design or even a few tips on how to get your website ranked higher in search engine results, visit QuickWebDesigns.com. You may be pleasantly surprised by the level of detail and expertise these web designers near me offer.
