8 expert tips for getting started with your website design

When you’re creating a new website for your business, there are lots of factors that go into the design process. From SEO to user experience to mobile responsiveness, deciding where to focus your efforts to create the best website possible can be a challenge.

Especially if you’re brand new to web design, choosing the right tools and design elements can be overwhelming. But with some expert guidance, you can get your site started off right.

At Robintek, we’ve been designing websites for over 2 decades. Here, we’ll offer some of our best tips for putting together an effective site to enhance your company’s online presence.

1. Choose a domain name that fits your brand

Picking a domain name may seem like a simple task, but it’s often more difficult than you’d think.

For one, your domain name must be unique. With the millions of domain names that already exist, that can be easier said than done.

Try to choose a relevant domain name that fits your brand while also being simple and easy to remember. If you’re stuck, there are plenty of domain name generators you can use to come up with ideas.

Once you’ve picked a domain, you will also have to manage it to ensure that it doesn’t expire. Most domains need to be renewed annually, so be sure to keep current with your provider to avoid losing your domain.

2. Provide clear navigation so visitors can find what they need quickly

Ensuring that your website’s navigation is clear and organized is a key element of creating a positive user experience. This includes your main menu and footer, as well as any other menus used on your website.

To streamline your navigation, keep the number of pages on your site to the minimum amount you need to effectively communicate to your customers. This prevents visitors from being overwhelmed or confused about where to find information.

In general, it’s best to keep your main menu limited to around 3-7 items, with dropdowns incorporated where necessary. Also, be sure to include a search function in your menu to help your users find what they need even faster.

3. Implement a streamlined, brand-focused design for a positive user experience

When it comes to your site design, several factors can be optimized for the best possible user experience. An overly complicated design or clashing colors can quickly turn a new visitor away.

Choose a color scheme and font family that are easy on the eyes, so your website is easily readable. Format your pages and text using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and lists to break up large blocks of content.

This allows your customers to quickly scan your site to find what they need. Additionally, make use of white space and graphics to streamline the page flow and direct the visitor’s eye to the most important content.

4. Incorporate high-quality photos, graphics, and videos

In addition to a user-friendly design, incorporating compelling imagery and videos into your website helps engage your visitors and build your brand identity.

If you have professional photos of your business and products, include those throughout your site. You will also want to use high-quality graphic design elements in your layout to draw attention to your content. Blurry, small, or poor-quality images will dissuade your visitors from spending time on your website and completing conversions.

If your company does not have a photographer or graphic designer on staff, you may decide to outsource those components to a professional. You can also take advantage of free tools like Canva to easily design graphics or edit photos, even with zero design experience.

5. Create an About page that highlights your values to develop trust

Today, many consumers prefer to buy from brands that align with their personal values and appeal to their interests. Customers also like to know about the people behind the scenes. For this reason, putting effort into your About page design is crucial.

Your About page is where potential customers go to learn more about your company. Use this important piece of your online real estate to highlight your brand mission and show off the personal side of your business.

You can include headshots and profiles of your staff, a history of your company, and your mission statement to give potential customers a clear idea of who you are. Visitors who like your company’s values, products, and messaging are more likely to return as loyal customers in the future.

6. Make your site mobile responsive to lower your bounce rate

If your site isn’t mobile responsive in 2022, you’re likely missing out on a large chunk of potential customers.

A mobile responsive design allows your website to display properly, no matter what device is being used. It will automatically detect your visitor’s browser and format the layout to fit their device.

Since the majority (54%) of all global online traffic comes from mobile devices, ensuring your website displays correctly is critical to establishing a good user experience for your visitors. Otherwise, your potential clients may opt for a competitor with a better mobile design.

7. Include CTAs to boost conversions

Calls-to-action (CTAs) are critical to your website’s SEO and to generate leads. CTAs guide your visitors to take a certain action that you want them to take on your site.

For example, you may want to add a CTA button that allows users to download an educational resource like an e-book. Or the CTA may direct the customer to learn more about a service, purchase a product, or subscribe to a newsletter.

To reap the most benefit from CTAs, try including them in different places on your website. For instance, you could place a CTA in your header that links to a contact form. This will be visible on every page your customer clicks on.

In addition, you can add other CTAs to your body content, on your home page, or services page to encourage more conversions.

8. Get help from a professional if you’re stuck

While it’s never been easier to create a website with the resources available today, many business owners find that designing and maintaining their site is more complex than they imagined.

In some cases, you may want to add functionality that your current website design does not support. Or you may find that, as your business grows, you need a more robust website to fulfill your expanding needs.

No matter what kind of guidance you need with your website, reach out to us at Robintek. From choosing the right tools to get you started to upgrading your site to work better for your needs, we can help. Request a consultation today!