When we at Lis7o start talking with new clients about their ideas for their new websites, we mostly hear one request – make them beautiful! And though having a great-looking site is something we also look for our clients, we always remind them that design has to serve a bigger purpose. It’s not a matter of putting things just because they look nice – they have to contribute towards that goal.
Any business site exists to turn visitors into leads – and web design is key to increase the chances of success. It’s amazing how some minor design changes can impact the amount of leads you get. Sounds incredible? It’s not: a handful of design decisions can really make a huge difference for you. What decisions are those? Well, you’ll have to read the rest of the article to find out.
1 – Get responsive
Some of the requests we get don’t even know about responsive design – and it’s one of the most important things about web design! Look, you already know that more and more people are surfing the Internet through mobile devices and that the number of mobile users grows by the minute. So, if your site can’t fit those small screens, then it’s virtually useless.
Responsive design makes sure your website is automatically adjusted to offer the best user experience in any screen. The buttons, the menus, the forms – all are realigned to be easily accessible in laptops, desktop PCs, smartphones or tablets. Without responsive design, your site will be impossible to handle in mobile devices – and mobile users will leave to never be seen again.
2 – Simple is better
Remember the time when the Internet was filled with Flash animations, sounds of all types and vibrating colors of all kinds? That certainly was a while ago – and for a reason: no one has the time to sort out complex sites anymore. Today, people want a pretty straightforward site that provides them with what they are looking for while leaving the extra nonsense aside.
What does that mean for your new website? First and foremost, that you shouldn’t overcomplicate things. From the basic layout to the final color selection, always keep it simple and minimal. This will prevent your visitors from being annoyed by animations, lengthy menus or pages and pages of text. Additionally, remember that your site works towards a goal, so make the entire thing revolve around it, be it a subscription form, a phone call prompt or a request form.
3 – It’s all about keeping in touch
Finally, another crucial element that many businesses are quick to dismiss – ways for your visitors to contact you. “Oh, that’s pretty simple” you may say. But no, it actually isn’t. Putting a contact form or a phone number isn’t enough. Many people shy away from calling your phone, so they should get other alternatives: contact forms, social networks, request forms or any other element you may think of will work.
The rule of simplicity also applies here. Don’t ask for too many answers in your contact forms. Just keep them simple enough so your visitors don’t feel overwhelmed when filling them and so you can get the info you need from that contact.
This might seem like big changes but that really depends on your current site. Identify your strong and weak points and make a list of things you can improve. They are too many to mention? Then perhaps it’s time to rethink your whole site and make it from scratch. Sometimes, this approach is the best, since it frees you from your old site and lets you create a new one without limitations. Don’t worry if that’s your case – this kind of scenarios is always for the best.
