{"id":21038,"date":"2023-06-13T14:29:31","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T14:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/?p=21038"},"modified":"2024-09-16T14:54:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T14:54:11","slug":"the-blueprint-for-successful-website-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/the-blueprint-for-successful-website-design\/","title":{"rendered":"The Blueprint for Successful Website Design"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your Digital Presence Starts with a Website Design to Convert Visitors into Sales<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You have a \u201cpretty good\u201d site, but it\u2019s no longer engaging visitors<\/span> or gaining leads<\/span>.
\nTo engage leads<\/span>, we provide a Website<\/span> Makeover that builds on what is working and changes what is not.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

How are you welcoming your potential<\/span> customers<\/span> into your business<\/span>?<\/p>\n

For brick-and-mortar<\/span> businesses<\/span>, that would be your storefront<\/span>. Is it well<\/span>-organized, brightly lit, and welcoming? Is the sales<\/span> staff<\/span> friendly and helpful? Can your visitors<\/span> find<\/span> what they\u2019re looking for and purchase it easily?<\/p>\n

But in today\u2019s world, where many businesses<\/span> operate primarily or even entirely online<\/span>, you might feel at a loss for what your own version of a storefront<\/span> is for your business<\/span>. Where is the entry point<\/span> that welcomes \u2013 or frightens away \u2013 your potential<\/span> customers<\/span>?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s your website<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Think about it \u2013 where do nearly all of your leads<\/span> and ads and organic traffic<\/span> efforts point? Where do your email marketing campaigns<\/span> link<\/span> to? Where do your customers<\/span> usually purchase a product<\/span> or request your services?<\/p>\n

On your website<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Your website<\/span> needs<\/span> to do more than just look attractive, though. Aesthetic<\/span> appeal and flashy features might draw<\/span> people in for a visit, but it won\u2019t convert<\/span> them to customers<\/span>. And since that\u2019s the real end goal of your digital marketing strategy<\/span>, you need<\/span> to make sure your website<\/span> is designed to convert<\/span> your prospects<\/span> into purchasers.<\/p>\n

So your digital presence<\/span> needs<\/span> to be as welcoming and well<\/span>-organized as your physical store<\/span> would be. That means<\/span> you can\u2019t afford to ignore the principles<\/span> of building<\/span> a winning digital presence<\/span>: great website design<\/span>, excellent copywriting<\/span>, and a commitment to the user experience<\/span> of your visitors<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n

Better Website Design<\/h2>\n
\n
\n

Having a professional website<\/span> for your business<\/span> is no longer optional. In our digitalized<\/span> world, your website<\/span> is how you welcome many or most of your customers<\/span> to your business<\/span>, educate them about your products and services, and convince them to make a purchase. This is why it\u2019s so critical<\/span> for your website design<\/span><\/a> to be excellent.<\/p>\n

\"digital<\/p>\n

Why Your Website Design is Important<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a highly competitive business<\/span> world these days \u2013 and marketing<\/span> has gotten both increasingly important and sophisticated. There\u2019s a lot<\/span> of noise out there your business<\/span> needs<\/span> to cut through to gain<\/span> and keep customers<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Website<\/span> users<\/span> these days have high expectations for their user experience<\/span>. They will<\/span> abandon a page<\/span> for a whole host of reasons \u2013 it takes too long to load<\/span>, it\u2019s poorly laid out, making a purchase involves too many steps<\/span>. Your online presence<\/span> has to be flawless to delight customers<\/span> now.<\/p>\n

Your website design<\/span> also reflects on your business\u2019s image<\/span>. If your website<\/span> is glitchy, full of errors, or missing key<\/span> information, that\u2019s not a professional experience<\/span>. And since it\u2019s how your business<\/span> presents itself, those mistakes make your business<\/span> seem less than professional. First impressions<\/span> are tough to shake, and your website<\/span> is probably your main source of first impressions<\/span>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not enough anymore for your website<\/span> to just look great. Thoughtful website design<\/span> goes far beyond outward appearances. But with the right<\/span> website design<\/span> process<\/span>, you can create a website<\/span> that looks good and functions well<\/span>. That will<\/span> bring your customers<\/span> in and drive them to make a purchase.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to Design Your Website<\/h3>\n

Your business<\/span> website<\/span> needs<\/span> to have these critical<\/span> elements to bring in your potential<\/span> customers<\/span> and get them to make a purchase.<\/p>\n

Mobile<\/span> Responsiveness<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

More and more people are doing most of their web<\/span> searching and social media<\/span> browsing from their phones<\/span> or tablets<\/span>, not their laptops or desktops<\/span>. Your site design<\/span> needs<\/span> to be mobile<\/span>-friendly, meaning it looks and responds well<\/span> no matter what size device your audience<\/span> uses to access it. This goes for every page<\/span> element \u2013 your photos<\/span>, your call-to-action<\/span> buttons<\/span>, your logo, and your webpage copy<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Quick to Load<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Web<\/span> users<\/span> these days are an impatient bunch \u2013 most of them will<\/span> abandon a webpage if it takes more than three seconds to load<\/span>. If your website<\/span> isn\u2019t designed with speed<\/span> in mind, you will<\/span> need<\/span> to make some updates so you\u2019re not losing these customers<\/span> before they even see<\/span> your page<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Strong Security<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Making your website<\/span> as secure as possible isn\u2019t just good for your customers<\/span> \u2013 it\u2019s key<\/span> for your search engine rankings<\/span> too. Google<\/span> prioritizes secure sites in web<\/span> search<\/span>. And it\u2019s a way to keep your valued customers<\/span>\u2019 information and data safe. You also need<\/span> security on your side too \u2013 make sure your site is hard<\/span> to take<\/span> over or attack. You don\u2019t want<\/span> to be down at a critical<\/span> time for sales<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Social Media<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

You probably already know how<\/span> powerful your social media presence<\/span><\/a> is in your digital marketing strategy<\/span>. But is it incorporated into the design<\/span> of your site itself? You want<\/span> to include social<\/span> share buttons<\/span> on your content<\/span>, especially blog posts<\/span> and articles, to make it seamless for your customers<\/span> to share your content<\/span> with their networks. And you can even incorporate your Twitter<\/span> or Instagram<\/span> feeds into your website<\/span>, if it makes sense for your business<\/span>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Visual<\/span> Flow<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your potential<\/span> customers<\/span> come to your site looking for a solution to a problem they have. Your website<\/span> needs<\/span> to guide them through to that solution, which is the product<\/span> or service<\/span> you offer. But if your visitors<\/span> get lost on your site, they won\u2019t make that journey successfully.<\/p>\n

All your website content<\/span> should direct the attention of your visitors<\/span> through the steps<\/span> you need<\/span> them to see<\/span> through to your solution. They shouldn\u2019t be getting distracted by busy design<\/span>, too many buttons<\/span>, or excessive content<\/span>. Their eyes should be drawn right through to your desired endpoint. You can achieve this with color<\/span>, shapes, images<\/span>, and words<\/span> to draw<\/span> their attention to the most important parts of your page<\/span> first.<\/p>\n

White<\/span> Space<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

To help that visual<\/span> flow we just referenced, you need<\/span> some white space<\/span> in addition to content<\/span>. This empty space<\/span> helps your important content<\/span> stand out. A site with no white space<\/span> at all is too busy and confusing. Reducing the clutter makes focusing on your offerings easier for your distracted customers<\/span>. But the exact amount of white space<\/span> you need<\/span> depends on your overall site design<\/span> and the products you offer. White<\/span> space<\/span> can help draw<\/span> the eye to your most important content<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Accessibility<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your site needs<\/span> to help every potential<\/span> customer find<\/span> what they need<\/span>. That means<\/span> you\u2019re not just catering to the tech-savvy millennials with time to research. You\u2019re also trying to get the frazzled parents browsing with one hand while pushing a swing with the other, and the older crowd who is less comfortable with complicated websites. Every one of your potential<\/span> customers<\/span> needs<\/span> to be able to find<\/span> what they need<\/span> and take<\/span> whatever action<\/span> you need<\/span> them to take<\/span> as easily as possible. Otherwise, a large portion of them will<\/span> get frustrated and opt out<\/span>.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all gotten used to more and more well<\/span>-designed digital<\/span> user<\/span> experiences. Your prospects<\/span> aren\u2019t just comparing your website<\/span> to your competitors<\/span> \u2013 they\u2019re comparing you to Uber<\/span> or Amazon<\/span> too. If it\u2019s too hard<\/span> to read your text<\/span> because of the font or color<\/span> contrast, they will<\/span> leave your site.<\/p>\n

Limited Choices<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you force your website<\/span> visitors<\/span> to make too many decisions before they make a purchase or book an appointment, most of them will<\/span> not choose anything at all. You\u2019re just giving them more time to get frustrated or distracted and opt out<\/span> of your site. Make their path to making a decision as smooth and easy as possible \u2013 one click<\/span> to give you an email<\/span> address, for example \u2013 and you\u2019ll see<\/span> a higher conversion rate<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Search Engine<\/span> Optimized<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

All your work to make your website design<\/span> efficient and attractive will<\/span> be wasted if no one can find<\/span> your website<\/span>. You need<\/span> to make sure it\u2019s designed using the best practices<\/span> for search engine optimization<\/span>. That way, you\u2019ll attract plenty of web traffic<\/span> from search engines<\/span> like Google<\/span> and Bing<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Making your site SEO<\/span>-friendly is not just about writing<\/span> content<\/span> with lots of keywords<\/span>. It\u2019s also built into the backend<\/span> of your site making it accessible for web<\/span> crawlers and adding in title tags, meta descriptions<\/span>, and alt text<\/span> for each picture.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Common Mistakes in Website Design<\/h3>\n

Now that we\u2019ve covered<\/span> all the things you need<\/span> to do right in your website design<\/span> process<\/span>, let\u2019s cover some common<\/span> mistakes in website design<\/span> and development.<\/p>\n

Mistaking Aesthetic<\/span> Value<\/span> for Design<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Your site looks great. It has compelling pictures, a thoughtful color<\/span> scheme, and attractive fonts. That\u2019s all it takes, right? As we covered<\/span> in the design<\/span> principles<\/span> above, it\u2019s not nearly enough. Usability<\/span> and a clear call to action<\/span>, plus the SEO<\/span> essentials, are critical<\/span> to your site\u2019s success. It\u2019s because your website<\/span> isn\u2019t just a showcase for your company<\/span> (or if it is, it shouldn\u2019t be). It\u2019s a place where you solve a problem for your prospects<\/span> and get them to make a decision<\/span> or take<\/span> an action<\/span>. Nice photos<\/span> alone won\u2019t make that happen.<\/p>\n

Looking at Pieces Instead of the Whole<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be tempting to design<\/span> your site piece by piece, especially if you\u2019re just starting to build your website<\/span>. Good web design<\/span> takes time, after all, and as a business<\/span> owner that\u2019s something you probably lack. But this can add up to<\/span> a disjointed mess. Your whole site \u2013 each web<\/span> page<\/span> and landing page<\/span>, each blog post<\/span>, and even each social media<\/span> post<\/span> \u2013 should maintain a consistent look, feel, and tone. That consistency is what helps you build strong brand awareness<\/span> over time<\/span>. Your customers<\/span> should come to know what your content<\/span> looks like and how you speak to them, building<\/span> trust in your brand<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Using the Wrong<\/span> Professionals<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you really want<\/span> your website<\/span> to get conversions<\/span> and drive sales<\/span>, you need<\/span> to get professionals on the job. The money you will<\/span> lose from users<\/span> leaving your poorly-designed website<\/span> might exceed what a web<\/span> designer or even a team of professional designers would cost. As we\u2019ve covered<\/span> above, graphic design<\/span> alone isn\u2019t enough to get the results you want<\/span> from a great website<\/span>. It takes a knowledge of web development<\/span> to get it truly right.<\/p>\n

You can try to do it yourself if you are a small business<\/span> just getting started, and that might be enough for now. But once you\u2019re ready for growth, don\u2019t hesitate to bring in the professionals to set your site up for success.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

WE START WITH 5 ELEMENTS EVERY HOMEPAGE MUST HAVE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Building<\/span> a great homepage<\/span> starts by thinking about what your customer wants to see<\/span> when they land \u2013 not just what you want<\/span> to say. Too many business<\/span> owners think of their homepage<\/span>, and their whole website<\/span>, as a space<\/span> to tell their prospects<\/span> how wonderful and innovative their products or services are. That\u2019s a common<\/span> mistake \u2013 after all, you\u2019re proud of your business<\/span> and you want<\/span> to highlight how great it is.<\/p>\n

But to be truly effective at converting<\/span> prospects<\/span>, your homepage<\/span> (and your website<\/span> as a whole) should instead highlight what your company<\/span> can do for them. Most prospects<\/span> won\u2019t care if you have the fastest or the newest product<\/span> on the market \u2013 they want<\/span> to know what that means<\/span> for their lives. And your homepage<\/span> should tell that story<\/span>, with images<\/span> and with words<\/span>.<\/p>\n

To engage prospects<\/span>, review<\/span>:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Hero Image<\/span><\/strong>: Does it depict an ideal customer (and not you)? It\u2019s important for your prospects<\/span> to be able to picture themselves instantly when they see<\/span> your website<\/span>. A page<\/span> full of pictures of yourself or your staff<\/span> isn\u2019t going to do that \u2013 instead, feature an image<\/span> where a customer like them is the hero of the story<\/span> you\u2019re telling.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Call To Action<\/span>(s)<\/strong>: Is it inviting visitors<\/span> to purchase or gain<\/span> new information? Your website<\/span> needs<\/span> to be more than just a showcase for your business<\/span>. What is the one action<\/span> you want<\/span> your visitors<\/span> to take<\/span> \u2013 make a purchase, schedule a consultation<\/span>, make an appointment? That doesn\u2019t mean they can only do one thing on your site, but driving them to the most important step<\/span> in a clear and logical way helps keep them on track.<\/p>\n

You can have multiple calls to action<\/span> on your homepage<\/span> if you have a transitional CTA as well<\/span> as a direct one \u2013 if a prospect isn\u2019t ready to make a purchase yet, maybe you also invite<\/span> them to download a free<\/span> eBook<\/span> by signing up for your email list<\/span>.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Three Step<\/span> Plan<\/strong>: Does it present a concise plan of what you do, and how to engage? This is where you show your prospect exactly what the process<\/span> of working with you looks like. What is the first step<\/span> to take<\/span>, how will<\/span> you work together, and what results will<\/span> they get? This 3-step<\/span> process<\/span> makes it clear how you operate and what they will<\/span> be getting by working with you.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Fresh Content<\/span><\/strong>: This may sound simple, but it\u2019s what builds Authority and Trust. Too many business<\/span> owners let their website content<\/span> get stale and out of date. It\u2019s common<\/span> because you\u2019re busy \u2013 you\u2019re already wearing a lot<\/span> of hats. But think about how you feel when you come across a website<\/span> full of completely outdated content<\/span>. It feels a bit<\/span> like walking into a dusty, poorly-lit store<\/span> \u2013 it doesn\u2019t make you eager to pull out your wallet. Keeping your website<\/span> up to<\/span> date shows that your business<\/span> is committed to presenting a professional presence, which helps position you as an authority that your prospects<\/span> can trust to do business<\/span> with.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Marketing Automation<\/span><\/strong>: Does it capture calls to action<\/span> and attract email addresses<\/span>? That transition CTA mentioned in step<\/span> 2 can be critical<\/span> here. Most prospects<\/span> won\u2019t be ready to make a purchase the first time they visit your website<\/span> \u2013 it\u2019s one of their first interactions with you. They need<\/span> a bit<\/span> more time and information first. But it\u2019s difficult to get them converted if you can\u2019t get back in contact with them easily. That\u2019s where your marketing automation<\/span> comes in. Make it easy and rewarding for your prospects<\/span> to give you their email<\/span> address when they visit your site. This can mean offering a free<\/span> lead<\/span> generator, like an eBook<\/span>, a newsletter<\/span> to sign up for, or a discount for their first purchase that you send via email. Marketing automation<\/span> keeps the conversation going \u2013 so it should be built into your homepage<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Create Compelling Copy<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

The final component of a website<\/span> that works hard<\/span> for your business<\/span> is the copy<\/span>. Copy<\/span> is the written<\/span> content<\/span> on your site, and it\u2019s common<\/span> for web design<\/span> firms to throw in the written<\/span> content<\/span> when they build your site. But just descriptive words<\/span> won\u2019t give you the maximum sales<\/span> you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

You want<\/span> every word on your website<\/span> to drive your prospects<\/span> to take<\/span> an action<\/span>. That\u2019s where copywriting<\/span> comes in. Copywriting<\/span> is the art \u2013 and science \u2013 of writing<\/span> to persuade<\/span> a potential<\/span> buyer to become a customer. It\u2019s especially vital these days, as content<\/span> that\u2019s too long will<\/span> just cause<\/span> your visitors<\/span> to tune out. Attention spans are short \u2013 how will<\/span> you persuade<\/span> your distracted and often multitasking<\/span> visitors<\/span> to make a decision<\/span> quickly?<\/p>\n

Engaging a skilled copywriter can help you significantly increase conversions<\/span>. Don\u2019t underestimate the power of just a few words<\/span> to make a sale \u2013 when those words<\/span> are the right<\/span> ones.<\/p>\n

Get the Guidance You Need to Grow<\/h2>\n

Creating a sophisticated, effective digital presence<\/span> for your business<\/span> can be a big project. And it should be \u2013 your website<\/span> is how most customers<\/span> will<\/span> be introduced to your business<\/span>. It\u2019s important to get it all right. But it can be hard<\/span> to find<\/span> the right<\/span> help, and you probably don\u2019t have time to do it all yourself.<\/p>\n

If this sounds like you, give C1M a call. We have a team of experts who will<\/span> optimize your web design<\/span>, write you compelling content<\/span>, and set up email automation<\/span> campaigns<\/span> for your business<\/span>. Schedule your free<\/span> business<\/span> review<\/span> today and start seeing measurable results quickly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your Digital Presence Starts with a Website Design to Convert Visitors into Sales You have a \u201cpretty good\u201d site, but it\u2019s no longer engaging visitors…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21039,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21038"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23537,"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21038\/revisions\/23537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c1mdev.com\/c1m.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}