Business owners are tasked with numerous decisions when it comes to running their companies. While making sure products are up to standard and marketing efforts are effective is a priority, the website design should never be overlooked. According to Adobe, 59% of web visitors would rather spend their time on a beautifully designed website than a plain and simple one.
For tech companies, that stat probably increases. Having an intuitively designed and aesthetically pleasing website is critical to success in today’s competitive digital landscape. This blog post discusses why website design matters and how a professional website can take a tech company’s success to the next level.
Why Invest in Website Design?
Good web design doesn’t come cheap. Investing in professional website design can take a chunk out of your budget. However, the results are often worth it. Here are a few key reasons why web design should be near the top of every tech company’s investment list.
First impressions matter
Most people prefer to conduct user research prior to making purchasing decisions. As such, your website might be the first touch-point that potential customers have with your brand. Poor design can leave users with a negative impression, leading them to look elsewhere for the product or service they need.
What’s more, research shows that online shoppers can form an opinion as quickly as 50 milliseconds, meaning they’ll make snap judgments about your brand based on what they see on your website. A professionally designed website will ensure a good first impression and encourage users to stick around and learn more about what you have to offer.
If they don’t like what they see, it’s unlikely they’ll want to continue the buyer’s journey. Make your first impression count with a professional website design.
Show off your product
We all know that a website’s main goal is to provide visitors with the necessary information. It’s an opportunity to showcase your product or services in a way that appeals to potential customers and encourages conversions. In essence, it is a glorified sales brochure that can make or break your company.
When it comes to tech companies, having a website up to scratch is even more critical. The digital world moves at breakneck speed, and it’s becoming increasingly hard to keep up. A poorly designed website can make customers doubt the quality of your product or service. They might even doubt your technical ability and skills.
On the other hand, a great website can increase conversion rates, as customers are more likely to trust brands they think are reliable. For instance, if you’re selling a mobile app, clearly displaying screenshots and videos on the website’s homepage could encourage users to try your product.
Represent your brand well
Another thing to keep in mind is your brand’s image. From digital marketing to social media, companies use various platforms to communicate their message. Your website should be no different.
The design of your website can speak volumes about who you are and what your business stands for. It’s an opportunity to show the world that you’re not just another run-of-the-mill tech company but a reliable partner in providing innovative solutions. Your company’s credibility is on the line.
Your target audience is also more likely to appreciate your product if they do so on your website. After all, it reflects on your brand and, by extension, your product. If your website is already difficult to navigate, they might jump to conclusions and assume your product is also complicated.
Boost SEO
Even the best website design will ultimately mean nothing without an online presence that shows up in the search results. If your potential customers cannot find you, all your hard work is for naught. Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a major role in this regard. You might know SEO as keyword research and link building, but have you considered the design aspects of SEO?
Good website design can make a big difference in your ranking. When ranking websites, a search engine will also account for user experience. This includes the page load speed, ease of navigation, and overall design. When inadequately considered, these factors seem to increase the bounce rate, hurting your website’s SEO.
Keep up with competitors
Finally, website design is important because it allows you to stay ahead of the competition. When ecommerce saw an exponential growth spurt in the past decade, it became increasingly competitive. Soon enough, companies had to offer perks like free shipping, Apple Pay, and more to stay ahead of their rivals.
The tech industry has also become increasingly crowded, and it’s now vital to distinguish yourself from the pack. A good website design can help you stand out in a sea of mediocre companies. You’ll need to keep up with best practices by investing in noteworthy design. Enlisting the talent of a web design agency is usually the best way to go about this.
Qualities of Good Website Design
Now that we understand the importance of website design let’s talk about the qualities of good design. You’ll want to implement the following best practices in your website design:
Functionality
First and foremost, remember the purpose of web development. Your business website should cater to customers’ needs and fulfill their expectations. Think about what website visitors want from your website. Is it easy for them to accomplish what they came for? Are all the features intuitive and up to date?
A user-friendly website will make it easy for customers to find the necessary information. You should prioritize ease of information access and make it easy for them to take the next steps toward investing in your brand. Of course, usability does not mean sacrificing aesthetics. Your website should still be visually pleasing, but that should not come at the cost of functionality.
Another aspect of functionality is the use of updated technology. If you’re using outdated technology, your website might be slow and prone to crashing. Legacy sites can also be more difficult to update and maintain, so keeping up with the latest trends is best.
Clean layout
The early days of the Internet saw websites littered with design elements that cluttered the pages. The modern web is much more minimalist, and it’s best to go with a clean layout for your website. A messy site can look unprofessional and confuse visitors. For instance, a homepage nowadays might simply consist of a hero image, some concise copy, and a CTA. The goal is to make it easy for website visitors to quickly get the information they need.
As such, you should eliminate any distracting page elements that don’t serve an essential purpose. Only include the relevant information and keep your website pages concise and to the point. It takes a certain skill to balance the design elements with the content, but it’s a major key to creating an effective website.
A clean layout also extends to organizing your website structure. Ensure customers can easily find the info they need from your navigation bar, and keep internal links logical (including breadcrumb navigation). Good customer experience is about building a smooth user journey so visitors don’t struggle to find what they want.
Font choice that’s easy to read
Many people see fonts as an afterthought, but the typeface you use greatly impacts how people perceive your website. Not only should it be visually appealing, but it also needs to be easy to read. You should avoid childish and overly ornate fonts that are hard on the eyes.
In general, it’s also best to keep with one or two fonts and a couple of weights. Too many different typefaces can be confusing, and it’s important to maintain visual consistency throughout your website. Remember that all browsers support not all fonts, so test the fonts you’re considering to ensure they work with your target audience.
Ease of navigation
Although you might expect your target audience to be tech-savvy, you can’t assume that all website visitors will have the same level of knowledge. Having an overly complicated navigation system can be confusing and off-putting. After all, website visitors generally know what they’re looking for when they arrive on your site. Make it easy for them to find it.
Great web design prioritizes accessibility. Put yourself in the shoes of your website visitors, and ask yourself how they will find what they’re looking for. From search bars to drop-down menus, there are plenty of ways to make browsing your website easier. A well-designed website also ensures that customers can move quickly from one page to the next, increasing the time spent on your site and improving the chances of them converting.
Consistent calls to action (CTAs)
CTAs aren’t only meant for the landing page. They should be placed on nearly every page to ensure that visitors have the opportunity to take action. Where possible, you should keep the CTAs consistent throughout your website. This helps maintain customer familiarity and makes it easier for them to interact with your brand. For example, brands selling apps could use “Download Now” as the CTA on each page.
It’s also important to keep your CTA in an easily visible location so visitors don’t have to search for it. Be sure to experiment with the placement of your CTA and track user engagement before settling on a final design. Lastly, contrast the CTA with the background to make it stand out.
Functional mobile view
According to Oberlo, 69% of Internet users would rather research a company or product on their smartphones. They might begin by reading reviews or your social media posts and eventually make their way to your website.
Optimizing your web design for mobile devices is incredibly important since it ensures that customers can access the info they need without zooming in or scrolling endlessly. Otherwise, you risk losing a considerable demographic of users.
Mobile optimization also improves your search engine ranking since Google considers user experience when deciding which websites to rank higher. A responsive website differs from its non-responsive counterparts in terms of how the website looks on different devices. At a minimum, your website should look good on all sizes of screens, and the content must be organized logically so that visitors can find what they’re looking for.
Utilizes visual content
Nobody likes to read long blocks of text; the same goes for website visitors. To keep their ever-shortening attention span, utilize visual content to supplement your web design. High-quality images, videos, and infographics are a great way to engage website visitors. They can also be used to break up chunks of text, which helps keep the reader’s interest.
In addition, visuals can help create an emotional connection with customers that text alone can’t. Imagery with movement is key since it commands attention and can be used to showcase your product attractively.
The color schemes and fonts you use are also noteworthy. You want to create a cohesive look that matches your brand’s identity while making sure not to overwhelm visitors with bright colors and clashing fonts. Among all visual design elements, 39% of users are drawn to color first, so choose it wisely.
Speed
Last but not least, your website design must be optimized for speed. The general consensus is that customers expect a web page to load in 3 seconds or less. They are likely to abandon the page if it takes longer than that. The customer experience comes back into play here since a slow website will discourage customers from engaging with your brand.
You can implement several strategies to improve the user experience and speed up your web design. This includes optimizing images, compressing code, and reducing redirects. It’s also essential to minimize HTTP requests, as each request requires additional time for loading assets like images and scripts.
Invest in Good Website Design with SWARM
There are no two ways about it. In today’s world, web design matters, and it extends far beyond using pre-designed templates. In order to create an attractive, user-friendly website that promotes customer engagement, you must invest in a great web design from the start.
At SWARM, we are passionate about providing tech companies with cutting-edge website designs that encourage customers to interact with your product. Our team of experienced designers assist companies in implementing all-inclusive web design solutions that ensure a positive user experience from start to finish.
Get in touch with our web design company today to learn more about the services we offer.
