3 Must-have Features for your Website
Did you know that studies have shown that people form first impressions in just a few seconds?
Seconds!
So it’s clear that first impressions matter… A LOT! Consider the interior of a store, for example. It's all about the atmosphere. Business owners invest a lot to create a store environment that fits their brand. You don't have furniture, lighting, and decor to create an atmosphere on a website, but you still want it to accomplish the same thing.
When a potential customer comes to your website, your goal is to impress them from the moment they arrive. They are looking to your website to get a sense of who you are, what you are selling, and why it is the only option for them. And while they won't learn all of that in the first few seconds, they will instantly get a vibe from your site – and that's what will convince them to stay and find out the rest.
So, how do you get them to stick around long enough to learn about your incredible offerings? It all starts with a few must-have features for your website.
#1 Stunning and Responsive Design
The basic elements of web page design include the colors, images, fonts, and content placement. Each component is a crucial piece of the puzzle. When you nail these elements, you'll have an attractive, organized website that represents your brand and converts potential clients into loyal buyers.
An excellent option for making sure that your visual design elements work well together is to create a brand board (a Word document or Pinterest board can work well for this). Pull together a sample of your colors, fonts, and image style, until you have the perfect look. And don't be afraid to hire a professional for this part! Your visual brand is a crucial piece to attracting your ideal client.
Once you've determined the colors and style you are going for, it's time for images. Showcasing your product or service in beautiful photos is always a sure way to draw in visitors. And in visually-centered industries like health and beauty, it matters even more. You know that your product or service is incredible, but your potential clients want to see how amazing it is.
When combined with a well-designed website, your photos will sell your brand for you! For the most effective look, here are a few details to pay attention to:
Make sure the style of your images is consistent throughout your site.
Choose photos that complement your brand colors.
Include at least one professional-quality photo of yourself or your team.
You've almost completed your website design, but there's one more step. Many of your users will be viewing your website on their phone or tablet. If you neglect your mobile site, they'll never even get a chance to see all the hard work you've put into your design. Even worse, sites that aren't mobile-friendly leave consumers with a bad taste in their mouth – which is the opposite of what you want!
On the flip side, a responsive design makes the experience seamless for your clients. Responsive websites resize everything automatically to make it look fabulous no matter the size of their device. And you don't have to settle for the boring mobile sites of a few years ago. With a bit of extra work, you can keep all the eye-catching grids, images, and details of your desktop design on your mobile design as well.
The result? A sleek, cohesive design that's impossible to look away from, no matter the size of their device!
#2 Simple Navigation and No Waiting
Now that you're past their initial impression, you've got a little more work to do to convert your prospects. After all, a well-designed website includes more than just a pretty appearance.
With the internet providing so many options to consumers, fast load times and simple navigation are essential.
You want users to find what they need easily and get there quickly. Your navigation should be so intuitive that it almost feels like it's reading their minds. If you aren't sure where to put links or what they should say, take a step back and view it through the eyes of your customer. Or take a look at some of your favorite websites for examples of what works.
Then compliment your navigation with site speeds that keep the process moving. Purchasing is almost entirely an emotional decision, so you want people to stay in the moment, engaged with your website and your product. Large image files are a frequent culprit for slow site speed, so be sure to compress your image files!
#3 Streamlined Content & SEO
Last but certainly not least, it's time to talk about content.
Unless we're talking about your blog, visitors to your site aren't coming to you for an extended read. But this doesn't mean that outstanding copywriting isn't important. After all, your content still needs to grab their attention, communicate essential information, AND push them to act. That's a lot to accomplish when you consider how short people's attention spans tend to be.
To keep your audience interested, keep your content about them (Yes, even on your About Page). The goal of everything on your website is to let your dream clients know how you are solving their problem and the steps they need to take for you to solve it.
This brings us to the Call To Action (CTA). What do you want your customer to do? Schedule a call or submit a contact form? Head to your blog? Sign up for your email list? Whatever it is, make it obvious how they do that. And like your navigation, you want to place your CTAs intuitively. Just when your customer starts to feel the urge to do something, you want to provide them with an action they can take.
With these tips, you're well on your way to an amazing website that will help you increase sales and attract loyal clients. If you're feeling overwhelmed, let's schedule a call! I can help you figure out the best options for your business website and get you on track to the success you are looking for.
And don't forget to check out my About Page Template for everything you need to build a strategic About Page on your website!
♡ Alex E.
HI THERE!
I’m Alex, your Squarespace Expert web designer
I’ve designed over 50 websites incorporating strategic design choices to create a seamless customer journey. I take pride in learning the ins and outs of my client’s businesses, empowering them to build a lasting impression with their audience and deliver on their goals.
