{"id":37765,"date":"2021-05-06T19:46:12","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T14:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/?p=37765"},"modified":"2024-03-19T12:34:04","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T07:04:04","slug":"8-tips-to-optimize-your-web-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/development\/8-tips-to-optimize-your-web-design\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Tips to Optimize Your Web Design"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your website\u2019s design and performance can make or break your business.<\/p>\n<p>A carefully crafted and optimized website can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/business\/top-5-sales-tips-for-generating-valuable-leads-in-2020\/\">generate truckloads of sales<\/a>, while a poorly crafted one will leave you ignored.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, 38% of people will stop engaging with a website if the layout or content are unattractive. Moreover, a Stanford study found that users evaluate a brand\u2019s credibility with its web design.<\/p>\n<p>Your web design is <b><i>THAT<\/i><\/b> important.<\/p>\n<h2>What is an effective web design?<\/h2>\n<p>If you <a href=\"https:\/\/zyro.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-online-store\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">want to start an online store<\/a> that stands out like a digital peacock, then you need an exceptional web design.<\/p>\n<p>It needs to have the bells and whistles to captivate your audiences\u2019 attention and compel them to take out their wallets.<\/p>\n<p>Design elements such as imagery, colors, typography, consistency, and functionality make up a solid web design.<\/p>\n<p>Good web design gives your target audience a good impression and nurtures trust between you and your customers.<\/p>\n<p>More importantly, effective web design helps you reach your business goals.<\/p>\n<p>Do you need to increase sales? A well-placed CTA button makes a difference.<\/p>\n<p>Do you need your brand to stand out? The right combination of graphics, colors, and copy will establish your brand persona.<\/p>\n<p>Implementing the right web design strategy helps drive growth in your business.<\/p>\n<h2>Tips to optimize your web design<\/h2>\n<p>Keep these tips in mind when creating or improving your web design.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Make your contact information highly visible<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re like most website owners, then you\u2019re scrambling to increase your website traffic. That way, your chances of generating sales or closing deals drastically increase.<\/p>\n<p>Because your ultimate intent is to convert your web visitors to paying customers, you need to make it easier for them to contact you.<\/p>\n<p>It makes no sense to give it 100% of your efforts to bring them in, only to frustrate them \u2014 causing them to click away \u2014 because they can\u2019t find your contact info.<\/p>\n<p>Check out what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paulteitelman.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PaulTeitelman.com<\/a> did on their site.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37766 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192618\/New-Project-37.jpg\" alt=\"web design\" width=\"628\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192618\/New-Project-37.jpg 628w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192618\/New-Project-37-300x102.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192618\/New-Project-37-20x8.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Even if you scroll down, the contact info remains sticky.<br \/>\nBy making your contact details visible, you make it easy for your customers to contact you, removing any obstacles they have from discussing the prospect of transacting with you.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Avoid (or minimize) stock photos<\/h3>\n<p>While using stock photos isn\u2019t bad, using more than needed looks distracting and seems impersonal.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, place photos of real people such as your team or hire models who can pose around your office.<\/p>\n<p>Putting a face on your website establishes a connection with your audience and helps them remember your brand.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/upwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\">Upwork\u2019s home page<\/span><\/a> is a great example of using an image of your members to highlight what you do.<\/p>\n<p class=\"normal\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span lang=\"EN\">\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37767\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192819\/New-Project-38.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"628\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192819\/New-Project-38.jpg 628w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192819\/New-Project-38-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192819\/New-Project-38-27x17.jpg 27w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re using stock photos, adjust them to make them unique and less \u2018stocky\u2019. Clear the background, adjust the lighting, or make an image transparent in Photoshop.<\/p>\n<p>Minimize and customize your stock photos to align them with your brand and communicate your message.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Organize your navigation bar<\/h3>\n<p>Navigation bars show users where to go to learn more about your brand. It\u2019s a vital page section because it points users to important pages of your website.<\/p>\n<p>When designing your navigation bar, remember that your goal is to provide users clear choices to help them make quick decisions.<\/p>\n<p>With that in mind, limit your navigation from five to seven categories. Fewer categories also make it more visually appealing to different screen sizes.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, make sure to apply the navigation hierarchy. Put your action links to the right, make your texts readable, and highlight your most important link.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, users won\u2019t stay long on your site if they can\u2019t find what they\u2019re looking for. Use effective web design to highlight your navigation bar and direct your users to helpful pages.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Always follow the visual hierarchy<\/h3>\n<p>Applying visual hierarchy helps show your content clearly and effectively.<\/p>\n<p>The two main components of visual hierarchy include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Size and weight<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Enlarge and highlight texts and images that you want your users to see first.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Placement<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Position important elements such as your CTA or logo by using the right website layout.<\/p>\n<p>When designing your layout, <a href=\"https:\/\/thedigitalprojectmanager.com\/wireframe-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wireframe tools<\/a> help you easily and quickly see which parts to adjust and how your users will navigate through the page.<\/p>\n<p>Proper visual hierarchy leads users to more important pages, helps them stay longer on your website, and influences them to make a purchase.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Add the right amount of whitespace<\/h3>\n<p>Whitespace, aka \u2018negative space\u2019, helps break up sections of your page and increase readability.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, whitespace helps prioritize content, position important elements on your page, and make your overall design neater.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Pocket Penguin\u2019s website immediately greets you with a significant amount of space and minimalist design.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37768 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192911\/New-Project-39.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"628\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192911\/New-Project-39.jpg 628w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192911\/New-Project-39-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06192911\/New-Project-39-27x17.jpg 27w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><br \/>\nHowever, this captures your attention and makes you want to scroll down to see more.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the page, they used space effectively to highlight each section while keeping readers engaged.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37769 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06193019\/New-Project-40.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"622\" height=\"324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06193019\/New-Project-40.jpg 622w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06193019\/New-Project-40-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.the-next-tech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/06193019\/New-Project-40-20x9.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" \/><br \/>\nTo incorporate whitespace, review your pages, see which content and elements don&#8217;t serve a purpose, and remove them.<\/p>\n<h3>6. Create a mobile-friendly version<\/h3>\n<p>With the rise of smartphone users globally, web designers must develop a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/development\/10-reason-why-business-needs-a-responsive-web-design\/\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\">mobile responsive version<\/span><\/a> of a website.<\/p>\n<p>After all, Google says 61% of users don\u2019t return to an unresponsive mobile site.<\/p>\n<p>If a well-designed website doesn\u2019t run on mobile properly, you still lose traffic, potential customers, and more sales.<\/p>\n<p>When optimizing your design for mobile, keep in mind that user navigation differs from the desktop version.<\/p>\n<p>Consider how the screen size, font size, images, etc. affect your mobile user\u2019s interaction.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the layout and order of your sections will likely change in the mobile version.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, aim to provide a seamless omnichannel experience for your mobile users.<br \/>\n<span class=\"seethis_lik\"><span>Also read:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/machine-learning\/what-is-no-code-predictive-analytics\/\">What Is No Code Predictive Analytics? How To Build Using N8N, Google Colab, Akkio & Others?<\/a><\/span>\n<h3>7. Keep words short and sweet<\/h3>\n<p>Web design isn\u2019t strictly visual. Great copy also plays a role in creating an effective web design.<\/p>\n<p>However, less is more when it comes to texts. Choose specific words that summarize your pages and limit them to 12 characters or less.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, stick to conventional phrases such as \u2018About Us\u2019 and \u2018Contact Us\u2019. It\u2019s easier for your users to recognize and understand.<\/p>\n<p>Trim down the fluff and make it clear and concise as much as possible.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that it will also help your web pages be more mobile-friendly.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, ask a good copywriter to help you write attention-grabbing headlines and CTAs.<\/p>\n<h3>8. Regularly test your design<\/h3>\n<p>After creating your new website or landing page, remember that your work doesn\u2019t stop there.<\/p>\n<p>To further optimize your pages, monitor and evaluate their performance. You can move your CTA buttons to various places to check where you\u2019ll get the most conversions. You can even change the colors of your buttons, the size of your hero images, etc.<\/p>\n<p>The more you test and track the results, the better your conversions become since you can choose which setup will get you the best results.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re running a website that <span style=\"color: #1155cc;\">organizes virtual summits<\/span>, or your website is all about nurturing online communities through forums, wherever or whatever market you serve, you need to split tests.<br \/>\n<span class=\"seethis_lik\"><span>Also read:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/top-10\/10-best-chrome-extensions-for-2020\/\">10 Best Chrome Extensions For 2021<\/a><\/span>\n<h2>Keep your users in mind<\/h2>\n<p>Overall, an effective web design considers its users every step of the way.<\/p>\n<p>What will be convenient for your users? How can you present information that your users best understand and appreciate?<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, your web design should not steal the limelight. Instead, it should aid your content and promote your brand effectively while keeping your users engaged.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your website\u2019s design and performance can make or break your business. A carefully crafted and optimized website can generate truckloads<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2617,"featured_media":37771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[133],"tags":[310,4459,4461,3265,4460],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37765"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/2617"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37765"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77842,"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37765\/revisions\/77842"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/37771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.the-next-tech.com\/rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}