6 Reasons Why Bad Website Design Will Cost You In 2020 |
It takes 50 milliseconds, or
1/5th of a second, for a user to choose to stay or leave your website. For
visitors to your website, your brand’s competency and credibility are judged
entirely on the basis of how you appear within the first few seconds.
The best websites not only keep
viewers hooked to your website, but can also lead to long term brand loyalty.
These websites combine real user
experience (UX) with the latest design trends and high-quality content. With
more and more new businesses creating websites and an online presence, it is
hard for a website to stand out from the crowd without a consistent plan of action.
This means that while good
websites see an increase in their number of visitors, bad website design will
actually make you lose followers as they head over to your competitors instead
of you.
A web
design company can help you stay away from bad web design practices and
also provide you with a checklist of goals your website must meet. What exactly
should your website say about your business?
Show Them
For The Big Picture
Every brand has a story. There is
one thing that sets your business apart from all your competitors. Make sure
you design your website to bring out that story.
Good website design and UX
creates a journey that your viewers take that leads them towards the one clear
action you need them to take. This could include a series of things like
signing up for an emailer to booking a test drive for a car.
Write To
Be Read
The digital world has
significantly evolved the way we read today. Long-form content was popular two
decades ago, as was reading books from one end to another.
However, with social media,
advanced technology, and dwindling attention spans, people now prefer getting
the major bits of information in a jiffy rather than thoroughly examining the
details over a long period of time.
Research into user experience has
shown that online audiences scan information rather than read. And user
behaviours are changing faster than ever, with new trends surfacing year after
year. Smart website design takes these behaviours into account and provides
concise, useful information for your website visitors. With effective
formatting like bullets aided by cool visuals, you will always stay two steps
ahead of your competition.
Visuals
Make A World Of Difference
If your audience is judging you
in a matter of seconds, your visuals need to be more compelling than anything
else. Visual sensory perception in human beings is stronger than all other
senses. You might not retain the title of the book, but you will almost always
remember the cover art. For the same reason, visual elements that bring out
your brand story are fundamental to great website design.
When it comes to website design,
visuals are not only limited to images. It includes typography, fonts, colours,
icons, white space and other such elements that give your users a smoother, more
comfortable browsing experience. Agencies that offer e-commerce
website services will be able to help you align each visual element in a
way that compliments your brand and the user experience you wish to create.
Speed Up
Your Page Load
As we mentioned before, attention
spans are getting shorter and shorter. The virtual world of endless feeds and
information has taught people to value gratification and services delivered
instantly and without a buffer. Research shows that about 40% of your audience
will drop off if your pages or website load too slowly.
There are many things you can do
to reduce your page load time. Allowing for file compression, or optimising
your website’s code is among the basics. However, make sure that anything you
do doesn’t affect the quality of your website’s visuals or customer experience.
Go Mobile
More than 80% of internet users
and online shoppers use mobile devices. Despite this, many businesses don’t
optimise their websites for mobile use. This can make it harder for users to
reach and interact with you.
In the end, users are going to
drop off if you don’t make the right first impression. Keep them hooked and
give your business the advantage it needs.