Features of Great Websites
Not all websites are created equal. If you’ve ever spent any time surfing the web, and we know you have or you wouldn’t be reading this, then you know exactly what we’re talking about. We used to have much lower standards for what constituted great website design, let alone “perfectly acceptable”. But things have changed. Now there are so many layouts, features, options, and social media connections that we find ourselves a little stunned when we end up on a simple “image and text” page. It immediately makes us wonder, “Couldn’t they have tried a little harder?” And that is not what you want users and potential customers saying about your site. Whether you need a simple website, a small business website or a custom website, it is well worth spending a little more time and money to maximize the potential of your site and give your visitors the best experience possible. The principles of designing a great website are complex and the details best left to the pros, but the following list will give you a taste of the amazing features that most great sites have in common these days:
Simplicity
Nobody wants to spend a bunch of time figuring out how to navigate a site. If your website developer has made your site too busy with images, videos, and graphics it can be difficult to figure out how to find the actual information you are there to see. Website design can be good without being overly complicated.
No Surprises
Unless you have designed a special hook, most effective sites appear very similar to what the user was expecting. Most online consumers have a lot of experience with a wide variety of websites, and they can be put off by sites that don’t make sense to them or require a learning curve.
Focus
You never want to lose sight of your ultimate goals for your visitors. Make sure your site does everything it can to direct people to where you want them to end up.
Speed
The days of dial-up are ancient history, and our patience along with it. When it comes to the internet, people want it fast and they want it now. Adding a bunch of exciting features to your site may look great but make sure you balance that with a streamlined approach that keeps surfing quick and easy.
Cost calculators
People love having their device crunch the numbers so they don’t have to.
Videos
Providing a behind the scenes peek at you or your business is a great tool for humanizing the process of online shopping.
Polls
Nobody can resist a chance to have their opinion heard, right?
For most businesses these days, their website is the number one driver of customer interaction, and certain website features have proven particularly successful with respect to small business websites.
Window shopping in the 21st century is surfing the web. If you don’t want shoppers to simply pass you by with an uninterested glance, you need to employ a top-quality custom website design service to unlock the vast untapped potential of your website.
