10 tips for effective website design

The design of your website is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not someone will stay on your site. Most people are drawn to websites that are visually appealing, easy to navigate, and have a professional look. The more you can do to improve these three things, the better chance you have of getting people interested in what you offer! This blog post highlights 10 tips for designing an effective website.

1. Choose a simple colour scheme

With so many wonderful colours to choose from, it can be tempting to want to use them all on your website. However, using too many colours can be distracting and make your website look unprofessional. It's best to stick to two or three complementary colours for a simple and polished look.

2. Simplicity is key

People will usually decide whether or not to stay on your website within the first few seconds. If they can't find what they're looking for quickly, or if it's difficult to navigate around your site, then you might lose them forever! Make sure all of the features and content are easily accessible from any page on your site so visitors can find what they're looking for.

3. A website should be easy to use no matter what device it's viewed on

Nowadays, people are viewing websites on all sorts of devices - from desktop computers to smartphones and tablets. Your website needs to look good and be easy to use on any device, or you'll lose potential customers. Use responsive design techniques so your website looks amazing no matter what device it's viewed on.

4. A great website design doesn't need to be complex or expensive

There's a common misconception that you need lots of money and time in order to create an effective website. This isn't true! With the right guidance and some hard work (preferably from One Size Media!), it's possible to create a fantastic looking site on any budget.

Your website design should always be based around your target audience and what they want from you. If you're targeting businesses, make sure it's clear how using your service will benefit them (e.g., increased revenue).

5. Make your site search engine friendly

• Include relevant keywords and phrases frequently throughout your content, as well as in meta descriptions. You should also include a search box on every page so visitors can find what they're looking for easily if you have a site with lots of content.
• Ensure that your site is mobile friendly. Google now penalises sites which aren't optimised for mobile devices so it's crucial to ensure you have this covered.
• Be sure to include a blog on your site and update it regularly with relevant and useful content (not just self-promotion). This can be extremely valuable for SEO purposes because Google rewards sites which produce fresh, unique content.
• Make sharing easy by including social media share buttons prominently displayed throughout the page in an unobtrusive way

6. Use consistent typography

When we read a book, we expect the text to be the same size and font throughout. The same should be true for your website – using a consistent typography will help users feel comfortable on your site and make it look more polished.

7. Use high-quality images

Images are essential for any website, but it's important to use high-quality images that are consistent with your branding. Poorly shot images will not only look unprofessional, but they will also deter users from trusting your site.

8. Create a clear hierarchy

Your website's hierarchy will help users understand where they are on the site and what they need to do next. Use headings, subheadings, and lists to create a clear structure for your content.

9. Keep diversity and inclusion in mind

While it's important to create a cohesive website, you should also be mindful of diversity and inclusion. For example, your site will have visitors from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, abilities and ages so it's important that your website design is accessible to everyone. When choosing images and illustrations, make sure they represent people from different walks of life.

10. Keep learning

Website design is constantly evolving, which means it's important to keep learning. The web industry changes very quickly so you should try your best to stay up-to-date with the latest design trends, tools and techniques. This will allow you to create a website that is on trend but also user friendly which means more people are likely to engage with it.

Remember, One Size Media are always ready and available to help with your next website design project, so get in touch today.

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