Attractive Layout
Your website’s appearance needs to appeal to your target audience. A website is appealing when there is a good balance of text, graphics and white space. There are also good complementary color combinations, and a consistent use of header, navigation, and layout on every page. The design has to enhance the text on the page, not distract from it.
Easy to Use Navigation
It’s also essential that visitors can easily navigate the web pages and find the information they want. Good navigation is a roadmap that leads people from page to page in a logical manner. All navigation tabs and links have to work properly to avoid error messages. Navigation links in the footer section of every page and a sitemap are also beneficial to visitors.
Relevant Content
Although the appearance of a website is important, it’s the content that keeps visitors on the web pages. Your website content has to provide relevant and useful information for your target market. By providing solutions to common problems, you establish your business as an expert in its niche, and turn visitors into paying customers.
High Readability
The text on a website needs a font size and font color that is easy to read. The text has to be in high contrast to the background color. Scannable content is also needed for a quick overview by visitors short on time. This includes large headlines, subheadings, and short paragraphs.
Simplicity is Best
With web design, less is usually better. A cluttered webpage is distracting. You want visitors to have a clear understanding of the main message or purpose of your website. A simpler web design makes it possible for visitors to focus on the content. Although you may want to use the latest web design trends on your site, you should only use design elements that are necessary for accomplishing goals.
The best websites engage and retain visitors. By following these best practices, you ensure that your website gets the attention it deserves in a competitive marketplace.
