TOP 5 BUSINESS WEBSITE DESIGN TIPS

TOP 5 BUSINESS WEBSITE DESIGN TIPS

82% of consumers and small business owners turn to the internet first for information about local companies.

Your business website design is either going to capture this consistently growing audience of tech-savvy consumers, or lose these leads to online competition with a more effective web presence.  Converting new visitors to loyal customers will be a challenge if your site is outdated, difficult to navigate, or does not exist.  Here are the Top 5 Business Website Design Tips that will help your brand succeed online:


1.) Code Name: Source Code.The most important element of your website is something not visible to the end user; the source code. This is the programming language used to construct the core elements and functionality of your site. It is also an essential tool for communication with search engines. Having a solid foundation from the start with professionally written code will save you the time and cost of rebuilding later; choose your design team wisely!

2.) An Aesthetically Pleasing Design.Studies show that site design is a decisive factor for building trust with online consumers. A custom, high-impact, user-friendly business website design will not only increase customer loyalty and engagement, but help convert new leads to loyal customers by presenting a professional brand image.  Conversion rates, bounce rates and the total time a user spends on your site will all depend heavily on exactly how visually appealing and easy to navigate your website is.

3.) Engaging Content.From captivating home page copy to compelling customer testimonials and case studies, unique and engaging content is essential to keeping your audience’s attention. Enhancing visibility of your brand in search engines will be based mostly on the quality and consistency of your content. Hiring a professional copywriter or web developer who is familiar with your industry can be the best route if you do not have the resources in-house to create and manage your web presence on a regular basis.

4.) Mobile-Optimization.Searching for a local business happens 40% of the time from a mobile device. With over 150 million smartphone users in the U.S., having a mobile-optimized site is key to capturing this consistently growing segment. A responsive website design that adapts to the screen it is being viewed on can be an effective solution to accommodate the growing number of devices on the market.

5.) Future Development.Companies that blog have 55% more web visitors. Developing the best business website design in the world doesn’t mean a thing if consumers can’t find your company online. Having a balanced approach to promoting your site, from SEO and PPC, to blogging, social media and e-mail marketing, is key to maximizing your reach and visibility online.


Need help with your business website design?  Visit dream ink's Website Design page for more info.

EVERYONE IS A DESIGN CRITIC

While the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover" is often advised, rarely do our brains practice this theory in making purchasing decisions; we often gravitate towards products with the most attractive packaging, sold by the most recognizable (and inherently trusted) brands.  This is why choosing the right designer for your marketing materials is essential to developing an effective brand image with memorable ad campaigns that will not only connect with your target audience, but help convert them to loyal customers.  

Here are three tips that will help you hire the best designer or agency suited to fit your needs:

Ignore cost.

Nike paid $35 for their logo back in 1971, while oil company BP recently shelled out $6.4 million for their current green and gold sunflower.

Moral of the story:  don't be enticed by the lowest price, or intimidated by the highest; design and designers have a very wide of scale for compensation that is not always based on true talent.    

View their portfolio.

Great design is subjective.  The best measure of ones ability is looking at the projects and client base they have successfully worked with in the past.  

Is their definition of "aesthetically-pleasing" the same as yours?  Are they familiar with your industry?  Do they have experience in both print and web design?  These questions can be answered by a professional portfolio.  

No formal education?  No problem!

Some of the most skilled and proficient designers I have worked with never received a formal education and honed their craft through on-the-job experience.  By requiring a college degree many employers are missing out on some of the most talented freelancers and individuals available.  

I've been most impressed with the creative use of the iPad in the new Lexus ad in Sports Illustrated.  This should receive every "Design of the Year" award out there!  

View it for yourself here:  Is This The World's Most Interactive Print Ad?

After you've found a designer you will need to decide on what message you want your brand to communicate in its advertising.  Join us next time when we explore how political ads may be the best (and worst!) example of effective, engaging and emotional advertising!  

MARKETING 101

The first step in creating effective advertising is knowing:
a.) who your target audience is and b.) what motivates them to buy.

Is it price point, product feature or ease of online ordering that influences their decision?
Communicating why your product or service is better than the competitions is imperative to converting sales with your advertising. By analyzing demographic, psychographic and direct-response data it is now easier and more cost-effective than ever before to locate who is most likely to be in need of your product and what influences their purchasing habits.

Will the most cost-effective medium to reach your prospects be through drive time radio ads, web based marketing, promotional products or other means?
Understanding what media is most accessible and familiar to your audience is essential to developing a long-term ad campaign. Recognize consumer trends, embrace new technology and consider your own purchasing habits when designing a logo, preparing a direct mail piece or selecting a custom product to promote your brand.

See you next time when we discuss creating an effective logo!