If you are about to embark on a journey that involves small business website design, there are certain things you have to remember. Because web design might be easy (depending on the channels you use), but it does not mean it will rise above the rest. You have to apply specific fundamentals if you want to see your website out-rank the rest. So, what are the design fundamentals? What should you know before you start your journey?
To help you get the best start, here are no less than 6 web design fundamentals you should always prioritize.
1. Know Your Audience
As a small business owner, you are already aware of how important it is to know your audience. It is critical that you understand your target market before you can sell with significant results. The same principle applies to web design. More specifically, the way you set up the website should speak to your target audience. And it does not matter what type of business you have. Whether you are selling products or services online or offline, the website needs to blend with your brand.
The lesson? Use the information you have about your audience/customers to establish a framework for the design process. Take into account what they most likely want to experience and try to make it happen.
2. Stand Out From Your Peers
If your website gets lost in all the online noise, you should not expect much in terms of traffic. Remember that many people are seeking exposure, which means you are constantly competing for higher search engine rankings. At the same time, you want visitors to “remember” your site long after they leave.
Now, you are more than welcome to use a free and basic platform to launch your small business website. You can also use a free template with limited options. But if you are serious about standing out, consider a custom design that is tailored specifically for your business model.
3. Speed And Functionality
Some of the first things online users pay attention to will be the speed and functionality of your website. For instance, if users have to wait too long for a page to load, this is bound to frustrate them. Thus, if they stick around, they are less likely to interact. The same can be said about functionality. Everything about the design should complement each other, from the colors to the overall experience.
Once again, a custom design will give you the advantage on every level. Whereas the cookie-cutter templates that are typically free will only get you so far.
4. Appealing Design
Another aspect you have to remember is that the website should be appealing. In other words, the choice of color is very important. You also want to pay special attention to the small details, such as the font styles. Essentially, there are many small elements that make up the overall design.
However, you do not want to go overboard. The last thing you want is to create a distraction from what’s really important – making a profit. Remember, what looks good to you might not be so appealing to others. Hence the reason for getting some feedback before you launch the site.
5. User-Friendly Navigation
Finally, always make sure users can easily navigate between pages and posts. This means making navigation tabs clear and placing them in the most convenient areas. A professional web designer will know all about these things. But if this is your first time designing a website, now is the time to get familiar with user habits and what they want.
You can do all of the above by yourself, or you can hire a designer to do it for you. Either way, your website needs to have these 5 web design fundamentals in place if you want online users to take it seriously.