What Makes for Good Web Design?

Nowadays, there is no excuse for operating a small business with no website. It is one of the single most important assets that’s readily available to all industries. It can serve as a digital storefront, open 24/7, ready to advertise all that your business has to offer. And making one has never been easier. There are all kinds of different software service companies that will give you all the tools you need to create a website, or you could always hire a local web designer looking for some extra freelance work. LinkNow Media is ready to build you a website for your small business the second you get in touch with us!

The point we are trying to make is there are no excuses for not having a website since there are so many different avenues you can pursue to create one. Sure, it can be a little nerve-wracking if you don’t consider yourself to be computer-savvy, but you should know that even the most skilled technology whizzes sometimes make the wrong web design choices.

See, it’s not enough just to have a website, your website needs to be esthetically pleasing and easy to use if it’s going to stand out against the competition. But then that leads us to the question of what makes for good web design? Sure, there is an element of personal taste involved but good web design isn’t as subjective as you might think.

Take a look at the criteria below for good web design.

Usability

You could have the most beautiful website the internet has ever seen, but if it’s not easy to use then all the esthetic value is for naught. In a well-designed website, the user will know instantly what the website is about, navigation is simple and intuitive and there are clear calls to action. One fatal mistake many web designers make all the time is underestimating the laziness of users. The internet has created a culture of convenience and if you aren’t clear or able to give users what they are looking for with minimal clicking, you can count on your visitors bouncing to a similar business’s website that can.

Spacing

Just like traditional media, spacing is incredibly important. Website designers are constantly working on innovative new ways to use space because it helps to create a flow or a focal point on your pages. Consistent spacing is important for a professional-looking website and will help with your overall user experience.

Of course, spacing might sound simple enough until you factor in that not every visitor will be using the same size screen as you or your web designer. Computers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and the same goes for tablets and smartphones. Making sure your website is responsive is essential because a responsive website will automatically scale your desired dimensions to fit any size of screen. If someone builds you an unresponsive website, consider asking for your money back.

Strong Visuals

Your choice of color, even if you just want whites and blacks, will have an enormous influence on the website’s perception. Same goes for the photos and/or graphics you choose to represent your business. This is where things can get a little subjective because your choice of color palette and the images you choose to represent your business are ultimately yours. There is plenty of research you can do regarding color theories to help you make a decision, but as long as there is minimal clashing and no low-resolution photos all over the site, you should be ok.

Calls to Action

What would you like your visitors to do once they visit your website? Do you want them to buy something? Do you want them to request a quote? Sign up for something? Again, you can never underestimate the laziness of users. Giving them a gentle push in the right direction is always better than leaving them to their own devices. So, always make space for a call to action otherwise you may risk losing them to your competitor’s website that does motivate them to do what you want them to.

In conclusion, you must always remember that the internet can be a very fickle place. A single broken link on your navigation bar or a website that doesn’t have a navigation bar at all could affect your business’s reputation and perception. So, while you are free to try and build your own website or hire a freelancer to build one for you, remember you could do a lot worse than choosing LinkNow Media, an award-winning web design and marketing company, to build your small business the website it needs to make a strong, positive impression on your clients.

Contact us today to learn more about our web design services. We have built hundreds of thousands of websites for small businesses all over North America. When you choose LinkNow Media to build your website, you aren’t just getting a website that is guaranteed to be gorgeous and easy to use, we also offer marketing services to make sure that your brilliant new website is seen by prospective clients. So, give us a shout today!

Eve Mendelovitch

Author: Eve Mendelovitch

About Eve Mendelovitch