The 15 things that make a website great

It’s easy to recognize the website which are not being updated, but which provide the comfort of what a website once was – a static landing page to share your company profile which will probably never change once it has been launched.

One must wonder though, what makes other websites stand out? What makes these websites great?

Read on to learn our top 15 things that make great web design… PS. It is not all about simply design.

1. A clear purpose

Know what your site is for, and just as importantly, what it’s not for – we have an extensive article on setting goals for your website that you can view here.

2. A clear audience

Identify who your target market is – this will both save you time and money in the long run, as it will narrow your aim and allow your marketing Pulas to go to the right people

3. Straightforward navigation

Make sure it’s easy for people to get around your site – if possible, add a mega menu; a fancy term used to describe a menu that shows a lot more info as the site visitor hovers about it

4. Responsive design

Your website needs to be easily viewable and usable regardless of the device it is being viewed on. Responsive means that the same site can be viewed on desktop, tablet and mobile devices, without the need to develop a different app for each. This allows for your web app to turn into a mobile application, or what is called a Progressive Web App in tech parlance.

5. Load time

How is your page speed performing? If your page takes long to load, most website visitors give up and move to another more responsive page on the internet. One must balance size and quality of design to ensure that the customer gets both.

6. Unique style

Your site should be distinctive and have personality, otherwise your website will blend with the rest of the billions online, and will not engage site visitors the way it should.

7. High-quality images

If your photos aren’t great then your site won’t look great either – there are numerous places to source images, however, taking the time to get unique images will make your design shine.

8. The right typography

Make sure the fonts your using are readable and go with your style. The science of typography cannot be understated in the quest for good design.

9. Color palette

A perfect color combination attracts users while a poor combination can lead to distraction.

10. The right words

Your site can look great, but if your content doesn’t make sense then the design isn’t helping. The right words stem from having the right positioning statement for your marketing efforts. This statement will help you understand the target segment, the brand, the product/service, the key points of differentiation, as well as the reasons why customers should believe your positioning claims.

11. Testimonials and reviews

Photos, videos, and quotes from real people are effective selling mechanisms.

12. Social media links

Check your links to make sure they work and go to the correct social profiles.

13. Have a strong call to action

What do you want your visitors to do? This call to action will be informed by your website goals and objectives, which you can learn how to develop here.

14. Share valuable content with your audience

Blogs are good for creating fresh content, connecting with your audience, and boosting your SEO.

15. Have a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate in place

A secure website is a must-have, and most web browsers will automatically look for the https version of the website, and if this doesn’t exist, your ranking will be adversely affected.

Use this checklist to make sure your website has great design!

Contact the Guruweb team if you would like a digital audit.