In this day and age, most people are aware of the importance of a good website, especially when running a business or building a brand. However, having a website just to have one, and having a successful website are completely different. So, we decided to break down a few of the most important elements of a successful website to help those who may be looking to start one of their own. If your website checks the boxes below, your business or brand will have a much better chance at succeeding.
Website Design
Technology updates daily, and as it does, viewers get shorter and shorter attention spans. That is why it is beyond important to grab and keep a person’s attention immediately. It takes about 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) for a person to form an opinion about your website that determines whether he/she likes your site or not and will eventually stay to make a purchase. If the opinion is negative, there is a very high chance the visitor will never return to your site.
But don’t let that scare you. There are many ways to combat that statistic, starting with the design of your website. Website design alone is enough to make or break your site (first impressions are 94% design related). Proper color use, eye-catching content, and creative layouts all help to draw in visitors and keep them on your site longer. Hopefully, long enough for a sale or commitment to your brand. Here are a few research-backed design rules to follow for your site.
Functionality
Unfortunately, a high-quality website doesn’t end with good design. There are still multiple ways you can lose customers and visitors on your site. One of the biggest among them – functionality. Cellphones are quickly becoming the preferred method to surf the web. Just to paint a picture, there are more than 4.28 billion mobile internet users, and more than half of all Google search visits take place on a mobile phone.
That is a great reason to ensure your website is mobile friendly. Keep that in mind when designing your site. Having a glowing desktop website and a poor mobile version can be the cause of a high bounce rate.
Additional functionality issues to be aware of include:
- Load time – Too many pictures and videos can slow your website’s speed down, and slow-loading websites cost retailers $2.6 billion in lost sales each year.
- Contact page – Forty-four percent of website visitors leave a site if there is no contact page.
Security
Lack of web security has many consequences for visitors and businesses. From stolen financial information to computer-crashing viruses, web security issues can all result in lost sales for your company. We recommend hiring a professional, especially if your website hosts a point-of-sale program. However, there are a few things you can do on your own in the meantime to protect yourself and visitors to your site. Click here to learn a few ways you can take action today.
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Design, functionality, and web security are just a few things that affect the impression you leave on your viewers. Leave a comment below and let us know what other elements you believe help make websites successful.
