What makes a great business website?
As online competition increases, you have to constantly improve your website.
A tiny percentage of websites get over 90% of all traffic.
If you want your website to be among the winners, you have to make sure that your site includes the right features. In the following article, I provide you with important features that can be incorporated into your website.
Large Background Images
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is true on the web as well. A background image with overlaying text helps to further express a particular message. Also for some of your viewers that don’t spend much time viewing text itself, an image can give a good general message. Because viewers these days often use so many different mediums to view web pages you need to make sure the images that you use are compatible with tablets, smartphones, laptops, etc. If a viewer is able to see the text but not the image it may skew the meaning you are trying to portray.
Semi-Flat Design
Apple began using the trend of flat design in order to simplify the viewing perspective for web viewers in 2013. Flat design eliminates the attempt to make a website seem 3D. This allows viewers to understand websites much easier without being distracted by technical designs. It also makes sure that the site downloads much quicker.
With Semi-Flat designs, the web page includes slight shadows in order to portray a moderate level of depth perception. Regardless of whether using Flat Design or Semi-Flat Design, the important thing is to keep it consistent. The idea is to make your website as comprehensible to the viewer as possible.
Unique Typography
In recent years companies have been using specific types of typography in order to become recognizable. Using a large and unique typography is a way to brand image your web page as well as the company.
The type of typography that you use can help portray what type of company you are. If you use playful and creative text it can give this type of impression to your readers. The New Yorker has used this strategy to move its viewers into different sections of its website. Playful texts move readers into more creative and softer subjects, while as bold or standard typography is used for more serious news stories.
Background Videos
Background videos are used as a method of immediately enticing a viewer to dig deeper into your web page. Videos are processed much faster than text. Someone visiting your page can immediately get a general understanding of what message you are portraying without having to read extensive blocks of text. As the web has developed and connection speeds have increased it enables viewers to see background videos much more effectively.
Background videos can also be great ways to lead the viewer into watching more extensive videos you may have on your site. Videos are a great way to promote your services and products.
Short Product or Service Videos
Short videos are a great way to make your service or product more of a reality for consumers. To start, if a potential client takes the time to view a video, they are already extremely interested in what you have to offer. The game plan then becomes to develop a video that entices the viewer to contact you directly.
Short videos immediately give the viewer a better understanding of your product or service. Almost 50% of customers watch online videos when doing research on a particular product. It is a great tool to use in order to stay competitive with the current market.
Card Designs
Card Designs are one of the newest forms of website features. Card Designs are used to break up content into bite-sized informational pieces. Multiple images are displayed that allows you to click on a select one in order to view more specific details on its content.
This type of web design lets you organize information without overloading the viewers with too much text. It helps you highlight specific products and points that you want the consumer to see when focusing on that specific item.
Clear Navigation
With all the new feature that are now available for those using the web, you have to still remember the basics. When someone is viewing your site they want to be able to navigate to sections with ease. There is no point in having a website if people that visit it get lost trying to find the content they want to see.
Make sure that you have a basic roadmap with a home page, about us, how we can help you, contact page, etc.
However, you want to development the navigation on your site is up to you. At the end of the day make sure that it is something that anyone new to your site can understand. Remember, the website is for your viewers.
Security
This is a feature that is often overlooked when making a website. Your website has to be secure for both your users as well as yourself. There are various SSL certificates that ensure that information such as credit cards and social security numbers stay between you and your viewers.
Some of the various SSL certifications that you should look into are VeriSign and TRUSTe. A website designer should know about what certification will work best for you. However make sure to do your research, as this is one of the most important aspects of your new web page. There is no bigger nightmare than having private information hacked from your website.
