Contrary to what many believe, the main goal of a web designer isn’t to just make a website look pretty, it’s to attract visitors and help win over new or increase sales. That’s why so much attention gets paid to items like search engine optimization. Increasing page views is a start, but there is another part to the equation. Following these design principles will help you maintain engagement, generate conversions, and increase your website’s worth.
#1 KEEP IMPORTANT INFO ABOVE THE FOLD
One of the first rules every web designer learns is to keep the most important information above the fold. Do so increasing the chance of making an impression on the user. Another benefit is search engines, such as Google, like to see the most important terms in headlines and opening paragraphs. More visitors will see the top of your website than potentially any other part of your business, so make that real estate count.
#2 BE CREATIVE, BUT NOT CONFUSING
Creativity can be tricky when it comes to web design. On one hand, standing out from a crowded market is a must, but going too far can actually hurt usability. Visitors aren’t going to convert into leads or sales if they become frustrated in their search for solutions. When in doubt, stick with variations on web design staples, or at least test offbeat ideas thoroughly before overhauling your website with an unusual concept.
#3 GUIDE VISITORS TO IMPORTANT VISUAL ELEMENTS
Users search their environments for clues to context, meaning, and even danger. This means web designers are able to guide visitors towards certain prompts or ideas. Subtle cues could involve faces tilted towards titles or calls to action. More obvious methods involve using bold colors or even arrows pointing users in a certain direction.
