Here at Blue Bee, as experts in web design and development, we think a lot about the impact of our work on SEO, UX and conversions for our customers. Does good web design boost conversions, or can it be a distraction? In this article, we take a look at the impact of good web design on your website.
As a general rule of thumb, if your website has any of the following, you might be suffering from poor web design…
- Cluttered imagery or copy
- ‘Loud’ or excessive stock images
- Anything that flashes
- Use of multiple exclamation marks/excessive capital letter usage
- Unclear menu or navigation, or multiple navbars
For reference, here is the world’s worst website ever…
The problem with bad web design…
Funnily enough, if you think about the most visited websites online, they are notoriously ugly! Reddit, Google, Amazon and eBay all bear some of the hallmarks of an ugly website (hello excessive hyperlinks and white space!), and yet they work, because their designs aren’t distracting, and they don’t take away from the user journey. So while they’re not ‘conventionally attractive’, they are well designed — there is a difference!
A well-designed website doesn’t have to look boring, but a website with all the bells and whistles and franken-functionality can cause issues for your visitors – especially if your visitors are using older browsers or out-of-date tech to access it.
While it’s important not to go the whole hog like Google (who has time to measure 41 shades of blue on your call-to-actions?!), what is important is creating a website that makes your message really clear. As with most things, simplicity is the key to a successful website that truly converts its visitors, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring.
Increase trust with good web design
By putting your time, energy and efforts towards creating a clear user journey free of distractions, you’ll be able to create a website that really converts. SEO and User eXperience (UX) are now practically interchangeable terms — many of the elements of good SEO coincide with user journey best practice. Reduce distractions on your website and make it clear what you stand for, and what your products/services are, without all the unnecessary extras.
Another key to good web design is that good web design increases trust. These days, the majority of internet users are savvier than they were years ago, many people are well-versed in what makes a credible website, and when to leave because it screams scam or spam. By creating a clear and concise website with an easy user journey, you’ll increase trust and demonstrate expertise to your audience.
In summary, while pretty web design doesn’t always mean a high conversion rate, good web design definitely does.
Chat to our web design and development experts to start your web design project today!
