Website design is pretty key to sales. These days, you’ve got less than 15 seconds to hook someone in. That’s the average amount of time a user will spend on a website. If they don’t like what they see in that time, they’re going elsewhere and you’ve lost yourself a customer.
Use these website design hacks to keep your users happy and increase your conversion rates. And remember, conversion doesn’t necessarily mean an outright sale. It can also include signing up for newsletters, free content or sharing on social media since these all have the potential to convert to sales down the track.
1. Tidy up your graphic design
Uninspiring template? Self-built website? It might seem basic but the way your website looks (and loads) is a critical aspect of its design. This will shape a user’s first impression of your business. A basic website, maybe one you’ve designed yourself, can give the impression you’re not a legitimate business. Professional website design has never been more important.
2. Tidy up your technical design
Slow loading images? Non-responsive design? These things can be irritating to a user. If your website takes a long time to load, you’re cutting into your valuable 15 seconds. And if a user has to expand a site on their mobile just so they can click a button, they’re probably not going to bother. There are other technical aspects that can make a huge difference to your conversion rate. Build engaging content around strong keywords to boost SEO and don’t forget about schema, on-page tags and XML sitemaps.
3. Tidy up your navigation
How easy is your website to get around? If a user has to click themselves into a black hole just to find what they’re looking for, you need to do something about that. Think simple, effortless navigation. Your website design should be designed with the user experience in mind.
4. Tweak your performance
In the same way that you need to keep putting logs onto a fire to keep it burning, you need to keep reviewing your website design and tweak it for optimal performance. Use tools such as Google Analytics, Domaine Authority and SEO Moz to see your current performance and what needs to be adjusted to improve it.
