Beautiful Websites = Beautiful Results

You’ve probably heard the sentiment “You can’t judge a book by its cover”, but that doesn’t mean people don’t do exactly that. This is especially true when it comes to web design. When someone visits your website for the first time, they’ll form an opinion about your entire business in a matter of milliseconds — all based on how your pages look. Yes, the content contained within your website is critical, but no one will bother to even look at what you have to offer unless you’ve made a positive visual impression.

So why is beauty such an important factor in web design, and how can you be sure that your website is up to par? This post will address these and related questions.

Looks Matter

People have a tendency to make snap judgments about a brand based on the way it presents itself. These snap judgments are so fast, in fact, that consumers will form an opinion about your website within a mere 50 milliseconds. That split-second assessment will determine whether or not the user likes what they see, and whether or not they will stay on your page or navigate away.

But why do people care so much about how your website looks? The bottom line is that a modern, clean, attractive, and intuitive website creates an impression of professionalism and reliability. These traits make it easier for consumers to put their trust in your brand and ultimately give you their business. A haphazard, outdated, slow, and unattractive website, on the other hand, will create the impression that you don’t take pride in your business and, therefore, won’t take care of your customers’ needs.

Creating a Beautiful Website

Now that we understand why consumers care so much about the appearance of your business website, we can take a look at what makes for beautiful web design. Here are some of the most important elements to consider in web design:

Branding or Logo — When a visitor arrives at your website, it’s essential that they’re able to quickly identify whose page they’ve actually landed on. Your brand name logo should be prominently displayed.

Graphics — Images will quickly grab a visitor’s eye, so it’s important that you choose your graphics wisely. Any photos or images should clearly portray who you are as a brand and what it is that you do or stand for. You also want to make sure that the graphics are appropriately situated within the scope of the page and that they are sized proportionally to the text.

Headlines — Be sure to break up content with headlines that are short, catchy, and to the point. This will give visitors a strong indication as to what to expect from the content deeper within your website.

Navigation — Regardless of which page a user lands on when initially visiting your site, they need a way to navigate to other pages. The navigation should be intuitive and easy to understand so that users can fluidly move throughout your site in order to find the information they’re looking for.

Typography — It’s smart to choose a font that consumers will learn to associated with your brand for easy recognition. The typography needs to be clear, appropriately sized, and simple to read.

Color Scheme — Use colors that are aligned with your brand and that are easy on the eyes.

CTAs — Calls-to-action must be clear and noticeable, and should intrigue and inspire even casual visitors to take the next indicated step toward making a buying decision.

Footer — Make sure that your website’s footer is appropriately sized and that it displays your business’ contact information, links to social media, and any other pertinent information that a user might quickly need to access.

When all of these elements come together, it’s a beautiful thing! A visually appealing website will attract more visitors to your page and will encourage them to stay longer, thus increasing the likelihood of lead generation and conversions.