Web design is an enormous subject.
For those just getting into it, the amount of information to absorb can seem overwhelming.
Fortunately, a few web design tips can help you along the way.
Read on and we’ll highlight some ways to avoid the mistakes which many amateurs make and give you some guidelines to keep you on course to a great website!
Always Use Responsive Design
Most amateurs use WordPress or another content management system for their initial forays. And many will stay there even as their skills advance, many of the largest companies in the world use WordPress.
If that’s the case, then you’re in good hands since almost all WordPress themes are automatically mobile responsive.
If you’re building things from scratch, however, you’ll want to ensure that your website readily resizes and changes its format to suit devices other than computers.
An enormous number of searches are made from tablets and phones every day. A lack of responsive design means excluding a huge part of potential traffic.
Keep It Simple
One of the biggest problems for the budding web designer is the overwhelming urge to use all of the knowledge you’ve gained so far.
Cosmetic modifications are great, but they can also slow down a web page. Load speed is a huge contributing factor to both SEO and bounce rate.
In one study, a 3 second load time increased bounce rates by 34%.
One of the best design choices you can make is taking a careful look over everything on your page to ensure that nothing is going to hurt your rankings in the long run.
The website’s navigation should be intuitive. Put careful thought into any sidebars, menu options, or footer links.
If it seems confusing… change it.
WordPress design can be fickle and system resources are better used for things other than fancy carousels and tabs.
Observe the Fold
The fold is harder to manage these days, due to the enormous difference in screen sizes, but it’s still an important factor.
People spend most of their time at the top of a given page. This is what someone will see even if they bounce almost immediately so it’s important to give it a good “hook.”
For instance, if you’re selling your services as a consultant you should have a contact button above the fold. Even if the sales page is extremely long-form that initial button can be clicked by the impatient.
The first two full screens down a page are generally the most important. Make sure everything vital is above that point for the best results.
Get Started Now With Web Design Tips
As you can see, web design is a complicated process. The line between doing enough and doing too much is pretty thin.
Trial and error and studying your analytics is the only sure path to success on your own. It’s all about continued experience.
If you don’t have time to forge your own path, there’s another solution. Contact us and let’s see what we can do together!
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