5 Reasons Why Web Design Is Important
Let’s understand why web design is important to your business. This way you can evaluate and improve your website, optimizing its role as your entry-level salesperson.
A Common Mistake
When you are growing your business, concern with web design can seem like a low priority. You may think, “Is web design really that important?” This is understandable because you care about delivering quality services — not building a website.
In fact, web design impacts the utility of your website. It helps search engines find you and it can turn leads into customers. It’s the difference between attracting clients that bring revenue or permanently driving prospects away.
Benefits of Good Web Design
Think about your own online experience. For example, you may have landed on a site and wondered if the company is trustworthy and well-organized. You may have judged the quality of its work based on its outward appearance. You may even have wondered if the location is still open in some cases.
A thoughtfully designed website answers all those questions and creates a pleasant, welcoming experience for potential customers.
Get a website that converts. Use this strategy workbook for the best results!
Download your Step-by-Step Web Strategy Starter here.
The Top 5 Reasons Why Web Design Is Important
1. Your website creates the first impression.
Customers form their first impression of your company based on your website. Research shows that visitors make a snap judgment in under a second. People take less than 50 milliseconds to decide what they think about your business, so you need to incorporate the essentials of good web design. Outdated, unattractive, or slow-loading pages create an instant negative impression. A well-designed website starts every relationship on the right foot.
2. Your website can build trust with these trust factors.
Your prospective clients are looking for a brand they can trust. “Trust factors” is an industry term for an element that helps people gauge whether your site and company are safe, reliable, and trustworthy. Here are trust factors you could include:
- A speedy website
- Appropriate images
- Design choices (color, typography, layout)
- Helpful content
- Certifications
- License numbers
- Reviews
- Recent updates
3. Quality web design distinguishes you from the competition.
Your website is an opportunity to showcase your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). A USP is a thing that makes your business stand out from the rest of your industry. For example, it could be customer service, additional products or services, price, or overall value. Expert web design and copywriting clarify why your company rises above the competition and makes it obvious why we want to engage with you. As a result, visitors can immediately understand how you are unique.
4. A well-designed site appeals to Google search.
If you want your business to be found on Google, the design of your website is important. Good web design includes proper heading structures, well-named images, and behind-the-scenes tags, all of which speak “robot” well. Yes, design can be very practical!
Other search-friendly technical aspects of web design include serving “fast” images for website speed and making the design easy to use on mobile devices.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a term used to describe a site optimized for search engine algorithms. These algorithms are constantly adjusted and tweaked to weigh factors more heavily in favor of what website visitors prefer. That means the qualities that improve your SEO are also attractive to human customers!
For example, Google rewards mobile-friendly websites and sites with a clear structure because people prefer well-organized websites they can easily navigate using their phones. So, web design is important for both being found in search and convincing your leads to enter your sales process.
5. Visitors happy with their website experience are more likely to buy.
Your website is often a vital part of your customer’s buying journey. It’s where they get to know you and understand your offer. Good user experience in web design creates a positive feeling in visitors and motivates them to become your customer. Satisfied website users are more likely to stay on your website longer, engage with your content, learn more about your products or services, and eventually become clients.
There is a whole field of study around this called User Experience design (UX). Thousands of marketers obsess about this stuff and there’s a reason for it. Their research shows that website users want simple navigation with clear signs that help them solve their problems quickly. If this happens, they are more likely to take the action you would like. Action may take the form of a calling you, sending a form, buying a product online, or visiting your physical store.
Design Pulls It All Together
An effective design pulls your website together. It packages your content, your tone, your look and style, search optimization goals, and your usefulness to visitors. Your website doesn’t need to be fancy, but it must be good. Ignore the design of your site, and you might turn people away from your great business.
Design is so much more than looking cool. It does the heavy lifting. It brings the right people to your doorstep and helps them make the decision to engage your services.
Get a website that converts. Use this strategy workbook for the best results!
Download your Step-by-Step Web Strategy Starter here.
Find the Right Fit for Your Web Design Project
Now you know why web design is important to your business and you might be wondering what’s next. If this stuff is not your strength, stick to what you do best and put your sales tool in the hands of an experienced web designer. A web designer who understands what your clients and Google are looking for is essential for being found in search and converting visitors to customers.
Talk to web designers to determine which one is the best match for your goals and budget. Large web companies often have a system that may or may not match your goals. Small web agencies can personalize their services to your business plans. Book a call with mhcDesign here, and find out if we are a good match for you.