What is web design?
Web design is the process of planning, conceptualising, and organising content for use on the internet. Today, website design extends beyond aesthetics to include the overall functionality of the website. Web design also includes the creation of web apps, mobile apps, and user interfaces.
Did you know that web design has a significant impact on your ranking in search engines like Google? This article will provide you with useful information on how to create a website that not only looks good but also functions properly and ranks well in search engines.
Web Design Elements
When designing a website, it is critical to consider both the site's appearance and functionality. Integrating these elements will improve the site's overall usability and performance. The usability of your site includes elements such as an easy-to-navigate interface, appropriate use of graphics and images, well-written and well-placed text, and a colour scheme. The performance of your website refers to its speed, ranking, searchability, and ability to capture your target audience.
1) Visual Components
Here is a quick rundown of the elements you should think about when designing your website to ensure everything works properly. Each section will give you pointers and tricks to get you started.
• Written version
Fundamentally, the appearance and text of your website go hand in hand. It is critical that your content writers and designers collaborate to create a cohesive design with balanced elements. Focus on creating text chunks (via text blocks) to complement your graphics and images.
• Fonts
Choose a font that complements the rest of your design. Fonts should complement your colour scheme, graphics, and images and should help to strengthen the overall tone of your website. Canva's Font Combinator, for example, can assist you in finding the perfect match for your font.
• Colours
When designing a website, one of the most important factors to consider is color. Keep in mind that there are many misconceptions about colour psychology, and it's more important to focus on colours that complement your overall website design and tone. Match your colour scheme to your brand and the messages you want to send to your target audience.
• Layout
The way you organise your content will have a significant impact on the usability and functionality of your site. There are no specific rules to follow when selecting a layout, but there are a few key principles to remember. Consider your target audience's needs and avoid using an overstimulating layout that may detract.
• Shapes
The use of graphic elements in web design can help to seamlessly integrate text and images, as well as improve the overall appearance of the site. Combining beautiful colours and shapes can help direct your site's visitors' attention and contribute to the overall flow of your site.
• Spacing
Spacing is an important factor in creating visually appealing and easy-to-navigate websites. Every element in your design will include spacing in some way. Appropriate whitespace utilisation is critical in creating a design that perfectly balances text, photos, and graphics. Keeping your spacing consistent can make it easier for your users to navigate your website. The concept of whitespace is unquestionably important to modern web designers.
2) Elemental Functions
These functional elements must be considered when designing your website. A properly functioning website is critical for ranking high in search engines and providing your users with the best possible experience.
• Navigation
The navigation of your website is one of the most important factors in determining whether it is functioning properly. Depending on your audience, your navigation can serve a variety of functions, including assisting first-time visitors in discovering what your site has to offer, providing easy access to your pages for returning visitors, and improving the overall experience of all visitors. Check out these best practices for more navigation advice.
• Animations
There are numerous web animation techniques that can help your design capture the attention of your visitors and allow them to interact with your site by providing feedback. Adding "like" buttons or forms, for example, can keep your site's visitors interested. To avoid developer intervention, keep your animations simple if you are new to web design.
• Speed
Nobody enjoys a slow website. Waiting more than a few seconds for a page to load can quickly discourage a visitor from staying or returning to your site. No matter how beautiful your site is, if it does not load quickly, it will not perform well in search (i.e., it will not rank highly on Google).
• Structure of the website
The structure of a website is important for both the user experience (UX) and search engine optimization (SEO). Your users should be able to navigate your website with ease and without encountering any structural issues. If users are getting lost while navigating your site, chances are "crawlers" are as well. A crawler (or bot) is a programme that searches your website and determines its functionality. Poor navigation can have a negative impact on the user experience and site ranking.
• Compatibility across browsers and devices
A great design should be visually appealing on all devices and browsers (yes, even Internet Explorer). If you are starting from scratch, we recommend using a cross-browser testing tool to make this time-consuming process go faster and more efficiently.
Why is less more when it comes to your company website?
The most common mistake we see small business owners make with their websites—and the one we spend the most time encouraging them to avoid—is making them too complicated. If you're an expert in your field, have a wide range of fantastic products, or have a dozen different ways for people to give you money, the temptation is to cover them all.
After all, if you give customers a lot of options, there is a better chance they'll find something that appeals to them among all the other options. Right?
Every page should only have one call to action. Many businesses do not even have one on their homepage; they are cluttered with information, and there is no indication of what the visitor's desired next action or what the visitor's desired next action is. If you know what action you want your visitor to take, you'll know what information to remove from the page because it's distracting and irrelevant to the process of encouraging that next action.
Explore Web Development
The Internet is here to stay, and it is evolving to meet the needs of its users. Web developers are at the forefront of these advancements and developments; web development can be found everywhere, from this blog to your favourite social network to the apps on your phone.
As a result, investing time in learning about coding and programming is worthwhile in order to make your business website the best it can be—for you and your customers. If you require any additional services or have any questions, please contact DesignLab.
