Looking to add a modern twist to your website, only to find yourself overwhelmed with all the options and advice out there? If so, you're not alone. It's easy to get caught up in the rhetoric around web design and forget what actually matters — your customers. It's your website's job to create an enjoyable user experience, add value, develop trust, and increase sales.
To set your business up for success, let's demystify these top web design misconceptions that somehow still exist.
1. Simple-looking web design is easy
X: When web design is simple and uncluttered, it looks easy - almost effortless. This is far from the truth; good web design takes more than a few clicks of a mouse to create. Simple web design can be as challenging to get right as complex web designs, but when done well, makes navigating easier for users and conveys sophistication - all with minimalistic aesthetics.
2. Put everything important above the fold
X: For some reason, people — including some web design professionals — still don’t recommend putting any CTA’s (call-to-actions) below the fold because they think that users hate scrolling. But everyone instinctively scrolls, especially on the myriad of mobile devices and screen sizes that now exist. This is why responsive design is so important. Multiple studies show CTA position isn’t a factor when it comes to click-through and conversion rates. So go ahead, be creative and experiment with content placements.
On a related note: Red is the best CTA button color (yes, really).
3. A new web design will solve your conversion rate problems
X: Expecting a new web design to drastically increase your conversion rate can be overly optimistic - there are plenty of other factors that come into play. Conversion rate optimization (CRO) depends on multiple elements working together: easy navigation, clear copy, search engine results metadata (and their relevance to online ads), good Core Web Vital scores. It’s important to keep these questions in mind when designing your website. A web design may be the first step – but it's far from the only one.
4. The more features, the better
X: Too many features on a website wastes design time, resources, and budget. An effective web design should focus on achieving an intuitive user experience for your audience to increase engagement, leads, and sales. Pare down your web content to the most important components and don't be afraid to trim anything that isn't essential. Users won't respond positively to an overcrowded site no matter how pretty or clever a piece of art or copy block happens to be.
5. White space is wasted space
X: White space can provide your web design with breathing room and help keep it free of clutter. It also speeds up user interaction because it provides your audience with fewer choices and highlights CTAs. By using white space, you can actually guide users through a journey and even encourage them to take a conversion path, meaning an easier journey for your customers and a better outcome for your business.
6. All agencies use the same techniques and tools
X: Agency web designers and developers all bring something special to the table; their experience, background, and individual approach often determine how a project is delivered. Creative Agencies have an eye for impactful visuals while Advertising Agencies prioritize messaging with maximum ad effect. Whereas Digital Agencies specialize in building experiences that support marketing goals.
There are lots of different approaches to web design, so take your time to choose the partner that best suits your needs. Overcoming misconceptions and choosing the right platform for your site is the first step towards creating a website visitors will love.
If you’re feeling lost in all the web design madness, don't hesitate to reach out and give us a call to learn more about how we can help create an exceptional website your customers won't forget!