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7 Elements of a Well-Designed Website

a man and a woman are working on a well-designed website
Surbhi Sharma
Surbhi Sharma

We love to go to places such as New York City so that we can window shop. Well, not us or you specifically, but some theoretical, amorphous people. Having a well-built website is functionally very similar to the visual appeal some of these brick and mortar stores have. It serves as the online face of your brand and can make or break your success. Here are seven elements of a well-built website that we always recommend to clients with the statistics we also cite.

Responsive Design

Responsive designs will allow your site to look and function well on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and the most important: mobile devices. Over 60% of online traffic is coming from mobile devices and having a website that’s responsive on other devices besides desktop is no longer optional – it’s essential.

Supporting Data:

  • 57% of users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site (Source: Sweor).

Fast Loading Speed

Loading speed is an aspect of your site most likely to impact SEO. However, a slow site can make a lot of people upset. So much to the point that they just leave your site and take no further actions. This leads to an increase of bounce rates.

Supporting Data:

  • 53% of mobile site visitors leave a page that takes longer than three seconds to load (Source: Think with Google).
  • A 1-second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions (Source: Neil Patel).

User-Friendly Navigation

Easy navigation helps people find their way to the information they need. Making this navigation quick, easy, and efficiently is what makes people stay on the site. A well-structured website with clear nav menus and a logical flow can enhance conversion and user experience.

Supporting Data:

  • 94% of people say easy navigation is the most important feature of a website (Source: Clutch).

High-Quality Content

Content is king and it always will be. When it comes to engaging and retaining visitors content is king here too. High-quality, relevant, and informative content not only builds authority for your brand, but it also allows you to share free knowledge to your audience.

Supporting Data:

  • Companies that blog receive 97% more links to their website (Source: HubSpot).

Strong Security Measures

With the wave of issues pertaining to data security and information privacy, website security is crucial when thinking about your visitors. Implementing HTTPS, regularly updating software, and using strong passwords are essential practices. Paired alongside content and security being more on the backend, a secure website builds trust with your audience.

Supporting Data:

  • 85% of people won’t browse a website if it’s not secure (Source: GlobalSign).

Effective Call-to-Action (CTA)

Whatever the desired goal is of your website, make sure your site’s design, logic, and buttons allow and guide visitors toward making these specific actions. Effective CTAs are clear, compelling, and strategically placed to convert visitors into customers.

Supporting Data:

  • Adding CTAs to your Facebook page can increase click-through rates by 285% (Source: AdRoll).

SEO Optimization

Cool and visually appealing websites are awesome, we love them. However, some designers and teams neglect an important aspect: Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is an essential aspect of optimizing your website for search engines. Optimizing includes using relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and building backlinks. A well-optimized site will rank higher in search results, driving more organic traffic.

Supporting Data:

  • 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine (Source: BrightEdge).

Takeaways

A well-constructed website is a testament of what you can build as a company. It’s also the digital face or mask you tend to wear when reaching out on digital channels. However, building a site that includes multiple elements working together such as responsive design, fast loading speeds, and user-friendly navigation. Each component plays its own role in providing unrivaled UX and achieving your online goals. By paying attention to these seven elements, you can create a website that not only attracts visitors but also converts them into loyal customers.