Flashback to the ‘90s: your hair is a little bigger, your clothes are a little funkier, and your website is just getting its start. It’s the beginning of the technology age, and you are just getting your footing on the World Wide Web.
Now, fast forward to 2016. Your hair has changed, you’re a little more fashionable, and hopefully your website has been modernized. But, if you’re one of the many service professionals who have been hesitant to update your website, we want to lay out some simple do’s and don’t’s of website design.
1. Don’t over-complicate. Do make it simpler.
All of our web designers at FMG Suite have experience designing websites that are clean, easy to read, and simply beautiful. It can be easy to fall into the trap of “more is better,” but when it comes to web design, this isn’t the case. Our Exclusive Themes often feature minimal (but relevant) text, high-quality images, and navigable links. Rather than overwhelm your visitor, guide them to where you want them to go.
2. Don’t write a novel. Do make scanning easy.
After spending months of your time and energy crafting your website, you are probably hoping that visitors are reading every single word. Because of this, you may be tempted to write long, lengthy paragraphs about your practice. While these sections are full of great information, generally visitors are just going to be scanning the content. Instead, add headers, subheads, and white space in between important ideas. Save the extended prose for your autobiography.
3. Don’t think solely about computers. Do make a mobile-responsive site.
While the rise of website domination originated on the PC, it is now being taken over by mobile traffic. According to Smart Insights, 2014 was the first year that mobile traffic surpassed computer traffic. This trend repeated itself in 2015, and will in 2016, as well. This is why we work hard to make all our sites mobile-responsive, and why we encourage all service professionals to do the same. P.S.: Check out our Marketing Tip on the difference between mobile-friendly and mobile-responsive.
4. Don’t let your visitors get lost. Do call them to action.
We’ve all been sucked into the black hole of the Internet: watch one video and two hours later you’ve watched every recommended video on YouTube. The truth is, the Internet is full of information and it is easy to lose track of what you set out to do.
Make it easy for your visitors to make an appointment, follow you on social media, or read your latest blog article by providing an abundance of form fills and social buttons. We suggest having a “Contact Us” option on every page of your website. Keep the forms straight-forward, including name, email, and phone number, and your guests will be more likely to fill it out.
Your overalls and punk rock 90s outfits are tucked away in the back of the closet. And hopefully, your first website is forgotten along with them. These four simple do’s and don’t’s will help guide you in making your website as powerful and user-friendly as possible.