22 Sep
Key Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Website Design
Choosing the right website design is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your business. Your website isn’t just an online brochure—it’s your digital storefront, your marketing tool, and a critical part of your customer experience. So, it’s important to get it right.
But with so many options out there, how do you know which design is the best for your business? This simple guide will walk you through the key factors to consider when selecting a website design that will help you grow and succeed online.
1. Define Your Business Goals
Before you start looking at designs, take a step back and think about your business goals. What do you need your website to do for your business? Whether you want to increase sales, capture leads, or simply showcase your services, your website design should support these objectives.
Ask yourself:
- What is the main purpose of your website? (e.g., selling products, promoting services, getting contact details)
- What actions do you want visitors to take? (e.g., making a purchase, booking a consultation, signing up for a newsletter)
- What is the most important message you want to convey to visitors?
Knowing what you need your website to do will help guide the design process and ensure your website is built with purpose.
2. Know Your Audience
Your website needs to speak to your target audience. The design should be tailored to appeal to the people you want to attract, whether they are busy professionals, young shoppers, or homeowners looking for local services.
Consider the following:
- Who is your ideal customer? What do they care about, and what problems are they trying to solve?
- What kind of experience would resonate with them? Do they want something sleek and modern, or are they looking for a professional, trustworthy design?
- What content do they want? Think about the type of information your audience is likely to seek, such as service details, pricing, or case studies.
Understanding your audience will help you create a website that speaks directly to their needs, leading to more engagement and conversions.
3. Choose Between Custom and Template Design
When it comes to website design, you have two main options: custom design or template design.
- Custom Design: Custom-built websites are unique, giving you the flexibility to create something specifically tailored to your business needs and goals. This option often comes with a higher price tag and longer development time but offers complete control over the look and feel of your site.
- Template Design: Templates are pre-designed website layouts that you can customise to fit your business. They’re faster and more affordable to implement, but they may lack the personal touch of a fully custom design. However, templates can still be a great option if you need a simple, professional website quickly.
At Dune Digital, we help businesses like yours determine whether a custom design or a template-based approach is best suited for your budget and needs.
4. Focus on User Experience (UX)
User Experience (UX) is critical to the success of your website. If your website is difficult to use, visitors won’t stick around. A well-designed website is easy to navigate, loads quickly, and provides the information users need in a simple, intuitive way.
Key elements to focus on:
- Navigation: Make it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for. A well-organised menu and clear pathways through your website will keep users engaged.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: Since over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, your website needs to be responsive, meaning it adapts to different screen sizes.
- Page Speed: A website that loads quickly is essential for retaining visitors. Slow websites lead to high bounce rates, which can hurt your business.
A great user experience encourages visitors to stay longer on your site, improving your chances of converting them into customers.
5. Prioritise Branding Consistency
Your website should reflect your brand identity. This includes your company’s values, voice, and personality, which should be consistent across all marketing channels.
Things to consider:
- Colour Scheme: Choose colours that match your brand’s personality and evoke the right emotions. For example, blue can convey trust, while green is often associated with eco-friendly or health-related businesses.
- Typography: Pick fonts that are easy to read and align with your brand’s tone. Too many fonts can make the design feel chaotic.
- Imagery: Use high-quality images that reflect your business and resonate with your target audience.
A strong, cohesive brand presence on your website helps build trust and recognition with your audience.
6. Make It SEO-Friendly
A great website is only useful if people can find it. That’s where Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) comes in. A website that is SEO-friendly will rank higher in search engine results, bringing in more organic traffic.
Here are a few tips:
- Optimise Your Content: Use relevant keywords that your potential customers are likely to search for, and make sure your content is helpful and easy to read.
- Image Optimisation: Large images can slow down your website, so make sure they’re the right size and properly compressed.
- Mobile Optimisation: Since Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites, it’s important to ensure your site performs well on both desktop and mobile devices.
With SEO, you’re not just designing a website—you’re creating a tool that helps your business show up in front of the people who are looking for it.
7. Simplicity and Clarity
In the world of website design, less is often more. A clean, simple website makes it easier for your visitors to focus on what’s important: your products, services, and calls to action.
Here are some best practices:
- Minimalist Design: Keep things simple and uncluttered. Too many elements can confuse or overwhelm visitors.
- Clear Calls to Action (CTAs): Make it easy for visitors to take action, whether it’s contacting you, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase.
- Content Structure: Organise content into easily scannable sections using headings, bullet points, and visuals. This makes it easier for users to find what they need quickly.
A simple, clear design enhances user experience, keeps visitors engaged, and drives conversions.
8. Plan for Future Growth
As your business grows, so should your website. When choosing your design, think ahead about how easy it will be to add new pages, products, or features.
- Scalability: Choose a design and platform that can handle future expansion without requiring a complete redesign.
- Ongoing Updates: Plan for easy updates, whether it’s adding new content, updating services, or adjusting for new business goals.
A website that grows with your business ensures you won’t have to start from scratch down the line.
9. Invest in Reliable Hosting and Support
A great website needs reliable hosting. If your website crashes or slows down, it can hurt your business reputation. Be sure to choose a trusted hosting provider that offers excellent support and performance.
At Dune Digital, we ensure your website is hosted on a reliable platform, and we offer ongoing support so that your website remains secure, fast, and functional at all times.
10. Don’t Forget About Maintenance
A website isn’t a one-time project. It requires ongoing maintenance to ensure it stays secure, performs well, and remains up-to-date. Regular updates, security patches, and fresh content are all important for keeping your website running smoothly.
We offer comprehensive website maintenance packages to help keep your site in top shape long after it’s launched.
Speak to an expert
Choosing the right website design is crucial for your business’s online success. By focusing on your goals, audience, and brand identity, you can create a website that not only looks great but also drives results.
At Dune Digital, we specialise in helping businesses design websites that are both functional and visually appealing. Whether you’re looking for a custom-built site or need help navigating the best design approach, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
