Web Design for business. Virginia Web Design Company

Web design can say a lot about how you view your business. Moreover, many business owners miss tremendous opportunities to brand their website design. In other words, your business web design reflects you and is your first online impression on prospective customers.

Out with the old (website) and in with the new

First impressions are everything. For example, a customer can quickly distinguish between an old, outdated-looking website and a new, full-screen, mobile-ready site.

Specifically, many websites designed +5 years ago are the size of postcards when viewed on widescreen monitors. Furthermore, an old website looks clunky and obsolete and poorly reflects your business. Therefore, this is not the impression you want people to have of your business; instead, they should perceive you as you perceive yourself. For instance, your website should reflect that message if you are a fast, agile, and energetic business. On the other hand, if you are a serious, experienced professional, this is the image you want to portray.

Treat your website with respect.

Updating and refreshing your website tells returning visitors and customers you care about your business. Moreover, it shows you care about your customers. Think about it this way: There is always that one house on the block whose yard is never maintained. Therefore, let your online audience know you care; stay on top of your website. Keep things fresh with new articles, images, and photos.

It can be challenging for small business owners to keep up with their website’s day-to-day updates and management. If this is you, consult a web professional about website maintenance packages to perform these updates. Read what customers say about our web maintenance services on Google Reviews.

Being a small business does not mean having a small website.

Nothing could be further from the truth. A small business website can be your most valuable marketing asset. Every page on your website is an opportunity to share information about your business. Whether a kitchen table business or a large office with several employees, a professional website allows you to compete against everyone online. A custom website design levels the playing field.

Look beyond local borders for web design inspiration.

Business owners often look to the same or similar local websites for inspiration. However, it is best to look for inspiration at business websites in other states and countries. Browse business websites in Great Britain, Brazil, the Netherlands, and worldwide. Commarts.com is one of our favorite places to see out-of-the-box design concepts from all over the world. Depending on your type of business, be open-minded about which website design approach is best for you and your business.

Web design for mobile is a must-have

People are using their phones 24/7. If your website is not mobile-ready, it will impact your business in a big way in Google searches. The Google search engine maintains a separate search index for mobile searching. Today, it is imperative for a business website to be mobile-friendly.

Web design for speed as a success factor

Slow-loading websites result in visitors leaving. Therefore, your web design should optimize your images and graphics to load fast. Above all, intelligent web design professionals have several tools to optimize your pages to load quickly.

Your website message must be clear and concise.

First, your home page gets found. There is a 3-second window of opportunity to capture their attention. People search for products or services, so you best convert their curiosity into an action resulting in a sale, inquiry, or phone call. People want to find things fast. I have found that breaking up content and messaging into bite-sized nuggets of information helps guide users to areas of interest.

Don’t muddle your message. Get busy selling widgets, and show them where to go if you sell gadgets. Use taglines and graphics to make products and information easy to find. Don’t make the mistake of burying your pages under drop-down navigation or hard-to-see links. Instead, opt for mega-menus.

Keep the gold above the fold. The term ‘above the fold’ applies to the upper section of your website that is not scrollable.

Great design means ‘Great Design’ in any form.

Excellent website design instantly communicates a message and brand. Think about the method you see every day.

Billboards
Vehicle graphics
Business cards
Magazines
Television advertisements
Online advertisements
Video ads online
Direct mail
Restaurant menus
Architectural design
Fashion design
Logo design
Typography design
Animation design
Product and product packaging graphics
Store-front signs, and the list goes on.

There is always an excellent web design method, no matter your medium. Design affects our emotions, both outright and subliminally.

Five of the essential components in web design

1. COLOR – Consider the color psychology of web design. People decide whether they like a website in 3 seconds or less, affecting their perception of you and your business. Avoid applying your personal color preferences and consider appropriate websafe color choices.

2. NAVIGATION – Avoid mystery meat navigation. Keep menus well-defined on your website, not hidden behind fancy effects and mystery icons.

3. LAYOUT – A website will display differently over many devices. Avoid designing your website design for one device. People will visit your website on ide screens, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. Your website will display visual differences in browsers and computer screens differently on all of the above.

4. CONTENT – Write content to describe your business briefly. Website content must communicate your core business message. Write relevant content that supports your business goals.

5. PRE-PLAN SEO—Create a top-down plan for your page file structure. Try to craft file names for your web pages that match keywords or content. Avoid nesting pages. Keep all web page content two clicks deep.

Also, see The WOW Factor in Web Design.