Website Design Tip 1:
Website Load Time and Page Speed Are King
The most important web design standards is super-fast load time. Fast loading times have been essential factors in user experience and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO – the process of writing well written content that is engaging and interesting so you rank higher in google) for years, and it continues to be a top priority for websites that want to rank well and convert better.
Studies say that more than half of internet users expect a website to load fast and no more than two seconds after clicking a link. If it takes more than three seconds to load your site, your visitors most likely will leave, and it’s not likely they’ll be back. Website performance has a direct impact on a companies bottom line.
You might have heard the term “location, location, location” from your real estate agents when looking for investment properties. At Ocean City Marketing we focus on “conversion, conversion, conversions.” Website loading times are a standard metric we look at to ensure good user experience.
Website Design Tip 2:
Chatbots Become Human-like
Chatbots are another feature that has been popular for a few years and will continue to be relevant in 2021. As artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to get more sophisticated, we expect to see chatbots become the norm for simple customer service requests and “personal shopping.” Facebook have their own basic chatbot that you can also program with standard and related replies when the customer messages. For example you could have a customer message asking when you are open and your chatbot can recognise the words within the message and reply back with the opening times.
Website Design Tip 3:
Interactivity
Adding interactive sections to your website is a great way to provide value for visitors, get them to engage with your website, and learn more about them.
Suppose you were an estate agent and added a mortgage calculator to your website. You’re offering value to your visitors while also learning more about them based on the data being inputted into your calculator.
Examples of interactive marketing include:
- Assessments like quizzes.
- Polls and surveys.
- Calculators.
- Contests.
Website Design Tip 4:
Minimalism (Flat Design)
Minimalism, sometimes called “flat design” isn’t a new trend in web design. Still, it has typically been associated with a lot of white space (think Apple.) In 2021, we expect people will be experimenting with colorful minimalism. It doesn’t have to be all white to be minimalist.
A great example of a site that does colorful minimalism well is wordpress Design. Each page of their website features a bold background color with clean text and minimal design elements to create an attention-grabbing and easy-on-the-eyes page. They’re proof that minimalism doesn’t have to be stark or boring.
Website Design Tip 5
Bold Colour
Colourful minimalism goes hand-in-hand with one of 2021’s most prominent web design trends: colour! Bold, bright, saturated colours help your brand stand out from the soft neutrals that many companies have chosen over the past few years.
Website Design Tip 6
Thumb-Friendly Mobile Navigation
Responsive design isn’t an option anymore. Your site should work well and be easy to use on mobile devices. But in 2021, web design will continue to be focused on creating websites that are thumb-friendly.
What exactly is “thumb-friendly”?
We’re talking about the way we use our phones. If you’re reading this on your phone right now, look at how you’re holding it. Your fingers are probably wrapped around the back of your phone (or around a phone grip), leaving your thumb to do all the work. You probably look like this.
Website Design Tip 7:
Gradients
Gradients are a long time trend that has evolved from subtle colour overlays to eye-catching backgrounds.
Gradients can be used to add depth, serve as a striking background, or subtly to add texture to an illustration. We increasingly see it used in bigger and bolder typography. This trend has staying power. We’re excited to see the continual evolution of its use on websites.
Website Design Tip 8
Mobile First Design
We mentioned that mobile-friendly web design isn’t optional anymore. Your site should be designed with mobile in mind first. Mobile searches overtook desktop searches way back in 2015. Since the beginning of 2017, mobile traffic has accounted for nearly half of all web traffic worldwide. More than good user experience, Google has ranked mobile-friendly sites more favorably since 2018. Yep, mobile-first design is another drop in your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Arsenal