Average visitor has a vague idea about what they call a great website design, but knows exactly what a bad website is when they stumble upon one. Also, definition of great website design also doesn’t stay consistent. On different websites, it could vary.
So, for the particular variety of website, the list of loved features could be different with less or more features. We have created our list considering all the different website types.
1. Speed
Less speed, less conversions.
Your website should be fast. As fast as you can get. An average visitor wants a website to load quickly, even under a second. They are impatient. Very few visitors can tolerate slow website and most leave before the website could totally load. So, you have missed your hard-earned visitor right on the door-step. They were maybe a second away from visiting your website and probably turning into a customer.
There are various way to maximize the speed of your website, though, most of those tweaks would be for you to do at backend. A visitor will face speed issues at only two places:
- Site and page load time
- Slow Animations.
Do everything you can to maintain speed on these fronts which are faced by the visitors and you are good to go in speed department.
2. Beauty
Visitors also likes it if the website looks great. The visual appeal is one of the elements which will imprint the site in visitor’s memory for a long time. Use graphics, animations, colors, banners, photos and design related features to enhance the visual appeal.
Main essentials to concern in this department are clean and clear design, beautiful and attractive pages, suitable and readable typography, spacing between elements, etc.
In short, visitors love a beautiful website.
3. Hassle-free
Suppose a great website design marks ten out of ten in its visual appeal. But fails at things like easy navigation, or confusing element placements. What will happen? You will have really high bounce rate with very little time onsite. It isn’t much different outcome than a slow website.
Visitors love great website design with easy navigation, clear directions, obvious routes and a web design that doesn’t make them think about it, but allows them use it naturally, easily on their first visit. Such a hassle-free website with simple and elegant design could win visitor’s hearts.
4. Technology Friendly
New technologies in website designing are making websites more beautiful, convenient and easy to access. And people require all of it if it makes their surfing more convenient. Technologies like responsive design, mobile friendly website, compatibility on various platforms, device and browser have already become mandatory. While emerging technologies enabling augmented reality, virtual fitting and sizes, etc. are making their ways into merging with websites in different forms. Big companies like google and Microsoft have even started to prioritize sites with mobile-friendliness and other technologically advanced features.
Technologies make things easy and useful, people love that and that’s why you have to have it on your website OR simply get ignored both by users and search engines.
5. Little Helps
The little features like comparison between two options, select and share tools, social sharing and emailing buttons, wish lists, favorites, bookmarking, etc. which saves time and increases convenience of the visitor are most welcome. Just like technological conveniences, little helpful features like this could also increase the positive user experience on site.
6. Quality Content
Content is king. You have read it multiple times. But, why? Because most of the times, the content of the website contains the valuable information any visitors has come to your website. That’s the precious sections where the user gives their best attention in the entire sites. Thus, you can understand the importance.
Provide them timesaving and quality content which has valuable information. Make understanding the content easier by catchy and appropriate titles, readable typography, updated and fresh content and removal of all the deadlinks and other elements of the website which aren’t necessary for any party any more.
7. Social Presence
In virtual space, social presence is as much important as you meeting people in person instead of just calling or texting. Your website’s social presence can give your visitors a convenient way to stay connected and updated with you. Maybe they can’t come on your site daily, but through updates on social sites, you are giving them reasons to come on your website frequently. Thus, visitors don’t need to check your site daily and yet can stay connected with you.
Social presence also allows you to build a community, which can a valuable asset for you in social marketing, word of mouth marketing and information assessment of your customer base and loyal followers. On social site, you are connected more directly and friendly and that’s a welcome addition on visitors’ side.
8. Trustworthy
Factor of trust is a vital element in conversion rates for most websites, especially the eCommerce websites. Even after adding all the aforementioned elements in your website design, if you haven’t gained the trust of your visitor, nothing can turn him into a customer. Visitors want a confirmation that they won’t get fooled, robbed or mistreated for anything.
To increase the trust of your website and brand, showcase the credible partnerships you have with companies (if you have), use the highest security parameters for your eCommerce website, provide previous customer testimonials showcase the security badges and certifications and display every other thing which can increase your credibility and trust in your visitors mind for them to understand you as a reliable source for the information/service they want.
9. Ability to Share their Views
This is most welcomed feature on eCommerce sites, product review sites, forums, social sites or websites where there is a convergence of visitors with various views. They love to share their views for feedback, research or entertainment purposes. They get replies from community members or other like-minded people and can enhance their understanding. If it is an art dedicated website, they would love to explain their own thoughts about the art piece. Thus, if your website type allows, add features which can allow them to share their own views.
10. Feedback
Sometimes, maybe a visitor is tempted to use your services but has questions in minds. Clarifying those questions could lead to a conversion. You should definitely approach them with the answer in your hand, if they ever get hit by a question.
Have a comment section, feedback form, contact information for them to reach out to you and reply with about their queries by answering comments on your website or on social sites, providing them live assistance, and email answering or replying them in other forms. It enhances the human touch and is a very strong way to create your trustworthy impression. They also understand that the site owners care for each and every visitor, which again increases their trust and the element of customer delight.
Most of the times, the visitors wouldn’t be able to tell which is a great website design, but they would, without a miss, know which is a bad one just by surfing the site for some time. So, if your website doesn’t distract, interrupt or frustrate the visitor and impresses or for the least, smoothly delivers what the visitors want without a single objection, you have got a great website design.