An effective website is up to date, easy to use and informative. If users find your site is slow, outdated or difficult to browse, they’ll go elsewhere. In this guide, we’ve listed ten key elements for what makes an effective website.
1. Logical layouts
The best websites have logical, simple and well-spaced layouts. An overly-complicated or cluttered site can make it difficult for visitors to quickly find the information they need and frustrated prospects won’t buy. A grid-based layout is ideal as it helps to structure and organise content, and well-balanced, ordered pages are aesthetically pleasing.
2. High quality imagery
High quality, original images will attract attention and enhance your reputation. Optimising image sizes will help load your site faster and giving every image a file name using key words will help to boost your site’s ranking.
3. Simple navigation
A successful website is easy to navigate and helps users to find what they need with very little effort. Good navigation is intuitive, simple to understand and consistent throughout the site.
4. Fast loading pages
Site speed should be a priority as people want to access information as quickly as possible. When pages take longer than a few seconds to load, visitors won’t wait, they’ll go elsewhere instead. Slow loading pages will affect your rankings too.
5. Clear calls to action
A call to action (CTA) is text or a button that prompts your visitors to do something specific, such as buy a product, book an appointment, subscribe to your newsletter and so on. You should have a single, clear CTA on every page of your site and it should respond instantly.
6. Compelling, optimised content
Well-written, relevant content is important for both customers and search engines. Google prioritises pages with information that’s clear, useful and authentic and features appropriate keywords. Keywords describe what your content is about, and are the words and phrases people enter into search engines.
7. Establish credibility
Have an ‘About Us’ page to show visitors there are real people behind your business. Include testimonials and case studies with names and photographs where possible. Also, logos of companies you work with or organisations you belong to will instill confidence and encourage people to buy from you.
8. Work well on all devices
Websites should be easily viewed with readable text on any screen, whether that’s a smartphone or a desktop computer.
9. Prove the website is secure
If a website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, it will often deter visitors who want to be sure their personal information is secure. Search engines are cracking down on websites which are perceived to be unsafe. It’s also important that your software is regularly updated.
10. Clear contact details
Your contact details should be displayed prominently, and include your address to boost local SEO. If you want your website to be successful it’s a good idea to offer different ways for people to connect with you, such as by phone, email, live chat and social media.
A professional, optimised website will win you more business
At Two Lizards we provide results-driven web design and SEO services for all kinds of companies in London, Surrey and Sussex. If you want to succeed online with a highly effective website, please get in touch. You can email or call us on 01306 621001.