Web design this, web design that. If you have been on the Internet for the last 4-5 years, you must have heard the buzz surrounding web design.
But here’s the real reason behind this “web design” craze…
You can boost your visit-to-lead conversion rate by 400% by making tiny changes to your website. (Source: Forrester)
Who wouldn’t want that?
But what kind of changes?
Changes in web design that make your site more user-friendly.
Well…that’s what the facts say about a website that is created with ‘user’ first intent.
Before we explore user-friendliness, web design, and everything in between, let’s take a moment to understand…
What Is a User-Friendly Website?
User-friendly websites are those created for “users” instead of search engines. Such websites are easy to navigate and provide a complete roadmap of what to expect on the site.
Simply put, the visitor lands on a website and gets precisely what they want without the hassle of figuring out how to make this work.
You might wonder why you should take this “user-first” approach when you can create a website design that search engines like and rank at the top of the search engine.
Well…that goes hand in hand.
Let me tell you how and…
Why a User-Friendly Website Is Essential for a Business
If you want to boost your revenue, you have to rank high on the search engines. User-friendly websites make this possible for the business.
Here’s a fact: According to Kineses, 75% of people believe that a website’s credibility is based on design.
So, your website’s layout, page structure, navigation, image optimization, and compatibility all affect your business’s SEO. Hence, they directly help you generate more revenue.
Another massive advantage user-friendly websites have over those not optimized for users is brand perception and credibility.
Now that you know why your business desperately needs a user-friendly website, let’s dive in and learn how to design one.
Easy Fixes to Make Your Website User Friendly
If your business already owns a website, that’s amazing! Follow along as we witness how you can make your web design so silky that your visitors can’t take their eye off it.
Mobile Compatibility
It would be a grave injustice to discuss user-friendly web design without discussing mobile-friendliness; according to Hubspot, mobile devices generated 54.4% of global website traffic.
Easy Fix: Choose a responsive theme. Responsive themes adapt to the screen size of the user, hence providing optimal results on all devices.
If that is not your cup of tea, try hiring a web designer. You can easily find one with a simple Google search like “Web design in Los Angeles”—replace “Los Angeles” with your area or country.
Typography
The first thing that can make or break your website is your font.
Your font needs to be big and clear enough to be easily read by people with special needs.
Not everyone has the vision of an eagle.
So, you just have to be careful that your visitors do not squeeze their eyes to grasp the context of your webpage.
Easy Fix: There is no one-size-fits-all, but your font should be responsive to the screen size. Generally, it is 12-16pt on a mobile screen, 15-19pt on a tablet, and 16-20pt on a desktop screen.
Speed
The next one on the list is also one of the major ranking signals on Google and other search engines. Speed also plays a vital role in the perception of your brand.
Users expect your website to be fully loaded in 3 seconds. If you’re running an eCommerce store, take another second out, and you only have 2 seconds. Anything more than that, the users will leave.
Easy Fix: If you’re using a CMS like WordPress, several plugins can help you with your speed-related problems. However, if you are not sure about plugins, you can:
- Use next-gen image formats like WEBP or AVIF for images
- Apply lazy loading technology
- Minify CSS, HTML and Javascript files
- Limit redirect usage
Alternatively, put your site URL into Google Pagespeed Insights, and the tool will help you with the easy fixes.
Clear Call-to-actions
If a visitor lands on your website and is prompted with a solid clickable button with a vague CTA that doesn’t tell where it is taking the visitor, this is also a negative sign—or, as I like to say, a red flag.
Easy Fix: “Add to Cart,” “Pricing,” and “Book a Call” CTAs provide adequate information to determine whether users should click.
Colors
Another thing one must not overlook while designing a website is the psychology of colors. When asked about the most valuable visual element on a website, 39% chose color palette as their winner over other elements.
Our mind associates colors with emotions.
- Red is associated with excitement, energy, and love.
- Green is associated with quality, healing, and nature.
- Blue is tied with trust, peace, and loyalty.
- Similarly, every color represents a set of emotions.
And choosing a color that resonates with your brand is absolutely necessary.
Easy Fix: Instead of going for aesthetics, try going psychological. Choose the color palette that matches your brand vision.
Forms and Survey
You can’t pass one day without filling out some kind of form. It’s basically on every website nowadays. Sometimes, filling these out could be time-consuming. Having to choose the images of bicycles can be absurd at some point.
Easy Fix: Try to make the form as simple as possible for the user to complete. There is no need for multiple questions; it’s not an exam!
Conclusion
Creating a user-friendly web design is very easy if you put yourself in the shoes of a visitor.
As a simple rule, for a brief minute, forget that it’s your website and walk in as a visitor.
Are you satisfied with what you see?
Yes? Good, carry on.
No? Then, implement these easy fixes and make your website a visitor magnet!
Author Bio:
Emin S. is a marketing specialist and web/graphic designer at Los Angeles-based Amberd Design Studio. He enjoys writing content about the marketing and design industry.
