The digital landscape is only growing bigger as the years go by, and with technology constantly advancing the necessity for a website has become even more pressing. Businesses and individuals alike can benefit from creating an online space that suits their needs and conveys the right message. It can be tricky to get started, however, and fine tune what is and isn’t needed for your site. Here are a few aspects to consider when creating your own website.
Understand the technology
You might have a degree in computer science, or you might have just bought your first laptop. Either way, the internet is now as much as part of real life as the rest of the world. Getting to grips with the ins and outs of website design can be tricky at first, but there are plenty of online resources to help you on your way. There are also some great ideas on how to play to your strengths and take advantage of internet algorithms so that your website can make itself known.
Check out your competition
What are you trying to convey or sell with your website? Before committing to a style, take the time to examine what your competition has achieved with their online spaces. Navigate your way around their sites and tune in to how you feel during the experience – does it flow smoothly? Do you understand the connections between pages? Are the links clear and easy to use? Discover what you do and don’t like about your competitors’ sites and apply what you learn to your own.
Consistency is key
When it comes to the visual side of your website, it’s imperative that you choose a branding style and stick to it. Having wildly disparate looking pages can confuse and irritate users who want a streamlined, attractive experience. This is why it is so important to decide upon your brand identity before setting up your website. Take the time to develop your look so as to have a solid understanding going forward that will promote
Aesthetics
The visual appeal of your website is crucial for its success. Sometimes a hugely well-known website can get away with less attractive web pages because the traffic is enough to sustain them and tampering with changes can occasionally threaten to topple a site from its position in online rankings. However, as a small website just gaining traction, the visual appeal of your online space is extremely important. People appreciate good looks and if you spend time deliberating over images and layouts you will be rewarded by an increased likelihood of returning visitors.
Interactivity
By making your site more interactive and user-friendly, you are also more likely to gain returning visitors. By encouraging responses to your content, you are promoting a better quality of interaction that can help boost your site’s rankings. Here are some elements to consider including on your website:
- Blog posts
- Comment sections
- Polls
- Quizzes
- Videos
Each of these encourages visitors to interact with your site and therefore spend more time experiencing it. It might sound simple, but these small changes can make a huge difference.
