What makes a good website? Let us show you the ways...
When you look up at the night sky in a very low-light environment, you will see that there are millions and millions of stars shining.
In fact, there are even more that can't be seen with your naked eye! You see, that's how many websites out there on the Internet today.
Maybe not as many but we know you already got the drift. The trouble with this thought is, how can yours even stand out when there are millions of websites out there?
How can you stand out against your competitors? How can your website be the moon in a sky full of stars? The simplest answer is to have the qualities of a good website.
But what makes a good website that would really make people and potential clients notice?
Fortunately all people won't visit every website available - they only want to check those who they think they need to check out.
And we can begin from there. So what makes a good website? There are multiple strategies out there.
But we at Real People Working will provide the Four Must Factors To Create A Great Website , shared by web design experts themselves (like ourselves) and we are also going to give you some examples on what to look at.
We will also provide some tips that you can take note of when you want your business website to shinbrighter than your competitors. Check these factors out.
1- Originality
A good website must provide a unique content. But it doesn't have to be just unique - it has to be appealing to readers, especially to your targeted viewers. Below are some tips on how to make your content better.
Mind Your Tone
Let's just say you have a surf shop. Do you want it to sound like a businessman? Or how about a 13-year old Kpop fan?
Of course, neither one! When you create your originalcontent, make sure to make it sound like how your readers want it to sound like.
Use terms and phrases that are relatable to your target market. However don't overdo it for you might end up sounding trying too hard.
Write With Your Own Words
There's nothing more original than using your own words and voice. When you provide blogs and updates from time to time, it's best if the content comes from your own knowledge.
To make it more effective, write it in a conversational manner so it would be easier for your readers to follow through.If there are difficult terms, don't forget to add some description.
That will definitely add more value to your content.
Don't Plagiarize. Ever
You can create original content from other sources. It's understood that, at times, it can be tempting to use other sources to organize thoughts. Using sources can help your organize your content structure better and help you type faster.
However, make sure that it doesn't sound nor worded up as near to where it came from. Please remember that plagiarism is illegal and Google doesn't tolerate that. If necessary, cite your sources; it's also a good way to attract backlinks.
There are tools online to help you check the originality of your content. Go and check them out.
2- Your Objectives
When creating a page, always ask yourself first with the question, "what is this aiming for?"
The objective is one of the most important of the Four Must Factors To Create A Great Website because it serves as the direction to what you want your business website to be and what are your goals to achieve having this website.
Make It Clear From The Beginning
Your homepage should serve as your main call-to-action, especially in the first few paragraphs. Viewers check your site because they want to know something about your
business.
If they get it right from the start, they will like your site immediately and will stay longer and consider what you're offering.
Let Them Know How To Reach You
In every page of your website, don't forget to place any kind of means to communicate with you. You can place your contact number on the page's footer or, if necessary, include a newsletter subscription box on all your site but keep it simple and subtle - place at least one in every page.
3- Visual Aesthetics
Love at first "site"? In more ways than one, this holds true when it comes to website. First impression is very important when it comes to web design so it's crucial to get your readers hooked with what they initially see.
Color Schemes and Images
To make your website look great, you need to consider the consistency of the colors you use. Choosing the colors is crucial as it helps in cementing your business's branding.
If you already have a business that's following a certain color pattern, then it's only right to use those colors. This also goes with images - only use images that have a direct connection with your business. If you have a coffee shop website, then use images that are connected with coffee.
Fonts
Fonts also affect your website immensely. Choosing the right font will help in attracting your target market. Do you have a straight-up business website? Use sharp, edged fonts to let the readers know you're taking your business seriously.
You have a clothes business targeted to ladies? Then use a cursive font. Either way, make sure the fonts are clear and big enough to read.
Arrangement
You wouldn't want your readers to get confused with where they should start reading and what to see first. Arrange images, headers, and content in such a way that it's easy for
your readers to track and digest everything you want to say.
The most fool-proof tip when it comes to arrangement is to increase the size of your headers and titles to signal the start of the content as well as to give out the general idea of what you're trying to say.
Remember: Looks Isn't Everything
Though a visually appealing website helps, it doesn't mean that this is the end-all, be-all of having an effective website, especially when it's used for business.
Why? Because a great design is not equivalent to sales. People don't visit your website to check out the design but rather they want something out of it - be it information, purchase, or subscription to name a few. A good website is built around this idea.
4- Ease Of Use
Your contents are original? Check. You have a clear objective? Check. Your website is visually appealing? Check. But when your website is hard to navigate, then it's an
automatic turn-off. Everything should be easy, from navigation to arrangement.
Understand Human Interaction By Their Devices
Make your readers more comfortable by making your menus and navigation between pages easy to find. Don't make your navigation texts cryptic, especially if these are internal links,
as these annoy most visitors.
Just like most websites, place your menu on the top of the page, just below the header.
A Mobile-Friendly Website
As we all know (and various researches can attest to this), most people nowadays use their mobile gadgets to check website more than a laptop or desktop.
And this is kind of frustrating because there are still some businesses don't make their websites mobile-friendly. If you haven't done this yet, the best time to make your website more mobile-friendly is now. There are a couple of softwares that can help you accomplish this fast.
Check If Your Search Feature Works
If your visitor can't find a specific topic, they are most likely to use the search bar. That's why it's important to check if your on-site search feature is working.
Nothing's more irritating for your site's visitors than a search with zero results. Place it somewhere that's easy to find - the side bar (either left or right) is the most strategic location for search bar.
Conclusion
So what makes a good website? As you can see, it's made up of a number of different factors combined into one. Always remember these four factors when still in the planning process of your website. If you're not sure on how to go with everything (as these sometimes can be a bit overwhelming), then you can always ask for a web designer's assistance.