In the digital era of 2022, a well designed website is more important for Hardscape Manufacturers than ever. In fact, almost 50% of people say a website plays a major role in judging a company’s credibility. A nice looking website might sound like a no brainer, but good website design is about more than just aesthetic. Can users determine what your company does in the first 4 seconds of visiting your homepage? Does it answer any preliminary questions a new prospective client might have? Are visitors more likely to fill out a contact form or call your phone? If you’re unsure about any of these questions, it might be time to revisit your website’s design or reach out to a digital marketing agency. While “best practices” can go pretty far down the rabbit hole of do-s and don’t-s, we’ve narrowed it down to a few essential website design tips to make sure your website isn’t turning visitors away.
Mobile First Design
Many moons ago, websites were built with the assumption that most visitors would be using desktop computers. But as mobile technology advanced, so did mobile web browsers. These days you can expect more than 50% of your website visitors to be using a mobile device, and this figure is likely to continue rising. Mobile users tend to interact with websites differently than desktop users, so it’s important to take this into consideration when working on your mobile website design.
Consider prioritizing scrolling over clicking for mobile users while ensuring your most critical elements are easy to find and navigate. Though responsive design is nothing new, taking a mobile-first approach and then scaling up, rather than down, can create a much better user experience and greatly reduce bounce rates.
Clear Calls to Action
A new user lands on your homepage after a quick google search. What should their next steps be? More than just a digital business card, your website should provide a clear path for visitors on what those next steps should be. If generating leads is a priority, consider making your contact info a primary focal point throughout the site. If your portfolio is a strong selling point, maybe add a “featured” section to your homepage or in a pre-footer. Make your calls to action stand out by using contrasting colors for important links or buttons. Try to avoid “dead ends” on pages by always providing the next stepping stone. Keep your website’s goals in mind when deciding on page structure.
Simplified Navigation
Hick’s Law states that the more choices an individual has, the longer they will take to make a decision. As someone who gets overwhelmed quite easily (I’m working on it), too many options can cause frustration for some users as they struggle to find the information they’re looking for. With a simplified navigation menu, you can rely on clear calls to action to guide users throughout your site and access more in-depth content. One simple trick is to utilize Parent pages to provide relevant links rather than trying to squeeze everything into your main navigation. This practice is especially useful for your mobile website design strategy.
Intuitive Web Forms
Some people just don’t like picking up the phone. In fact, you can actually expect most users to send a message rather than call, so your web forms should be designed with this in mind. When it comes to your web forms, less is more. The information you ask for should be a fair exchange for the content you’re offering, so try to limit the number of required fields to what’s absolutely necessary. Studies show eliminating a single form field can increase conversion by 50%.
Taking the time to implement these website design tips can bring dramatic improvements in performance, experience, and conversion rates. And if any of the above sounds daunting or a bit confusing, don’t fret. Though web design can be a complex topic, from mobile website design to form fill experience, having the right team to help you figure out those areas to improve can go a long way.
Whether it’s time for a completely new website or a simple design overhaul, we at Mascola Group have first hand experience in what it takes to transform your Hardscape manufacturing website into one of the most essential tools in your arsenal. Work with our creative digital marketing agency and our team can help you implement these essential website design tips to pave the way for a better user experience. Feel free to drop us a line.