10 Jan The Importance of Website Design and Development

Nearly half of users – 48%! – say that if a business has an unresponsive site, they take it as an indication that the business doesn’t care. Your website should reflect your business philosophy. It should support you in growing revenues and attracting new customers while reinforcing your credibility and expertise. Why are websites so important now? Why do people care so much about how they look and if they work properly? We’re going to review the importance of website design and development and how it can benefit your business.

First impressions

“They” say not to judge a book by its cover. Ignore this advice. Your website is the digital face of your business, and it’s where web users (which, in the 21st century, means everyone) go to learn about you. Consider a company that offers excellent customer service and operates a somewhat successful business. They can’t show others their success as well as they’d like to and they’re not convinced it’s necessary since they’ve operated via word-of-mouth for years.

When people arrive at their website, or find that there is no website at all, it leaves a bad first impression. The 48% of users who think you don’t care have already moved on to search your competitors and you’ve lost business. A bad first impression can cost you customers, which is why it’s crucial to grab prospects the second they land on your site. This hypothetical business owner can rely on customers to spread wonderful testimonials about them, or they can take control of their own image.

Stand out, excel, and compete

You want to stand out among your competitors so customers will want to work with you. An unresponsive site or one that looks outdated will sap your chances with savvy new customers. Customers want to work with companies that can demonstrate their success and make it easy for them to find what they’re looking for. Your website design is the attracting element and you want to draw users in so they can learn more about your company and decide if you have what they need. If you stand out and excel on your website, you can compete.

Company credibility

A sharp, updated website helps to establish your credibility as a business. It’s usually clear if you’ve invested time, energy, and money into your site. Customers will notice that, too. It’s easy to distinguish outdated sites from advanced ones. They usually have text thrown all over the place (usually too much of it) and don’t contain appealing images or buttons that will inspire a customer to act. Ordinary websites don’t help a company and can hurt you in the long run. A professional and strong website demonstrates to your audience that you’re in control and you’re ready to help them. They also probably aren’t looking to do business with a company that makes them do more work than they need to. Your website should make it effortless for them to find the information they’re looking for and facilitate exploration throughout the site.

Price and value

Have you ever bought something expensive? A car, a home, even a flat screen television? Think about the cost of the item you have in mind. How many times did you end up using it? If you bought that fancy flat screen and use it every day, then we’d say you’re getting your money’s worth. The same holds true for websites. They’re not cheap, but they’re worth it. You want to invest money in website development because the value matches its price. One of the goals of a strong website is to increase revenue, so putting money into your website will generate more out of it.

Make a connection

A website also allows you to connect with your customers. Depending on your business, there are plenty of tools and widgets web developers can add to your site to create an interactive experience for visitors. These tools can keep users on your site longer and turn them into returning, long-term customers. One of your goals, next to making money, should be to connect with your customers and develop a positive relationship with them. You can easily achieve this by connecting with them on your website.

Did you know we’re giving away a free website in celebration of the New Year? Enter now for your chance to win a new website to attract more customers and demonstrate your brand’s authority.

Get in touch with us so we can build you a cutting-edge website to showcase your expertise today. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll build you an eye-catching website to help you create success online.