What Makes A Good Website: 10 Must-Have Features

Once you’re getting your online business up and working on-line, it may be difficult to determine what makes web site. Now, greater than ever, it’s important to have a web site that showcases the whole lot your online business is about, even in case you have a brick-and-mortar retailer.

Since I started freelancing, I’ve created quite a few web sites, however an important one is the one which showcases my companies. With out it, I’d not have obtained as many purchasers as I’ve.

I owe lots of my enterprise success to implementing the options of web site listed on this article. This submit covers the whole lot you’ll wish to find out about elevating your web site to the following degree.

What Makes a Good Web site?

These are the primary issues to contemplate when creating a web site.

Don’t overlook, having a web site is an important a part of your model’s ecosystem. This offers you klout and proves you’re an actual enterprise. Should you really feel overwhelmed by the entire concept, we will construct your web site for you, merely contact us. Or, if you begin a web site utilizing this hyperlink, you obtain our free web site in a weekend course which exhibits you step-by-step learn how to get your web site up and working.

1. website positioning (Search Engine Optimisation)

How do you make web site? Nicely, you be sure that it has website positioning applied, or else it’s by no means going to get any visitors from any search engine, particularly Google. As a way to have your content material seen, you’ll want website positioning.

website positioning can take time to construct up, so just remember to begin implementing it if you begin your web site for good measure. Should you don’t know an entire lot about it, I counsel investing in an website positioning course or utilizing free sources that you will discover on-line.

2. Design

With no robust design, you aren’t going to have an interesting web site. Design is what units your web site other than others in order that it doesn’t look so cookie-cutter.

Reality be informed, the design doesn’t must be as in-depth as you may initially assume. It may be so simple as utilizing a free template and altering out the colors to be sure that it doesn’t match different web sites that use the identical template.

3. Calls to Motion

To know what makes web site, you need to be taught what a CTA, or name to motion, is. Basically, that is any time in your web site that you just immediate your customer to do one thing.

For instance, “obtain now” is a straightforward CTA generally used when speaking about freebies on a web site.

One of the best ways to make these recognizable is to have them be designed the identical means each time there’s a CTA. So, possibly every CTA has a inexperienced background in order that your customer is aware of the place they’re prompted to do one thing.

4. Consumer Expertise

At its core, your web site was created to assist, educate, or encourage a customer. So, you wish to be sure that customers can shortly get round your web site with out a lot problem. 

Take into consideration what would take advantage of sense as somebody visiting your web site. What would you like them to see first? Would they be extra prone to search for your social media hyperlinks on the high of your web site or within the footer? 

Consumer expertise will likely be totally different for each trade.

5. Hyperlinks

Hyperlinks are important in the case of having a powerful web site. Not solely is it good for website positioning, however it makes your person expertise loads higher too.

Once I say hyperlinks, I don’t solely imply hyperlinks to different web sites but in addition different pages or posts inside your individual web site. Interlinking your content material is vital for navigation, and having readers see extra of your content material.

Should you point out a freebie or a downloadable that you just provide, remember to hyperlink to it. 

6. Straightforward to Learn

Once you write your web site copy, you wish to take into consideration how straightforward it’s to learn. Understand that legibility and readability are two various things; legibility is mentioned later within the ‘what makes web site design’ part of this text.

Readability refers to how straightforward your writing is to learn by another person. You don’t wish to oversimplify your copy, however you do wish to be sure that anybody who visits your web site will be capable of learn and perceive, what you need to say.

7. Simplicity

In relation to a web site, simplicity goes a good distance. By no means go overboard. Don’t have 1,000,000 pages with a ton of colors that don’t go collectively in any respect.

On the finish of the day, you need a minimal web site that will get the purpose throughout with out being too flashy (be taught extra about design under).

8. Safety

With out safety, individuals aren’t going to really feel protected doing something in your web site. This contains making purchases and even simply visiting your most up-to-date weblog submit.

It might sound easy, however just remember to have an up to date SSL certificate. When somebody visits your web site, they need to see a locked padlock within the high left nook by the URL if they’re on Google Chrome.

9. Persistently Contemporary Content material

Persistently creating recent content material is what makes an incredible web site.

You wish to just remember to are at all times updating your web site and including new posts when essential. This doesn’t imply you need to do it daily, however you have to be posting one thing new at the least as soon as every week.

By persistently posting, you assist your website positioning rankings and present guests that your web site remains to be energetic and continuously used.

10. Cellular Optimisation

What else do it’s essential make web site? You must be sure that your web site is responsive on all display sizes, together with cell, pill, laptop computer, and desktop.

In case your web site shouldn’t be responsive, you miss out on reaching lots of potential web site guests. If somebody is on their telephone and desires to see your web site, they need to not run into any issues — in any other case, they’ll click on away. 

Fortunately, most web site builders will make your web site responsive for you mechanically.

What Makes a Good Homepage?

The homepage is a crucial a part of your entire web site — with out an interesting one, persons are simply going to click on away out of your web site.

Listed below are a couple of of the options you’ll wish to be sure you have in your homepage.

1. Clear Emblem

This most likely goes with out saying, however one of many options of web site is to have a transparent brand that isn’t overdone. This must be located in your header so that folks at all times know precisely what web site they’re on.

Your web site’s brand shouldn’t be tremendous fancy. The truth is, the easier your brand, the higher. If an excessive amount of is finished to it, then will probably be exhausting to learn.

2. A number of CTAs

A number of CTAs are what makes homepage. Take the homepage of Goats on the Street, for instance; there are at least seven totally different CTAs, prompting guests to “subscribe,” “be taught extra,” and “obtain without spending a dime.”

With out CTAs, your guests aren’t going to know what you need to provide them. The very best place to showcase them is true in your homepage in order that guests don’t must go too far into your web site to seek out all the great things!

3. Latest Weblog Posts or Assets

It is best to at all times showcase your most up-to-date weblog posts, in case you have any, proper on the house web page. Sure, this doubles for service suppliers and different small on-line enterprise homeowners too.

You could possibly do that in a couple of methods, however one of the simplest ways (so far as internet design goes) is to showcase the featured picture with the submit title and submit date. You could possibly decide to incorporate a brief excerpt if you want as effectively.

4. About Part

Although your web site must be primarily centered round how one can assist different individuals, you do wish to embody a brief part introducing your guests to the face behind the enterprise. 

In your homepage, be certain to incorporate an excerpt out of your about web page together with a photograph (or a video if you wish to get snazzy) and hyperlink to your precise about web page with a “learn extra” CTA button.

5. Social Media Hyperlinks

One of the underrated options of what makes homepage is having social media comply with hyperlinks both in your header, sidebar, or footer.

You primarily need your guests to subscribe to your web site, however having them comply with you on different platforms might help your model attain and publicity.

Be sure that you make these simply accessible with a easy “comply with us elsewhere” line of copy or one thing related. 

6. Easy Tagline on a Web site Banner

Your homepage ought to shortly introduce all guests to what you do and what your web site might help them with.

That’s why you don’t wish to underestimate the ability of writing a powerful line of copy to go above the fold of your web site (that’s, the a part of your web site that may be seen with out scrolling).

An excellent instance of this, once more, is the homepage for Goats on the Street! By merely visiting this web site and never even scrolling, you already know that the Goats are right here that will help you flip journey into a life-style.

7. Showcase Freebies or Presents

One of many best and finest methods to develop your e-mail listing is to have free provides or sources that guests can join and obtain immediately. Whether or not it’s a guidelines, e book, template, or one thing else, you wish to showcase it in your homepage.

Dedicate one of many sections in your homepage to solely showcasing your freebies, or at the least that includes certainly one of your hottest free provides that you realize individuals will need to enroll in.

8. Subscription Hyperlinks

Separate from social media hyperlinks, you wish to make it straightforward for somebody to easily join your e-mail newsletters in the event that they wish to. This helps develop your listing and lets your guests know that they’ll simply sustain with you in the event that they want to.

A standard means to do that is so as to add a subscribe hyperlink within the footer, however you may as well dedicate an entire part in your homepage to it, too, in order for you.

9. Advantages Part

What are the advantages of somebody visiting your web site? Top-of-the-line options of web site is a bit showcasing precisely how one can assist somebody, separate from what you wrote above the fold in your web site banner.

Will you assist develop their follower depend on Instagram in the event that they join your social media companies? Possibly you’ll assist them put together for all times on the street as a digital nomad. Maybe you’ll be able to assist them begin a enterprise and coach them alongside the way in which.

No matter it’s, let individuals know, in order that they don’t must scour your web site to seek out out what it’s even about.

10. Social Proof

Lastly, an incredible function to have in your homepage, relying in your companies or what your web site is about, is to showcase social proof. This works a bit higher with service-based enterprise web sites or web sites that promote merchandise.

An instance of that is in case you have a course, as an example, on learn how to journey the world on a price range. Showcase a couple of testimonials from college students of the course in your web site, so individuals visiting know that you’re legit.

What Makes a Good Web site Design?

In case you are questioning what makes web site, then you definately’re in the proper place. Beneath, be taught extra about particular design components that may assist elevate your web site above your competitors. 

1. Use of White Area

Many individuals assume they must cowl each little potential house on the web page when designing a web site. Nicely, I’m right here to let you know that you just wish to do the other.

Give it some thought; the extra you overdesign a web page, the extra distracting it’s going to be. White house is your buddy, which is without doubt one of the first issues any graphic designer is taught whereas in class. 

Use the white house to your benefit to information your customer all through your web site.

2. Constant Typography

Typography is without doubt one of the most difficult design features to be taught, however you wish to hold it as easy and constant as potential. As an example, if you happen to at all times use Instances New Roman in all caps to your headers, be certain it’s like that on all pages.

You additionally wish to put collectively fonts that work effectively. Typically, this isn’t two serif fonts as a result of that may get distracting. As a substitute, pair collectively two easy sans serif fonts or a serif and a sans serif for a contact of magnificence.

3. Imagery

When serious about what makes web site, you most likely initially consider imagery. In order for you your web site to be visually intriguing, it’s essential embody pictures all through your web site.

Whereas this may increasingly appear choosy, one of the simplest ways to make use of pictures is to be sure that they’re all on-brand and edited in the identical means. By doing this, you make sure that the photographs aren’t too distracting to the customer however as an alternative improve their expertise in your web site.

4. Robust Branding

Top-of-the-line options of web site is branding, which is one thing many individuals simply beginning out overlook. 

At a minimal, it’s essential be certain to have a brand, color palette, and sort suite, or else your web site isn’t going to be cohesive.

Should you aren’t a designer and may’t afford to rent one, then you need to use a free software like Canva to start out your self off after which later make investments when it’s the proper time. For colors, be sure you select at the least three, together with a couple of neutrals to make use of as background colors.

5. Easy Navigation

Easy navigation is really what makes web site design. With out it, no person goes to have the ability to transfer round your web site.

I’m certain you’ve visited a web site or two after which instantly clicked out since you couldn’t work out the place the menu was or learn how to get to a different web page. I’ve been there too. That’s why navigation is so essential.

6. Use of Hierarchy

Hierarchy is what makes an incredible web site stand out from a median one. In easy phrases, hierarchy refers to seeing what’s most essential first, then what’s subsequent most essential second, and so forth.

You wish to make their expertise in your web site straightforward and simple in order that they’ll wish to return.

7. Readability

Have you ever ever visited a web site just for it to be a very yellow background with lime inexperienced textual content or one thing related? A horrible design like that can instantly flip somebody away out of your web site, and so they’ll search for sources like yours elsewhere.

So, what do it’s essential make web site legible? Take into consideration the textual content. With out correct textual content, font and color, no person will be capable of learn what you’re saying, and your design won’t be very fairly or aesthetically pleasing.

8. Deal with the Buyer or Customer

Many individuals who construct a web site make the error of focusing primarily on themselves, particularly on the house web page. Sadly, individuals aren’t visiting your web site to listen to your life story (most probably); as an alternative, they’re visiting to be taught from you.

If you wish to have a powerful web site, be sure you take the time to focus your entire copywriting in your customer. Name out their issues and struggles and the way your web site is right here to assist them. It’s going to make them really feel like you realize them despite the fact that you don’t.

9. Design Consistency (i.e. grids)

Design consistency is without doubt one of the easiest options of web site that’s typically neglected. When designing a web site, you wish to consider it as a fluid format with a grid, and the whole lot you add to the web page ought to match on the grid.

As an example, if nearly all of your design suits inside 1200px of your web site, then the remainder of your design ought to too. In any other case, it is going to stand out an excessive amount of and can seem like a mistake, distracting your guests from the remainder of your web page.

10. Animations

It is a little bit of a bonus, however including enjoyable animations like hover or scroll transitions can set your web site other than the others on the market in the identical area of interest as you.

Whether or not you’re designing your web site on Squarespace or WordPress, that is fairly easy to learn to do.

Should you use a software like Elementor on WordPress, including enjoyable transitions like this is so simple as clicking a button, and pushing publish.

How To Make a Good Web site

Comply with the steps under to get began on creating your web site. Keep in mind to incorporate all the opposite suggestions talked about within the different sections of this text.

Step #1. Purchase a web site area

You’ll be able to’t even begin creating a web site till you could have a site (ie: www.goatsontheroad.com). There are numerous totally different websites on the market, however normally, wherever you buy your internet hosting, you may as well purchase a site. 

Once you purchase your area, remember to create an e-mail account as effectively (ie: [email protected]).

Step #2. Purchase internet hosting and select your web site platform

Subsequent, it’s time to buy your internet hosting. There are tons of nice hosts on the market, however Bluehost is a good possibility that’s inexpensive and respected.

Then, you’ll wish to select the place to make your web site. We advocate WordPress.

Should you’re actually uncertain of what you’re doing and want to pay for it, you’ll be able to rent somebody do to the coding and internet growth for you. Or, contact us and we’ll create a professionally designed web site for you.

Step #3. Design, design, design

Essentially the most inventive a part of making a web site is designing, and that’s what you get to do subsequent! It doesn’t matter what platform you selected, there’ll most probably be free templates that you could utilise when making your web site to avoid wasting you lots of time.

When utilizing a template, keep in mind to vary the colors and add your branding, or else your web site will seem like each different web site on the market that used the identical template. You could possibly additionally contemplate buying a paid template so that you’ll be a bit extra unique.

If you wish to get actual fancy, you might additionally use a drag and drop builder like Elementor, which can be utilized with any WordPress template, together with free ones. With Elementor, you’ll be able to simply customise any web page in your web site.

Step #4. Create your pages.

Final however not least, take the time to create the pages to your web site. Often, this contains having a homepage, about web page, contact web page, and companies web page. 

The pages which can be important for your online business web site is likely to be totally different from ones required for an additional, so be sure you completely analysis opponents in your discipline to see what sections they’ve. Then, make them your individual with out copying.

Step #5. Write your entire internet pages

Whereas the design is essential, phrases are what keep on with individuals, and also you wish to just remember to have copywriting that resonates along with your customer.

Take the time to take a seat and write out the copy for your entire pages. You could possibly additionally rent an expert author if you happen to’d moderately not cope with it by yourself.

Conclusion

Now you realize what makes web site! Whereas every trade is likely to be totally different, the options listed on this article are the essential requirements for a web site that sells your model.

Making web site takes time, so don’t rush it and thoroughly plan out what you’re going to do every step of the way in which. My most up-to-date web site construct took me one entire month, however that’s what it takes to have a powerful one.

I want you the very best of luck with creating the proper web site for your online business.

Like This Article? Pin it!