–
Website development has become a crucial aspect of any online business, online or offline, looking to establish a digital presence. However, just having a website is not enough; the website must be designed with user experience in mind to ensure visitors have a positive and fulfilling experience. In this blog, we will discuss the best way to increase website traffic.
We share ten website development tips that will help improve user experience and how to improve website traffic.
–
I. Make Your Website Design Mobile Friendly
Before we discuss how to make your website design mobile friendly, let’s first understand what’s web design is:
Web design refers to the process of creating and designing the visual elements of a website, such as a layout, color scheme, typography, graphics, and overall user interface. It involves combining different design elements to create a website that is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and functional for its intended purposes.
Mobile optimization (in other words, making it responsive) is the process of ensuring that your website’s design and content are accessible and usable on mobile devices.
The importance of mobile optimization cannot be overstated. According to Statista, as of the last quarter of 2022, mobile devices account for over half of all internet traffic worldwide. If your website is not optimized for mobile devices, you risk losing a significant portion of potential visitors.
To make your website mobile-friendly, here are some tips to follow:
- Use responsive design: Responsive design is a web design approach that ensures your website’s layout and content adjust to fit the screen size of the device being used. This means that your website will look great on any device, whether it’s a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
- Simplify navigation: Mobile devices have smaller screens, so it’s essential to simplify your website’s navigation to make it easier for visitors to find what they’re looking for quickly.
- Optimize images: Large images can slow down your website’s loading speed, which can be frustrating for mobile users. Make sure to optimize your images for mobile devices by compressing them or using smaller file sizes.
- Use mobile-friendly fonts: Some fonts may not be easily readable on smaller screens. Choose fonts that are easy to read on mobile devices to improve user experience.
- Test your website: Testing your website on different mobile devices is crucial to ensure that your website looks great and functions properly on all mobile devices.
Making your website mobile-friendly is the best way to increase traffic on your website. It can improve user experience, increase engagement, and make your business visible to a wider range of audience.
–
II. Focus on Website Speed
Website speed is a critical aspect of user experience. According to research, users expect a website to load in two seconds or less, and a delay of just one second can lead to a 4.42% reduction in conversions.
So, if you ask how to improve traffic to the website, I would say first make it load faster. What’s your web design and how much engaging and attractive it is, it all matters when the visitor doesn’t bounce back due to slow loading speed.
To improve website speed, here are some tips to follow:
- Minimize HTTP requests: Each element on your webpage, such as images, scripts, and stylesheets, requires a separate HTTP request. Minimizing the number of HTTP requests can significantly improve your website’s loading speed.
- Optimize images: Big sized image files can slow down your website. Optimize your images by compressing them without sacrificing image quality.
- Minimize CSS and JavaScript files: Minimizing the number of CSS and JavaScript files can improve website speed by reducing the number of HTTP requests needed to load a webpage and the overall size of the files that need to be downloaded.
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN can help improve website speed by delivering content to users from the closest server to their location.
- Enable caching: Caching allows frequently accessed pages to be stored on a user’s device, reducing loading times for subsequent visits.
- Choose a reliable hosting provider: Your website’s loading speed can be affected by the quality of your hosting provider. Choose a reliable hosting provider that can handle your website’s traffic and provide fast loading times.
By focusing on website speed, you decrease the bounce rate. A higher bounce rate means that users are not finding your website relevant to their searches and the search engine algorithm could rank you down. On the other hand, a fast-loading website can also improve your search engine rankings, leading to increased visibility and traffic.
–
III. Ensure Easy Navigation
During the website development, ensure that the navigation on your website is intuitive and user-friendly. Easy navigation is crucial for creating a positive user experience (UX) on your website. Visitors should be able to find the information they need quickly and easily, without having to search through endless menus and pages.
To ensure easy navigation, here are some tips to follow:
- Use a clear and concise menu: Your website’s menu should be easy to read, with clear and concise labels that accurately describe the content on each page.
- Include a search bar: A search bar allows users to quickly find the information they need without having to navigate through your entire website.
- Use breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are a navigation aid that shows users where they are on your website and allows them to quickly navigate to previous pages.
- Organize content: Organize your content into clear categories and subcategories, making it easy for users to find what they’re looking for.
- Use descriptive links: Use descriptive links that accurately describe the content of the page they link to.
- Keep it simple: Don’t overwhelm users with too many options or too much information. Keep your website’s navigation simple and easy to use.
If you ask again, what’s web design, I would say that website design is not just about the look but also the experience of the user on the website. Through easy navigation, you can make the UX of the website delightful. Visitors are more likely to stay on your website if they can easily find what they’re looking for, which can ultimately lead to increased traffic and conversions.
–
IV. Use Large Fonts
The font you choose for your website can have a significant impact on user experience. Fonts that are difficult to read or too small can make it challenging for visitors to consume your content, leading to a negative user experience and increased bounce rates.
To use readable fonts, here are some tips to follow:
- Choose a font that is easy to read: Sans-serif fonts, such as Arial or Helvetica, are generally easier to read on screens than serif fonts, such as Times New Roman or Georgia.
- Use a font size of at least 16px: A font size of at least 16px is recommended for body text, making it easy to read for most users.
- Use line spacing: Use adequate line spacing to ensure that text is easy to read and doesn’t feel cramped or cluttered.
- Use contrast: Ensure that there is sufficient contrast between your text and background to make it easy to read. Black text on a white background is a good choice for readability.
- Limit the amount of fonts: Using too many fonts can make your website look cluttered and unprofessional. Stick to one or two fonts for your website.
Font size and style are underrated considerations in how to improve traffic to the website. More traffic is achieved when the existing traffic is spending time on your pages and engaging with your website. And, visitors are more likely to stay on your website if they can easily read your content, leading to better rankings and even more traffic.
–
V. Use High-Quality Images
Selecting the right images during website development is critical. Images can significantly impact the overall look and feel of your website.
High-quality images can make your website more visually appealing, engaging, and memorable. Poor-quality images, on the other hand, can have the opposite effect, making your website look unprofessional and low-quality.
To use high-quality images, here are some tips to follow:
- Choose high-resolution images: High-resolution images look better on screens and provide more detail, making them more engaging and visually appealing.
- Use relevant images: Use images that are relevant to the content on the page. Irrelevant images can be confusing and distracting for users.
- Optimize images for the web: Optimizing images for the web is what’s web design is mostly about (fonts and navigation are the other factors). By compressing them to reduce file size without sacrificing quality. Large image files can slow down your website, leading to a negative user experience.
- Use alt tags: Use alt tags to describe your images for users who may be visually impaired. Alt tags also improve search engine optimization.
- Use a consistent style: Use images that are consistent with your brand’s style and aesthetic. A consistent style helps build brand recognition and makes your website more memorable.
By using high-quality images, you can make your website more easy-on-eyes. Visitors are more likely to remember and return to your website if they are impressed by the images they see. High-quality images can also help with search engine optimization, making it more likely that your website will appear in search results.
–
VI. Incorporate Call to Action
A call to action (CTA) is a crucial element of website design, encouraging visitors to take a specific action, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or signing up for a newsletter. CTAs are essential for increasing engagement and conversions on your website.
To incorporate a call to action, here are some tips to follow:
- Use clear and concise language: Use clear and concise language to tell visitors what action you want them to take. Use action-oriented verbs, such as “Buy Now” or “Sign Up Today.”
- Use contrasting colors: Use contrasting colors to make your CTA stand out from the rest of your website. A brightly colored button, for example, can draw attention to your CTA.
- Place CTAs strategically: Place CTAs strategically on your website, such as at the end of a blog post or on the homepage. Make sure they are visible and easy to find.
- Keep it simple: Keep your CTA straightforward. Don’t overwhelm visitors with too many options or too much information.
- Use urgency: Use urgency to encourage visitors to take action. Use phrases such as “Limited Time Offer” or “Last Chance” to create a sense of urgency.
By incorporating a call to action, you can boost engagement and conversions on your website. Visitors are more likely to take action if they are prompted to do so, leading to increased traffic and potential sales. A clear and effective call to action can also help build brand awareness and loyalty.
The seeds of SEO and other marketing initiatives lead to the crops of traffic. However, the fruits of this traffic are harvested through CTAs. In other words, the call to action is what prompts interested visitors to give business to the company.
–
VII. Make Your Website Search Engine Optimized
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Optimizing your website for SEO can increase organic traffic to your website, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
To make your website search engine optimized, here are some tips to follow:
- Use relevant keywords: Use relevant keywords throughout your website to improve search engine visibility. Use keywords in page titles, meta descriptions, headings, and content.
- Create high-quality content: Create high-quality, informative content that is relevant to your target audience. Use keywords naturally in your content to improve search engine visibility.
- Optimize page titles and meta descriptions: Use relevant keywords in your page titles and meta descriptions to improve search engine visibility and attract clicks.
- Use header tags: Use header tags (H1, H2, H3) to organize your content and make it easier for search engines to understand.
- Use internal linking: Use internal linking to connect related pages on your website. Internal linking helps search engines understand the structure of your website and improves search engine visibility.
By making your website search engine optimized, you can increase organic traffic to your website, making it easier for potential customers to find you. Ranking higher in search engine results pages can also increase brand awareness and credibility. It is essential to remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and you should continue to optimize your website regularly.
–
VIII. Test Your Website
Testing your website is an important step to ensure that it is functioning correctly, user-friendly, and visually appealing. Testing can help identify and fix issues that may negatively impact user experience and lead to a decrease in traffic and conversions.
To test your website, here are some tips to follow:
- Check for broken links: Use a tool such as Broken Link Checker to identify broken links on your website. Broken links can lead to a negative user experience and hurt search engine visibility.
- Test website speed: Use tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to test your website’s speed. Slow loading times can lead to a negative user experience and a decrease in traffic.
- Test website responsiveness: Test your website on various devices to ensure that it is responsive and looks good on all screens, including desktop, tablet, and mobile.
- Get feedback: Ask for feedback from friends, family, or customers to identify issues or areas for improvement.
- Conduct A/B testing: Conduct A/B testing to compare different versions of your website and determine which is more effective.
By testing your website, you can identify and fix issues that may negatively impact user experience and lead to a decrease in traffic and conversions. Regular testing can help ensure that your website is functioning correctly and visually appealing on all devices. Incorporating feedback and conducting A/B testing can also help you improve your website and increase engagement and conversions.
In short, by testing your website, you can figure out how to improve traffic to the website by recognizing the elements that can become hindrances to your goal of getting more clicks and conversions.
–
IX. Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest Trends and Technologies
Staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in website design and development is crucial. It helps to ensure that your website is modern, user-friendly, and competitive in your industry. By keeping up with the latest trends and technologies, you can give offer ease and a sense of familiarity to your audience. And, you will stay ahead of your competitors who’re not as quick as you in adapting to the evolving trends.
Here are some ways to help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies:
- Attend industry events: Attend industry events and conferences to learn about the latest trends and technologies in your field. Observe what kind of designs and online experiences are crafted by the domain authorities.
- Follow industry leaders: Follow industry leaders and influencers on social media and blogs to stay informed about the latest news and trends. Also, analyze what web design trends the industry leaders follow.
- Keep an eye on competitors: Keep an eye on your competitor’s websites to see what they are doing and to identify areas for improvement.
- Conduct research: Conduct research to identify emerging trends and technologies that may benefit your website.
- Experiment with new technologies: Experiment with new technologies and features on your website to see what works and what doesn’t.
By staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies, you can ensure that your website is modern, user-friendly, and competitive in your industry. Incorporating new technologies and features can also help you stand out from your competitors and attract more traffic and customers.
–
Conclusion
By following these 9 website development tips, you can create a user-friendly, visually appealing, and competitive website that attracts more traffic increases conversions, and grows your business. Remember to make your website mobile-friendly, ensure easy navigation, use readable fonts, incorporate high-quality images, include clear calls to action, make your website search engine optimized, test your website regularly, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in your industry.
The best way to increase traffic on your website is to consult the experts who have the right resources and experience. Consult our experts at DigiCosta today and let us take the charge of boosting your website traffic and conversions while you focus on the core business functions.
