Whether you’ve been in business for a while or just starting, you need an online presence for your brand. Creating a website is one of the best ways to meet that need. It reflects your brand persona and creates a virtual path for interacting with your audience. In addition, today’s digital world demands an interactive online presence that’s constantly adapting to the user needs and technology trends and advances.
This includes making websites optimized for mobile devices, updated content, and accessible to all users. Above all that, the design itself needs to be creative and appealing. Although you might be able to figure out all these things on your own, the result may not match that of a professional. By hiring a professional web design company, you can focus on the daily running of your business rather than the intricacies of an ADA-compliant website design, SEO, and coding.
Here are important reasons why you need to invest in a professional web design for your business.
It Sets Your Brands First Impression
In the world today, everything is at the fingertips or click of a button. Most people will look into your online presence to see what you are offering and judge your business. The initial impression visitors get when they visit your website matters significantly. In only a few seconds, they’ll judge if you are worth engaging with or not. An outdated look, slow loading speeds, and poor navigation are some of the website issues that will reflect poorly on your design instantly.
If your site is not appealing, the visitors leave and move to your competitor with a better design. Professional web designers know the nuances of creating an attractive design that can grab visitors’ attention and keep it. Statistics show that if users are given 15 minutes to consume web content, 66% would rather see a beautiful web design than a plain and simple one.
It Shows you Value your Customers
Everyone likes being treated well in person, virtually, on the phone, and otherwise. A professional-looking website design tells your audience that you care that much about them. It gives an insight into how you view them. When they feel like there wasn’t much effort put into the design, they know or assume that you won’t put much effort into meeting their needs either.
Your website is your 24/7 marketing campaign and customer service representative. When you give the audience a bright, inviting, modern, usable, and accessible design, they feel welcome to visit and engage with you. You feel ready to help them with their needs.
Keep the design accessible to users with disabilities under the web accessibility standards 508 and other web accessibility design guidelines. Treat your web design like you do your storefront. The same friendly face that greets customers in a physical location should be felt virtually as well. The same way your physical store is accessible to people living with various disabilities should be the same way they can access your website.
Boosted Brand Credibility and Trust
Nowadays, when people are looking for something, their very first stop is on a search engine. Without a polished, informative, and usable website, your visitors will leave as fast as they came in for another site that exudes credibility and trust. Besides, a professionally designed website is optimized for search engines, ensuring that customers seeking your services find your business on top of the searches.
A website that appears on top of a search engine means that people can trust the design and content to be helpful. Another way a professional design creates trust with customers is by ensuring brands don’t face a website accessibility lawsuit or discrimination lawsuits. On the other hand, a poorly designed website won’t earn people’s trust, and most people will view it as shady. Others may even assume that you are no longer in operation, especially if the information is outdated.
Conclusion
Apart from your website being a place for showcasing your products or services, it can also help you create lasting relationships with customers from far and wide. You shouldn’t take website design and development lightly. It has the power to market your brand and sell your products and services, helping your business grow and increase your return on investment. Professional designs are intuitive, interactive, accessible, and help you stand out from other businesses.