The Best Places to Feature Your Logo
A logo is so much more than a pretty face! It’s got the potential to unite your visual branding to convey a message to your audience. This seemingly innocuous image is actually quite powerful if you use it correctly. Sadly, many brands treat it as an afterthought, quickly forgotten by consumers. Businesses lose the opportunity for their audience to visually connect with the brand. Afterall, beauty is nothing apart from brains!
When your logo is used to its full potential, it can quickly become the first thing your customers recall when they think of your brand. If you’re doing things right, they will relive all the good feelings they associate with your brand when they see that image in their mind’s eye.
Here are some of the best places to feature your logo:
- In your website header. For many new customers, their first experience of your brand will be via your website. Having your logo featured in your website header will ensure that they have a clear idea of who you are and the message you want to convey.
- In your social media. Branding goes beyond your website. It can be easy to treat your social media pages as a separate entity, yet they are a vital part of your visual branding. Make sure to include your logo on every social media page you have.
- On your invoices. Invoices aren’t very exciting to look at. In fact, most of your clients will likely give them a cursory glance. However, the presence of your logo on your business invoices catches the attention of your customers, signifies your professionalism and is a visual representation of your cohesive business elements.
- In purchase confirmations. Your customer is going to be in “feel good” mode when they’ve made a purchase from you. In those immediate moments after a purchase when their order confirmation appears on the screen, you’ll want to capture that positive emotion and link it to your brand. This is exactly where you want to be sure your logo is featured.
- On your emails. Newsletters, promotional emails and even basic customer service responses all present an opportunity to share and connect with your customers. Consider including your logo in your signature whenever you communicate with them.
- In your downloadable content. If you offer downloadable content – a paid product or free ebooklet – make sure to brand it! Having your logo featured on the content will raise the trust factor and create an opportunity to stay in your customers’ minds for longer.
You can increase your level of engagement by using your logo both on and offline if you think strategically. The goal is to raise brand awareness and increase lead generation. Remember: your logo is often the first insight a consumer will gain into your brand. It should be featured on every piece of information, material, digital media and element of your business! Don’t use it sparingly! Go all out and be liberal!
Create a Custom 404 Error Page
There aren’t words sufficient for expressing the frustration of a consumer who experiences a 404 error message when visiting your business website.
A 404 not found error is an HTTP status code that means that the page you wanted to access couldn’t be found on their server. 404 errors are bad for business because:
- They drive consumers away from your website.
- They hurt your bounce rate.
- They cost you money.
Broken links are the cause of 404 errors. When webpages are renamed or moved and the internal link remains unchanged, a broken link is the result. If a web page has been permanently deleted, the page address changed or if there is a lack of proper navigation, broken links occur which generate a 404 error message.
When there is no custom page setup, the error can be quite generic and off-putting; the easiest way to lose potential customers. When consumers encounter 404 errors on your website, it decreases the amount of trust they have in your brand. These errors alert them that something is broken and, for whatever reason, you haven’t fixed it. This begs the question: What else has this company not addressed?
Customizing a simple 404 error page on your website has multiple benefits:
- Reassurance – A custom 404 error page provides reassurance to your consumers. They can clearly see that an error has occurred, but the page reassures them that it’s not their problem. A good 404 error page will offer links to resolve the problem and also a search box.
- Consistency – With the use of a custom 404 error page, your brand can be consistent with how your website is represented. Generic 404 pages are unbranded and can present a jarring experience to your visitors.
- Reduces bounce rate – When your visitors see a custom 404 error page, they’re more likely to stay on your website as they’ve been presented with alternative actions they can take. The custom error page helps to encourage them to stay put, rather than clicking back to the search engines.
- Customizable – One option that isn’t always considered is to turn the custom 404 error page into an opportunity for conversions. For example, you could add a special offer or a CTA that takes your visitors through to a lead magnet. These could be updated on a regular basis.
- Shareable – Creating a memorable custom 404 error page affords you the opportunity for brand recognition outside of your own website. By injecting a little humor or self deprecation, an amused visitor may share your brand on social media with their followers. Clorox does a great job of turning an otherwise frustrating error message into clever, memorable entertainment.
You likely never considered a 404 error message to be a deal breaker, however your consumers sure do! All the website traffic you could lose over a dreaded 404 equals profit loss for your business. In addition to the direct impact of those lost visitors to your business, the indirect damage can be even more devastating! Take the time to customize a simple, clever 404 error message and reap the benefits!
How to Create the Best FAQ Page
Having a solid FAQ page on your business website is an absolute must! In fact, you really should have numerous FAQs relating to various services or products you offer.
Your FAQ pages:
- Streamlines customer service.
- Leads to happier customer experiences with your business website.
- Saves consumers time and eliminates unnecessary frustration.
- Prevents your customers from needing to contact you for simple answers.
- Reflects your personality.
- Improves SEO.
- Helps you build brand trust with your target audience.
As a business owner, you already know it’s important to put your best foot forward every chance you get. The same principle applies to establishing your FAQ page. You want to follow best practices in order to deliver the most value to your treasured customers. Unfortunately, a bad FAQ page can turn a customer away fast and at the most crucial point: when they are most curious to learn more about your products and services.
Here’s how you can ensure that your FAQ page is outstanding and one from which your consumers will gain value:
- Find your most commonly asked questions. First things first! You’ll want to know what your most frequently asked questions are before you can create your page. Where do your customers communicate with you? If you have a ticket system in place, you can easily access a wealth of data there. If your customers reach out through email or direct messaging, you can identify the most commonly raised questions which you respond to the most.
- Write your answers. Once you’ve identified your main questions, it’s time to create content and answer these questions. Be concise, yet offer informative answers. Your customers don’t want to be overwhelmed by copious amounts of text, wading through endless paragraphs for simple answers. Try to answer each question in a simple, clear way that your customer can easily and quickly absorb.
- Use categories. Splitting your questions up into categories makes it easier for consumers to find the answers they’re looking for. Think about which questions could be grouped into which category. For example, if you offer a subscription based product, you could group questions about billing and refunds under one category.
- Always keep your page updated. A big mistake that a lot of businesses make is allowing their FAQ page to become stagnant. In reality, customer questions change a lot, depending on their needs. It may be that you offer a new product or service or your target audience has changed. Your FAQ page needs to reflect those changes. Make sure to keep it updated with the latest questions.
Remember, the main goal of your FAQ page is to provide information on frequent questions or concerns. If the format is organized, providing useful information, you have another successful avenue by which to add value to the lives of your customers. You will find that your brand credibility is strengthened as you continue to build trust with your valuable customers. Your bottom line will thank you!
6 Signs Your Website Might Be Outdated
There’s nothing worse than realizing your website is a little out of date and needs some care. It’s like hearing a rattling sound in your car when you’re driving on the highway. You know something needs to be done, but you worry about the cost.
Stop worrying! Let’s chat about six signs that your website might be outdated and in need of a tune up. Whether simply freshening up some old content or embarking on a complete makeover, we’ll get through it together! Here are some points we should consider:
- Is your content outdated? Review your website content to ensure it is in keeping with the current products and services offered by your brand. Have you posted recently or has it been a few months? Fresh content is crucial to a thriving business website. Consumers want the skinny on EVERYTHING! They like to be in the know. Clicking through old, outdated content is the fastest way to send customers on their way straight to your competition. Make it a point to post on a regular basis and keep a calendar of when you will post and the content you have posted. Even older content can be refreshed if it is still relevant. If you’re selling marshmallows, you need to take down your post about alligator infestation in Jacksonville. It just isn’t relevant to your product no matter how much you try to revive it!
- Are you noticing a decrease in leads and sales? Maybe you’re not receiving as many calls or emails from potential customers as you have in the past. Perhaps your leads have all dried up. You might still be getting SOME sales, but your numbers are way down compared to previous months/years. All of this is indicative of a stale website.
- Are you noticing a decline in the amount of traffic to your business website? Fewer visitors means less opportunities for you to show a potential customer that you’re a good fit for them. It also means that you are getting less FREE word-of-mouth advertising. One thing every good business owner understands is that consumer word-of-mouth advertising is POWERFUL and much more potent than any form of paid advertising. You need more and more visitors to frequent your website, creating a buzz that everyone will want to talk about. Plus, don’t forget the whole “in-the-know” factor! If a customer feels they’ve learned new information FIRST, they will be only too eager to blab it to anyone and everyone and that’s good news for you. It’s your job to make sure they have something good to blab about.
- Is your website running slow? – There is nothing more frustrating for consumers than slow loading websites. Remember, we are living in a “gotta have it right now” era and if your website isn’t loading in two seconds or less, you’re guaranteed to lose traffic. Five seconds is too long for a potential customer to stare at a blank screen. Plus, it makes you look like you’re not in all that big of a hurry to serve them. Patience is not typically one of the qualities you’ll find in today’s consumers. I’ll say it again: your website should be loading in 2 seconds or less.
- Noticing a spike in negative reviews and feedback? If you’re receiving more bad reviews from your customers, you really need to tune in and pay attention to what they’re saying. Are they having issues with your website or did they feel misled by something on the website that wasn’t a reality after they made a purchase from you? Have you received any feedback about your website not performing as a visitor hoped? Furthermore, are you even responding to the negative feedback?
Here’s the deal: good business owners respond to ALL feedback, positive AND negative. Ignoring any type of feedback whatsoever communicates that you really don’t care what your customers think. You’re not in business for them. You’re in it totally for yourself. This is not the way to win friends and influence people. Address negative feedback with POSITIVE responses which are courteous, caring and offer a solution to the consumer’s complaint. Show them that you are willing to work to gain their trust and you might be surprised at how impressed they become with your understanding responses.
- Does your website offer customers a poor user experience? User experience is EVERYTHING when it comes to a great business website. When was the last time you sat down and tested your website across all platforms through the eyes of a customer? Make sure to test your website on a regular basis to ensure it is easy to find the information needed in order to make a purchase decision. Also, make sure you test it across all platforms. Especially mobile devices such as a smartphone or IPad because three out of every four dollars spent on online purchases today is done so through a mobile device. If you find any issues, these are things you need to look at resolving yesterday.
Feeling overwhelmed? The best thing to do is to start with one aspect which needs to be addressed. Make a list of issues in order of importance and knock them out one by one. Better yet, give us a call!
How to Optimize Images for Web
What is Image Optimization?
Unfortunately, large images equal large files which take up valuable space on your server. Large images also create poor user experiences on your business website for your consumers. Image optimization is the concept of shrinking the size of a file without compromising its quality using script or a plugin. This process speeds up your website’s load time. Images are optimized via one of two methods:
- Via lazy loading on your company website (also known as on-demand loading) in order to display media on said website.
- Images can also be optimized utilizing Photoshop’s “export” options during your company website creation phase.
The Benefits of Image Optimization:
Simply put, consumers have extremely short attention spans, especially when it comes to online shopping. Your website MUST load in two or less seconds and failure to optimize your images could cause serious drag time. It doesn’t matter how impressive your server might be. You can still fail to perform at top speed without proper image optimization. Furthermore, images make up an average of 21% of your web page’s total weight. This means image optimization should take precedence far above fonts and scripts. Image Optimization is crucial as it:
- Eliminates unnecessary data downloads and wait times for your website users.
- Grants your customers the content they seek at a much faster rate.
- Breaks up monotonous paragraphs and texts.
- Adds visual appeal.
- Enhances and eases the type of experience your customers will have when visiting your cyber storefront.
- Improves SEO when combined with a great SEO WordPress plugin.
- Helps your website rank higher in search engine results.
- Helps Google index and crawl your images faster for Google image search.
- Hastens backups.
- Decreases bandwidth usage.
- Frees up server storage space.
The bottom line is that your website’s images are a high dollar asset on the world wide web. That being said, your strengths can also be your weaknesses. While awesome graphics and images offer countless benefits, they can cost you slower loading times and poor site performance. The fact of the matter is that size matters. The higher the resolution, the larger the file, the slower your website! It’s an unfortunate chain of events which could adversely affect your consumers’ user experience with your business, mess with your lead generation and conversion and weaken your bottom line. If your website is running slow, your customers will speed away to your competition for a faster browsing experience. As with most things in life, this is a delicate dance. This is where image optimization comes into play and there is a myriad of things you can do to optimize the sizes of your image files in regards to your business website.
On another note, it’s super important to follow best practices regarding image optimization. The natural result is smaller file sizes and faster loading speeds which will collectively yield a better experience for your business website users. Furthermore, your images are eating away at your valuable server space. Your server is what powers your business website AND, if you utilize a host, it is likely that host will enforce limits on your overall bandwidth, depending upon your plan. You need to consider whether you are using your resources wisely and at what rate you are consuming space. If you exceed your bandwidth limit, you might be financially penalized or risk having your business website shut down. I think it goes without saying that this is bad and you want to take every measure to avoid such drastic consequences. Image optimization allows you to make the most of your storage without exceeding the limitations of your bandwidth restrictions.
Website Image Optimization 101:
Benchmark your site speed:
Run a simple speed test on your site using programs such as Google PageSpeed Insights, GTMetrix, Pingdom Tools or WebPage Test. Any of these options will do the job. All you have to do is type in your URL and a report will be generated reflecting your website performance and speed.
Choose the best image file:
Once you’ve created your website images, you’ll need to select the type of file you’d like to save them as. JPEGs are great for photographs as they offer a higher-quality image in a smaller size file. JPEGs should be exported as “progressive” which allows your users to quickly load a less complex version of the image before they decide they want to load the full resolution version. To export as “progressive” in Photoshop, look under “save for web”. At the end of the day, JPEG is a good choice for photos with complex color, but they don’t work well for images with transparent backgrounds.
PNG is great for icons or flat illustrations which are transparent or lack a great deal of color. If you plan to go this route, you’re going to need the exact image dimensions and save as “PNG-24”. You could even save it as “PNG-8” as long as it does not compromise the quality of your image.
GIFs, popular though they may be, support a mere 256 colors, so you’re going to need to be picky in how you utilize this particular file type.
SVG is a scalable vector format which works well with logos, text, simple images and icons. SVGs are automatically scalable in photo editing tools as well as browsers. Google indexes SVGs in the same manner it indexes JPGs and PNGs which means you don’t need to worry about SEO. In addition, SVGs are usually smaller files than JPGs and PNGs which means you can expect a faster load time.
Once again, size matters. Resize your images BEFORE you export them! This is undoubtedly the simplest way to optimize your images for your website, especially when using DSLR camera images as they can be quite a bit bigger than necessary. Extra pixels absorb more space as they generate larger files. You might be unknowingly slowing your website speed! Recommended file size is 2048 pixels wide and 240 DPI. Also, crop your images in order to decrease the file size BEFORE you upload. If you aren’t using Photoshop or something similar, Windows Paint, Canva and Mac Preview are good options for cropping.
Reduce file sizes and save storage by compressing your images:
Image compression is great for shrinking the file size without compromising image quality. “Lossless” compression ensures the quality remains unphased both pre and post file compression. TinyPNG (smart “lossy” compression which decreases the number of colors used), ImageOptim (free Mac app), JPEGmini (paid option with a free trial) and RIOT (Radical Image Optimization Tool, free Windows app) are just a few image compression tools that work well to accomplish the job.
WordPress plugins automatically optimize images:
Installing an image optimization plugin on your WordPress site is a great way to streamline a lot of these steps. A plugin will automatically resize and compress your images upon upload to WordPress so you don’t have to do it yourself. This means your website’s performance and speed will start off on the right foot. Recommended plugins for WordPress sites are EWWW Image Optimizer Cloud (optimizes upon upload or after upload as needed), Compress JPEG & PNG Images (optimizes JPEGS and PNGS upon upload), Imagify and Kracken.io (optimizes both new and existing images).
Your best bet is to learn how each plugin functions before you select one to install. Be sure your final choice isn’t going to overtax your server!
Try the “Blur Up” method:
This is a fun trick! Even though you might have exhausted all the previous tips, you might still find that you have some large files slowing down your website speed. The “blur up” technique allows you to optimize the load experience in order to make your consumers think your files are loading faster than they actually are. Sneaky, sneaky! Appearance is everything, so if you can appear faster, then this method is for you! Start by loading a lower quality image. In other words, load a smaller version of the image before you go full scale. This allows your users the luxury of actually looking at something rather than a blank screen while they wait for all the details to fully load. Consider consulting your Jacksonville SEO expert who will know exactly how to do this for you!
Lazy loading is where it’s at:
let’s call this the brother of the blur up technique, but not the twin. Lazy loading also gives the impression of faster loading time. Let’s say a consumer lands at the top of your web page, leisurely pursuing your content as they continue to scroll down on the page. Lazy loading is the concept of not loading all images simultaneously. Lazy loading means that images within the browser view will load first while remaining images load as the user scrolls down on each section of the web page. This method is easy to accomplish on WordPress sites utilizing the BJ Lazy load plugin.
Clean your media library:
Media Cleaner is a great program for identifying unused media files. Cleaning out unused media files is a great way to free up space! The Media Cleaner Plugin scans media files for unused files, allowing you the opportunity to delete them. Utilizing a smart trashing system, Media Cleaner moves the deleted files to a trash directory. If you find out after a couple of weeks that a particular media file entry is missing, the smart trashing system allows you to restore the desired file from the trash directory via a simple click.
Conclusion:
Once you’ve completed the above steps in your image optimization journey, consider running an additional site speed test to measure the benefits. Utilization of proper image optimization tools in tandem with optimized workflow will yield better loading speed and website performance, increasing leads and conversions, strengthening your bottom line. We perform complementary image optimization for our managed clients for free. Take a look at our website management packages.
Why Every Business Needs a Website
The best entrepreneurs practice frugality as a general principle when launching a new start-up business. However, they also know when and where to spend the money and are experts at assessing cost analysis and value. When considering that which will bring your business ultimate value over time, you simply can’t afford to forego a company website. Having your own business website isn’t a luxury and should not be viewed as a nice perk. Your website is a crucial component of your business and can be tailored to your budget and specific needs.
Your website adds value to your business, lending credibility and authority to your brand. Simple components such as a strong “About” page communicate who you are, why you add value to the lives of your consumers, your mission and purpose and how your business can solve your ideal customers’ common problem. This establishes that your brand is to be trusted, which is crucial because 85% of consumers say they’ll only consider patronizing a brand that they trust. Consumers want to know that your company’s mission, purpose and values align with theirs and the “About” page is the second highest rated element for consumers when checking out your company. In fact, it’s even more important to them than your videos and graphics, live chat feature and personal case studies. Keep your message brief because no one is feeling especially burdened to review a term paper!
Consumers actually care a great deal regarding with whom they do business. In fact, 63% of consumers prefer to buy goods and services from companies that reflect their personal values. Building an authoritative blog, ripe with fresh, relevant content also helps establish who you are before your consumership. This practice also helps to ensure you stay at the forefront of their minds when they think about the types of products and services you offer. They’ll begin to associate you as being the brand they go to for their specific need as your blog content brings them closer to you as a trusted expert in your field. In addition, a well-fed blog can send your company website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization) through the roof!
Many consumers question the credibility of a company which has no website. They have no way to learn about who you are, your values, what types of products and services you offer, whether or not you offer shipping or online scheduling and if you are a sustainable business or a fly-by-night operation. Without a website, your business doesn’t stand a chance of standing out from the rest of your competition. There will be nothing authentic about your brand and nothing exciting about doing business with you.
You are likely the sole or, at the very least, primary decision maker for your company. Your business is the ship and you are the captain. If applicable, you determine how your storefront presents to the general public, the layout of products, the way your employees treat your consumers, price points and even where to buy the toilet paper. The buck stops with you. You need to exercise that same control in establishing your online presence and virtual storefront. You might have a Facebook page, but it’s going to take more than that to build a successful online presence. Even Mark Zuckerberg would agree that Facebook has its limitations. Furthermore, you don’t OWN your Facebook page. You have no way to customize it nor adjust its layout. Fortunately, a website offers you the benefits and flexibility of OWNING and CONTROLLING the way in which you showcase your brand and establish your business as the ultimate authority against your competition. You have no control as to how to communicate with the 70% of consumers who want to know if your brand is addressing social and environmental issues. Furthermore, 46% of consumers want to read about your company’s social responsibility efforts when they buy a product. Communication is key and your website is the perfect conduit for achieving this valuable goal!
Like moths to a flame, consumers are attracted to highly accessible brands. In fact, 82% of them expect immediate communication with the brands they patronize. While this might seem like a tall order, perhaps even insurmountable, we are living in the digital age. This expectation is realistic and easily achievable. Your website will give you the freedom and availability to communicate with your customers any time, day or night, from anywhere in the world. Think about it. Your business website is already offering info regarding how to contact you, products, services, prices and more. Why not give the people what they truly value? YOU! Every good sales associate understands that 99% of sales involves selling themselves. Ok, that’s a made up stat, but the point is that a good salesperson can sell air conditioning to an Eskimo if they understand how to properly sell themselves. If your business revolves around direct sales, your website offers you the benefit of functioning on an e-commerce level. Whether in Jacksonville or Timbuktu, anyone, anytime, anywhere, day or night, can purchase from you. Your website can process payments, aid in inventory management and shipping, you can easily incorporate special pricing and coupon codes and set up well-timed promotions and campaigns. Is there anything better than making money while you are sleeping? I think not!
In addition, your website acts as the best lead generator ever! Unfortunately, you cannot rely solely on your employees to “make it rain” (lead generation). Unlike your sales team, your business website works around the clock. Again, whether you are resting at home in Jacksonville or traveling abroad in Thailand, your website is still working 24/7, with no regard to time zones, attracting interested customers and showcasing your products and services while educating them about your brand, who you are and what you stand for. In addition, consumers will easily be able to share your business information with friends and family members whom they wish to refer to your brand because all pertinent info is neatly appointed in one spot on your business website. This alone will greatly impact your bottom line because 78% of consumers value convenience more today than they did before the onset of COVID-19. Furthermore, your website needs to rank well in Google search engine results and your solid business website, rife with top quality content, is the best way to rank high on search engines. Consumers really loathe a game of “Hide-and-Seek”, so don’t make it impossible for them to find you! For example, Bertha asked Camille where she purchased her dress. Camille responded with, “Oh! On this website – [ ].com and they even offer 15% off for new customers!”
Imagine the frustration Bertha would have had to endure had Camille directed her to a Facebook page instead! She probably would have a difficult time finding your Facebook page. If she is lucky enough to find it, your Facebook page may not be able to offer Bertha the capability of making a purchase. Plus, she will likely forget about you, electing to visit a competitor’s website which offers her the luxury of an easy, online purchase transaction. Furthermore, that 15% is the perfect bait for 64-year-old Bertha who is living on a fixed income. Here’s the point: Take your website and your search engine ranking seriously or risk ticking off Bertha, losing her to your competition forever. Consider rewarding Bertha for her loyalty with your new customer VIP program and retain a customer for life!
Your website is a valuable tool for beating your competition. It seems that most things in life are a competition. Who has the most money, who drives the best car, who is following the latest fitness trend, who is wearing the most expensive designer labels… The list is endless and exhausting. Unfortunately, you as a business owner will always be in competition with someone. Your business website is the ideal conduit for connecting with your local consumership. For example, search engines base the priority of search engine results on a user’s location. If Bob Johnson is in Jacksonville searching for a bait and tackle shop, the search engine he’s utilizing will produce a list of bait and tackle shops closest to his location. If your company is a bait and tackle shop, you want to show up in the search engine results, preferable at the top of the list. However, in order to work your way in that direction, you need to establish a Google “My Business” page and make sure the address listed reflects exactly what is shown on your business website. The best part about this process is that it’s free!
The bottom line:
The way companies do business has changed drastically. More and more consumers prefer to shop online than in person, especially with the astounding spike in gas prices. Establishing a solid business website should be viewed as a necessity. You can’t afford not to have one. It’s as crucial as water and air and your company cannot succeed and grow apart from it.
Cost often deters business owners from considering the process of establishing a website, however failure to do so is the equivalent of leaving dollars on the table and walking away. Consider consulting a Jacksonville web design company regarding this valuable investment. Your business website can provide one of the most positive ROI’s in your career and multiple options exist which can make your website more cost effective than ever before! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to succeed, grow and capitalize!
Don’t Chase Design Trends for Your Business
When it comes to designing elements on your website, it can be tempting to fall for the latest trends. Looking great is always important when it comes to web design, however looks aren’t everything.
Functionality plays a huge role in the success of your business’s online presence and sales. Don’t make the mistake of sacrificing function for fashion. Your company website needs to work for your target audience. Afterall, that is its main function! Chasing the latest trendy feature could hamper such efforts, frustrating your customers rather than inviting them to click through your site to make a purchase. Know your customers and what they want and stick to the fundamentals.
Featuring the latest design trends often results in a failure to zero in on your target audience. For example, high-tech web animation may not be delivering the ultimate experience your customer is looking for. If you’re selling tools and you incorporate a popular design most commonly featured on websites selling beauty products, you’re likely to alienate your customer base. Pink and power tools just don’t go together.
Don’t confuse your brand (or your customers)! Successful brands are those which are cohesive. When it comes to visual branding, such as your logo or color palette, the addition of a new trend in your design can often send a convoluted message to your target consumers. It makes your company look confused and inconsistent. Remember: consumer perception is everything. Don’t contaminate your ideal customer’s perception of your brand and your business!
Design trends can adversely affect your SEO (Search Engine Optimization)! While chasing after the latest trends might sound fun in theory, you could actually damage your company’s website ranking on search engines. For example, your latest autoplay video could reduce your organic traffic which can cost you big bucks and negatively impact your bottom line. The following design trends could potentially be hurting you:
- The placement of large images which can cause significant lags in your website’s loading speed.
- Text within images which is undetectable by search engines.
- Pesky pop-ups repel consumer traffic and are a red flag to search engines such as Google.
- Slideshows. Is there really a way to have them run at a speed which is comfortable for everyone? I think not.
Trends are ever changing! Keeping up with the Joneses will require more time than Batman himself could spare. If you fear that your website will look outdated upon the expiration of every trend, then be prepared to live in front of your computer. For the rest of your life. Function is King in establishing your brand. Listen to your audience and cater to what they want and need.
While website trends can be inspirational in terms of your overall design, there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to such trends. Your audience is going to differ greatly from another company’s. The choices you make regarding your website design need to be in support of your website goals and that will NEVER go out of style!
Difference Between Web Design & Web Development
Web design is the aesthetic component of your business website.
Employing various photoshop programs and creative layouts, web design is the visual aspect. Web designers incorporate balance, color scheme and contrast, applying unity between layout and composition with emphasis on the most important elements of your company’s website. Good web designers also understand the importance of consistency in navigation and user experience.
Web development is the functional component of your business website.
Web development is the process of incorporating HTML, PHP, Javascript and various programming languages into the design of your website, breathing life into its landscape. In other words, a web developer’s primary goal is to construct a fully functioning website, not just a pretty one. Web developers are programming experts, determining headings and knowing when and where to incorporate landing pages. Web developers use content management systems to streamline their “construction” process. This step enables business owners such as yourself a means by which to update and maintain your company website.
