There are plenty of components to a successful business model. First and foremost is, of course, a high-demand product or service that is superior to what your competitors offer. Next, you need a successful marketing campaign, complete with compelling content and a detailed social media strategy. However, even if you have all of these pieces, there is one central facet of your business that could still be costing you a huge part of your potential consumer base: your website. In fact, Web design best practices can be crucial to your success. The Huffington Post reports that 57 percent of mobile users will leave your site if it takes more than three seconds to load, and 30 percent of consumers will abandon a transaction if the website's shopping cart is not optimized for mobile devices. Here are three Web design best practices that you can't afford to ignore.
1. Smart Mobile Optimization
There are plenty of ways to automate the process of turning a desktop website into a mobile page. But in order for a mobile site to be successful, it must meet certain standards. Most importantly, it must be easy to use and have streamlined navigation that works on all mobile devices. To ensure that your customers can get to where they want to go, you can include one-touch navigation to some of your most highly trafficked pages.
If your mobile site isn't user-friendly or cross-device compatible, it's time for an overhaul. By including features such as slide-out menus and site maps, you can ensure that mobile users will feel comfortable using your website, which will in turn encourage return visits. If your website isn't responsive or mobile-optimized, on-the-go mobile users are more likely to bounce — and go to a competitor.
2. Click-to-Contact
Consumers want to be able to contact you, and your mobile website should facilitate that. For example, click-to-call buttons can encourage customers to make a phone call right from your mobile site when they want to schedule an appointment or make a reservation. As such, these features are particularly useful for businesses such as auto repair shops and restaurants. On the other hand, click-to-email or click-to-chat buttons work well for retail locations. In these scenarios, consumers might do some research before they decide on a store visit or purchase.
3. Calls-to-Action
The goal of any website, mobile or otherwise, is to encourage action and hopefully, conversions. However, this is especially important on mobile devices, where consumers can be easily distracted by things like text messages and app notifications. In order to attract and maintain customers' attention, mobile websites must feature prominent calls-to-action that will encourage these consumers to turn their interest in a particular product or service into a purchase. For instance, if you have a flooring business, inviting customers to "Call for a Free Estimate Today" is a great way to encourage consumers to act on their impulses.
Though there are plenty of Web design best practices that can help you hone in on the type of mobile design that will work best for your business, it's essential that your mobile website is designed in a responsive, straightforward, aesthetically pleasing way, with clear click-to-contact buttons and prominent calls-to-action.
