From this article, you will learn:
- Where to start creating your own website?
- When a onepage is a better option?
- What should a website contain?
- What features make a website more attractive?
- What should a company website look like?
- What makes UX-oriented websites stand out?
A website tailored to your business
Web design is a process. It requires a deep understanding of the industry, the needs of consumers and the vision of the client who wants to achieve specific business goals. We always start creating websites for businesses by sending a brief and holding a coffee meeting during which we thoroughly discuss all the details of the project with the client. This is an important stage of our work that allows us to learn more about the company and the offer of the brand. Together we go through questions about the business, target audience, aesthetic preferences and functionality, and only then, based on the information gathered, a website tailored to the specific business is created.
Building a website - plan the structure
The design of a business website must enable the user to get the most important information about the products/services of their interest as quickly as possible. The attention of the modern Internet user is quickly distracted, so the user path should be as simple and intuitive as possible. Each section must perform a specific function.
When developing a website mockup, it is worth taking the perspective of the consumer. Such an approach allows you to better understand and meet the expectations of your target audience. It also facilitates an effective navigation layout. In just 1-2 seconds after the page has been loaded, the user should already know if this is what they were looking for. The simplest solution is to use a distinctive headline that immediately communicates the offer and the unique features of the brand.
Onepage vs. multipage website
Onepage or multipage? It is best to make the decision based on the scope of your offer and your marketing strategy.
Onepage is a basic website that brings all information together. It has a simple design and intuitive, logical navigation - sections can be scrolled down smoothly without the need to switch between categories. It is perfect for businesses with a narrow business profile. It is easier to use and update, as there is far less content, but in this respect, it poses a challenge when it comes to search engine optimisation (SEO). A simple one-page website, combined with catchy storytelling and high-quality images, can generate a strong, consistent message that supports brand identity.
Multipage is an elaborate website with a complex structure. It can include several separate sub-pages - each dedicated to a specific topic, product or service - which makes it easy to organise information on an extensive offer. Navigation is of great importance here. If it is incomprehensible and unintuitive, it can quickly lead to frustration and ultimately to the user exiting the site. Therefore, it should be carefully planned, preferably by a web designer.
For companies that offer a wide range of products or services, a multipage website is an effective tool for a full and comprehensive presentation of the offer. In terms of search engine optimization (SEO), it is much easier, but no less demanding. A website of this type is an excellent tool for implementing a content marketing strategy. Through regular updates, a company can provide customers with valuable information, thus building authority and positioning itself as an expert in its field. An elaborate site offers space to tell the brand's story more comprehensively, which translates into building stronger relationships with customers. It is a source of information, as well as an effective tool for building brand identity.
What should a website contain?
The process of creating a website requires constant analysis, as all components must be correlated with each other. Every element - from navigation, content and visual layer to additional features - must work together to form a coherent and intuitive experience for the user. Below we briefly discuss selected elements of the website.
Basic website elements
Menu
The menu is a very important navigational element to help users navigate the site and quickly get to the information they need. It presents the main categories or sections of the site. It can be placed at the top or on the side of the page. On mobile devices, a compact hamburger-type menu (an icon consisting of 3 horizontal dashes) is commonly used. The menu structure should be carefully thought out. Users tend to focus on the first and last items in the list, so it is advisable to place the most important items there. We also recommend that category names should be clear and understandable.
Header
Designing a good header for a website is crucial for the user's first impression and effective brand communication. It usually includes a logo, brand name and a call-to-action (CTA) navigation element such as "Buy Now," "Download E-book," "Make an Appointment," "Sign Up," or "Discover New Collection," which increases the chances of conversion by prompting the user to take the desired action immediately.
The header should be concise, understandable and focused on the key brand values. This is the place to include a brand claim highlighting the unique features and values of the business. The effectiveness of the header is closely linked to the relevance of the content to the target group. When the message resonates with the needs of the target group, we build a more compelling user experience.
A great addition to the content is the image. Choosing the right photo influences the emotional engagement of the audience and the first impression. Therefore, it is worth ensuring that the photography is clear, crisp and harmonises with the colours of the website and the brand's visual identity.
Web content
It encompasses a variety of forms, such as product/service descriptions, articles, images, videos, infographics, or any kind of material that conveys information about the brand and the offer. Web design cannot be done without relevant, good content. The style, tone, as well as the type of content help shape brand identity, build recognition and engage users, influencing, among other things, the length of sessions or the number of purchases. A company's website should be filled with unique content that reflects the values and character of the brand. In doing so, care should be taken to ensure that the content is optimised for SEO and expressed in the language of benefits.
Blog
Through regular publications, you can convey news, tips, report on trends, successes, or company initiatives. A blog can act as a window into the inside of your business, allowing consumers to get to know your brand better, and you - not as a product/service provider, but as an entrepreneur with a great deal of passion and knowledge that you want to share.
In addition, blogs support the content marketing strategy. Properly SEO-optimised articles can increase the number of visits to the website, improving the visibility of the site in search engines. At this point, it is worth noting that it is not just a question of saturating content with keywords. To gain the sympathy of users or algorithms, it is necessary, above all, to ensure the content and visual value of the entries.
Ratings and feedback about your business
Reviews, ratings, and customer feedback can increase trust in your brand. Moreover, they make it easier for consumers to make a purchasing decision by confirming or questioning the quality of the offer. This is not only proof of customer satisfaction, but also an effective way to build reputation and differentiate your business from the competition. Business websites often devote a separate section to feedback. This makes the information highly visible and communicates to visitors that their satisfaction is an important aspect for the company. The presentation of feedback often uses photos, logos or authors' names - information that makes the quoted statements more authentic.
Certificates, awards, distinctions
If a company can boast of awards, certificates, diplomas or achievements of employees, it is worth putting a copy of the documents on the website. This type of information inspires credibility and recognition, and fully demonstrates the company's professionalism.
Contact
The placement of contact information on the website should be strategically thought out, with an emphasis on easy access and readability. A common practice is to have a separate '"Contact" category in the website menu - this is the location where information is immediately visible to visitors, without the need to scroll through the page. The area where users intuitively look for key information about a company is also the site footer.
Footer
Company address, phone number, email address - this is the basic information that is recommended to be placed in the footer of the page. In addition, to make it easier for users to locate the company, you can implement an interactive map at the bottom of the page that shows exactly where the company is located and how to get there. You can also embed links in the footer: to the cookie policy, privacy policy and other sections of the site. It's also a good idea to include icons with links to the company's social media profiles.
Additional features to increase the attractiveness of the website
Business websites are often equipped with additional features that enhance the functionality of the site and increase the company's attractiveness in the eyes of users. Tools such as live chat or contact forms allow consumers to communicate seamlessly with the company, significantly increasing customer service satisfaction. Among the most commonly implemented solutions are newsletter subscription forms - through which a base of users interested in an offer can be created - as well as the option to translate the site into another language, which increases the accessibility and reach of the site. The translation feature is particularly beneficial for companies operating in international markets. The use of additional features on the site should depend on the specifics of the business and the needs of the users, and be consistent with the strategic goals of the company.
What should a company's website look like?
A professional website in terms of aesthetics should harmonize with the visual identity of the company. Maintaining consistency in this regard is fundamental in building effective online communication. Three areas that should be especially taken care of are typography, visual elements (buttons with CTAs, icons, graphics) and spacing, which affect the clarity of the entire design. Long blocks of text are unacceptable. Content should be concise, creative and properly divided into paragraphs.
UX-oriented websites
The design of a company website should be looked at holistically, as individual elements will not make a good impression on users if the connection between them is missing. Creating a website on your own does not always place emphasis on the User Experience. Hence, it is worthwhile to involve professionals who are well versed in UX design principles in the creation of corporate websites.
UX-oriented websites are characterised by: simple structure, intuitive navigation, responsiveness (a website on any device displays correctly), loading speed, high aesthetics, personalisation of content, or clear CTAs. They are often more dynamic and attractive than the basic sites that a free website builder allows you to make. A web designer has specialised development tools and designs a website to ensure maximum user enjoyment, regardless of any disability-related limitations.
Summary
A holistic view of website design makes it possible to create websites that harmonise with the nature of the brand and are user-friendly (UX-friendly). Planning the structure of a company website is a key stage of web design. When planning the layout of the various sections and elements, it is worth adopting the perspective of the consumer in order to best match the presentation of the offer to the target group. When deciding whether to choose a onepage or multipage site, one should be guided by the scope of the offer and the objectives of the marketing strategy. Multimedia on websites is the real power and strength of a brand, so they should maintain the highest quality.
Let's create a modern website that fully reflects the uniqueness of your business, attracts potential customers and supports your business goals. At Sky&Sand marketing agency, we create responsive websites distinguished by aesthetics, functionality and a deep sense of harmony.
See our projects!
Websites designed from start to finish:
Kancelaria Radcy Prawnego Olaf Brymora
Cooperation based on the preparation of web content: