What Makes a Good Website? 5 Essential Website Design Elements

Jonesen TeamIndustry Insights

Having a website is vital to the success of your business, as 3.7 billion people use the internet. Those users make 5 billion searches every day. You need your website to be the answer they’re looking for.

What makes a good website is a combination of skilled design, talented writing, and careful coding. The result is a visually appealing website that’s easy to navigate and ranks well in search engine results.

If your website lacks these elements, then it’s time to update your website’s design.

1. Intuitive Navigation

A website should be easy to navigate for a first-time visitor. The menu items should be readily available on every page. For most websites, this means putting the menu bar at the top of the screen.

A visitor should be able to know where they are on your website and have easy access to where they want to go. Keep in mind that there’s a delicate balance between an interactive menu and an annoying one.

2. Visually Appealing

Humans are visual creatures, and your website has less than a second to impress visitors. You can do this by having visually stunning graphics and a clean, uncluttered layout. You want your website, and by proxy, your business, to present as professional and trustworthy.

Try to avoid a lot of scrolling text, flash, and animations. If you choose to use these elements, do so sparingly and purposefully.

3. Multiple Screen Friendly

There are countless screen sizes that range from large landscape monitors to small vertical touchscreens. Your website needs to adapt and look beautiful on all of them.

To do this you need a responsive website. It automatically detects the size and dimensions of the screen display and accommodates it. This will ensure that every visitor experiences the best view possible.

4. Quality Content

You can’t have a website full of pictures. You need to have some written content as well.

This not only informs your visitors but also helps your website perform better in SEO. Avoid having large walls of text; this will make the readers glaze over and leave.

Aim to create clear, concise messages. Keep in mind that the average American reads at a 7th or 8th grade reading level. By aiming for this reading level, you can reach more visitors.

5. Search Engine Friendly

You could have the most beautiful and informative website in the world, but when no one ever finds it, it’s a waste. The website designer you choose needs to know and understand the correct methods for making a website SEO friendly. An experienced designer will know to use optimized images, and aim for fast load times and mobile-friendliness.

By optimizing your website, you can boost your search engine rankings. The more people you get in front of, the more chances you have for someone to click through to your site.

Now You Know What Makes a Good Website

If you have a website, take a look at it with these five tips in mind. Now that you know what makes a good website, you can give it a once over with a critical eye. If your website needs an update or you don’t have a website, then it’s time to start working with a skilled designer.

Contact us today and let us help you create a stunning website for your business.