Developing an effective website means implementing best practices and staying current with how they evolve in our constantly changing digital world. This blog will outline 10 web design best practices for 2023 that will help enhance your website's user experience, increase traffic and engagement, and ultimately, drive conversions for your business.
1. Mobile-First Design
In the past decade, mobile devices have been at the forefront of the digital revolution, and accounts for approximately 54% of overall web traffic. Mobile-first design is done by sketching or prototyping designs for the smallest screen first and gradually working up to larger sizes.
2. Speed Optimization
Page speed optimization helps with improving the loading time of web pages. Optimizing for page speed can include one, or a combination, of the following - Optimizing images, lazy loading images/video, pre-loading files, minifying files, combining files, and utilizing a CDN.
3. Dark Mode
Dark mode is a website feature which allows websites to go from a light contrast to a dark contrast theme. This is typically used to browse websites at night, or in poor lighting conditions. There are also claims that dark mode helps with reducing blue light exposure.
4. Accessibility
Accessibility should always be considered when creating a website. Design & develop your website so that people with disabilities, or speak a different language, can use it. Enhanced navigation features and universal features like language translators
5. Minimalist Design
Minimalist design is about simplicity. It focuses on the messaging while removing unnecessary elements to create a clean and uncluttered design. It emphasizes clean layouts, limited color schemes, use of white space, and simple typography.
6. Micro-interactions
Incorporate subtle animations and hover states to enhance user engagement and provide feedback for user actions. Elements like popups, accordions, and slide out navigations are some common micro-interactions you would find on most websites.
7. Voice User Interface (VUI)
With the rise of voice-activated devices, consider optimizing your site for voice search and commands.
8. Video Backgrounds
High-quality, relevant video backgrounds can create an immersive experience and convey information more effectively than static images.
9. Personalization
Use data to personalize user experiences. Tailor content, recommendations, and interactions based on user behavior and preferences.
10. SEO-Friendly Design
Implement SEO best practices, including clean URL structures, proper use of headers, and strategic placement of keywords.
Remember, these are general guidelines, and the specific needs of your website or target audience may require a strategy. Keep an eye on emerging trends and technologies to stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of web design!
Reach out to DaBrian Marketing Group so we can help you implement best practices to enhance your website’s user experience and to help gain more conversion opportunities.