Good web design is good business. If you have a well-designed website, it’s more likely to attract visitors, keep them on the page, and turn them into leads.
But web design isn’t an exact science. It involves a lot of artistic decision-making that only a true professional can pull off well.
That said, there are still some web design rules anyone can learn to create an attractive, user-friendly website. So if you want to try designing your website, here are six web design principles you need to know:
- Easy navigation
Your website should be easy to navigate. It should have a wayfinding system that is intuitive and logical. Most of the time, this looks like a simple navigation bar at the top of the site.
But however you structure your site’s navigation, make it straightforward. You want visitors to understand how to get around your site within seconds. If they don’t, they might get impatient and leave.
Also, make sure your web navigation is mobile-friendly. These days, mobile devices account for over half of all web traffic.
- White space
Another fundamental element of good web design is white space. White space is the blank or negative space on a page that contrasts with the words and images. You need to strike a proper balance between white and non-whitespace for your site to be aesthetically pleasing.
White space also keeps your website from looking cluttered. The fewer elements on a page, the less overwhelming and confusing it is. In fact, properly using white space can increase user comprehension by up to 20%. So be strategic and break up large chunks of text. Sometimes less is more.
- Visual hierarchy
In addition to white space, websites need to have a visual hierarchy. For example, make more important elements larger and bolder, and group related elements closer together. This will help visitors make sense of the information quickly because it has a logical flow.
You can also use a grid system to divide web content into separate sections. This helps make your website look neat and structured. Whatever you do, be intentional about how the information on the page is organized.
- Consistent design
Consistency creates harmony. Make sure all the colors, fonts, and buttons are consistent throughout your website. This will give it a uniform look and prevent you from having too many clashing elements.
A consistent design also boosts your branding. Users are more likely to remember a brand that has a recognizable style. Half of consumers consider a company’s website design crucial to their opinion of that brand.
- Good copywriting
As for the actual words on your website, make them clear and direct. The website copy should get straight to the point so that visitors have no trouble understanding it. So write simply and avoid using jargon and clever phrases.
Good copywriting takes practice. It requires identifying your target audience, creating a hook, writing directly to the reader, and more. This is not a job to hand off to your software developer. Choose the right copywriter for your project instead so that your web copy shines.
- Clear purpose
Lastly, your website needs a clear purpose. Whether that’s to sell something, inform readers, entertain people, or something else, visitors should quickly understand what your website is all about.
Part of making the website’s purpose clear is including calls to action (CTAs). These are invitations to the visitor to do something like make an order, sign up for a newsletter, or share your content on social media. Whatever it is, make CTA buttons big, targetable, and easy to reach so they stand out.
Final word
Designing a killer website isn’t easy. But following these essential web design principles will help you create one that’s better than most.
If there’s one thing you should remember, it’s to focus on the user experience. If you do that, you’ll automatically make better web design decisions in the process.