We all know that quality web design is a valuable investment, but what are the real benefits of hiring a professional designer? Is the price tag worth it? Will a website that looks good bring in business?
Yes, and here’s why:
Every area has its own niche marketing needs, and those details can’t be ignored – the folks you’re trying to reach in St. John’s, Newfoundland are going to respond differently to the people in Vancouver, BC.
There are a few key factors that should be studied across the board though – all people respond to quality, with a message tailored to them, whether it be a social media campaign, or an online web campaign promoting products using landing pages and community link building.
1. CONSISTENT BRAND IDENTITY
Professional designers think about the big picture. They create a visual language for your brand that is consistent across different contexts. Your website, logo, business cards, and even your Twitter profile have to form a coherent whole. Brands that have a consistent visual language make a more memorable impression than those that look like five different side-businesses.
2. MORE VISITORS STAY ON THE PAGE
You’re not looking for clicks. You’re looking for visitors who browse through your site and get to know who you are. Remember that most people will leave after one glimpse at your site. It takes something special to keep them interested, let alone willing to buy your product or service.
3. MORE CUSTOMERS
Calls to action are the sign-up, buy now, and learn more parts of your site. Where they are on the web page, how they look, and what they say will determine how much more people decide to buy something from you.
4. DISTINCTION FROM COMPETITORS
Good-enough websites just don’t cut it anymore. Within one industry, there are many sites that look the same. They say the right stuff, the design isn’t too offensive, but they don’t make the effort to speak up and say why they’re special. That doesn’t mean you have to pull out the sparkly graphics to get attention. Quality means distilling all of your unique selling points into one coherent visual message.
5. FORM, STRUCTURE AND PURPOSE TO CONTENT
Content and design need to be perfectly aligned on your site. Most people will not put in the effort to understand what you are trying to say. Large blocks of small text, confusing navigation, and obscured calls to action will turn visitors away. Designers work with your content so that it’s clear and directs people to what you want them to do.
6. POLISHED DETAILS
The choice of fonts, spacing of text, and contrast are details that make a difference in the overall quality of your site. These kinds of nuances may not seem that important, but they affect how readable and functional the site is.
7. OBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVE
You are the expert on your own business, but you are not an expert on web design. Sometimes there needs to be a compromise between what you want and what works for the web. Quality web design also comes from the experience of knowing how to translate ideas into web pages.
8. LESS SPENDING DOWN THE ROAD
Businesses that try to get a “good deal” and buy into the promise of getting high-quality design services for a cheap price often end up paying more than they need to. Why? They realize that high quality really does cost money and pay for another designer to re-do their site.
9. RELIABLE PARTNERSHIP
Business owners and web designers have to work together to create a website. The process involves communication and compromise. If you are satisfied with the result, the web designer you worked with will be your go-to for changes and new additions.
10. ROOM TO GROW
Quality design builds a solid foundation for the improvements you will want to make after the initial site is finished. Whether you want to add a new product or service, the site will already have a strong enough aesthetic that you don’t have to go back to square one.
