Website Design: Everything You Need To Know

Michael Vincent • Mar 21, 2023

Website Design: Everything You Need To Know

Introduction

Building a solid online presence is essential for your business to grow. A website is one of the best ways to do this because it allows people worldwide to instantly access your products or services. Good website design will help you to convert these potential customers. Read on if you want more information about how website design can help your company grow.

Several website designs on desktop computer screens

What is Website Design?

Website design is the process of creating a website's structure and features. The designer will aim to make your site look good, be easy to use, and function well on all devices.


The importance of website design cannot be overstated; it can be the factor that makes or breaks your business. If you have an ineffective website, potential customers will not find you online. Furthermore, if the website is located, but the content fails to meet the searcher's needs, they will not be converted into customers.


Websites must function smoothly across all devices, including smartphones, tablets and desktops/laptops, so anyone can access them easily. Your website design understands this and the methods to facilitate the desired results.


Why Should I Use a Website Designer?

Why should you use a web designer? Well, if you're like most small business owners, the answer is that you don't need one to advertise and sell what you offer to customers. After all, plenty of online tools allow anyone with basic computer skills to create their own website. Even custom designs can be done with little training or research into HTML and CSS coding languages.


But creating a website isn't just about building something for your business; it's about creating an identity for it, and that requires more than just knowing how to build a basic website from a template. In fact, "website design" is not the same as "web development." Website designers understand user experience and interface design; we know how people interact with websites on their phones and tablets; we understand what colours look good together and how typography affects readability. A good website designer knows which buttons will make visitors comfortable signing up for free trials or purchasing from your storefronts' virtual shelves.

Top web design company - Make Space Marketing -  nominated by clutch

How Much Does it Cost For a Website Design?

The cost of having a website designed depends on what you want. If you need a simple, small site that focuses on one or two things, it will cost less than if you want a complex site with lots of features and graphics. This can significantly increase the price tag if your business needs an e-commerce solution (for example, selling products online). 


Make Space Marketing is adept at creating websites of all types and sizes. For more information on our pricing, follow the link for web design pricing.


Who Is the Best Person to Perform My Website Design?

The best person for your web design is a professional web designer. Web designers understand graphic design and how to make your site appeal to visitors. As designers, we use software such as Adobe InDesign and Photoshop to build your site's pages, allowing them to create beautiful designs quickly. We are well-versed in creating websites that look good and function well.


Website Design is a Must if You Have an Online Business

If you have an online business, hiring a website designer is one of the most important things you can do. Your website must be found online by potential customers and visitors to succeed. If it's not accessible 24/7, customers cannot find out about your products or services when they need them most, when searching for information on Google or another search engine.


Your website must also be secure, so no one can hack into it and steal sensitive customer data like credit card numbers or email contacts. The last thing any business wants is for their customers' personal information to be leaked online because hackers were able to gain access through poorly secured websites! This is why GDPR rules must be followed in the UK to lessen the risk of such an event.

potential customers interacting with your website via mobile phones

What to Discuss with Your Website designer

Now that you understand website design, the following section highlights the aspects of your website design that should be discussed with your designer. The organisation and the web designer should consider these factors to ensure that the website meets the scope and provides the best user experience possible for converting visitors into customers.


Clear Layout and Navigation

The first and most important aspect of website design is a clear layout and navigation. A well-designed homepage should provide a clear and concise message that represents your brand's values and services. When visitors arrive at your website, they should be able to easily understand your brand and how to navigate through the site. The navigation bar should also be easy to understand and allow visitors to access different site pages easily.


Choosing The Right Web Hosting Platform

Your Web designer will help you choose the right web hosting platform, which is essential for your website's success. It affects your business's site speed, reliability, and scalability. Popular web hosting platforms include WordPress, Duda, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify. Consider how each interface works and ensure your chosen one fits your budget and goals. Furthermore, it is worth discussing the various platforms with your designer to ensure that the selected interface can meet the needs of your website design project.


Discuss Your Website Structure and Content

Knowing your website's desired structure and content before you start, can help make the design process more efficient. By discussing this with your web designer, you can ensure that there is a clear scope in place for your project. It is worth carrying out a benchmarking exercise and competitor analysis to see what is working for your competition.


Be sure to plan what pages you want, how they'll be organised, and what content you want on each page. Having a plan lets you focus on creating stunning visuals rather than getting bogged down in planning details. 


team discussing their website structure and content

Design the Layout and Look of Your Site 

Once you've chosen a web design platform or CMS, it's time to start designing your website. Depending on the platform you choose, templates and tools will be available to help you create a unique layout for your site. Your website designer can customise design elements like colour palettes, font choices, and background images to match your brand with the content. Custom headers, footers, and sidebars enable further customisation and functionality. When you're happy with the site layout and design, you can move on to the next step: adding content and search engine optimisation.


Visual Appeal

Linked closely to the section above is the visual appeal of a website as another crucial factor in website design. Your website's design should be visually appealing and align with your brand's aesthetic. Your website's colours, fonts, and images should align with your brand's messaging and values. Additionally, using high-quality photos and videos can significantly impact the user experience.

Make Space Marketing logo - visually appealing branding shown in space

Add Plugins and Features to Enhance Your Site's Functionality

Adding plugins and features is a great way to enhance your website design. Plugins are simple-to-install software solutions that can add powerful new functionality to your site. Popular plugins include a contact form, calendar plugins, and social media integration tools like Twitter and Facebook feeds. These can make it easier for visitors to stay updated with your content or reach out with inquiries. Other popular plugins include search engine optimisation (SEO) tools that help you boost your ranking on Google and e-commerce solutions like shopping carts and payment gateways.


Mobile Responsiveness

With most internet usage occurring on mobile devices, websites must be mobile-responsive. This means that the website's layout adjusts to fit the screen size of different devices, from desktops to smartphones. A mobile-responsive website provides a better user experience and affects your search engine optimisation (SEO) ranking. Google prioritises mobile-responsive websites, so if your website needs to be mobile-friendly, it may not rank as high in search engine results.

website speed and performance picture shown on Google Analytics

Website Speed

Website speed is another crucial factor in website design. Visitors expect a website to load quickly; they may leave it altogether if it takes too long. Additionally, website speed is a factor in SEO ranking. A slow-loading website may rank lower in search engine results than a faster one. To improve website speed, consider optimising images and videos, minimising code and scripts, and using a content delivery network (CDN).


Accessibility

Lastly, website accessibility is an essential component of website design. This means your website should be easily accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities. Features such as alt text for images and videos, descriptive link text, and keyboard navigation can significantly impact website accessibility.


How Can I Learn More About Web Design Services?

If you want to learn more about web design services, consider the following:

  • Read articles on the topic. Our article on choosing a web developer is an excellent place to start.
  • Talk to people who have used web design services. Get their opinion and ask them questions about their experience working with their designer or agency. You can also look at some examples of websites they've created.
  • Watch videos on the topic (and subscribe if you like them). There are lots of great channels on YouTube that cover all kinds of topics related to website design.
  • Contact a website design specialist such as Make Space Marketing
website design service Make Space Marketing

Website Design Service - Make Space Marketing

If you have read this far you have probably established that we know a thing or two about website design. If you need a first-rate website design service to enhance your online presence, look no further than our team at Make Space Marketing. We understand the importance of a website that looks visually stunning and functions seamlessly. Our website design service covers everything from the initial design to the finished product, and ongoing site health and SEO services. We ensure your website is tailored to your needs and goals.


Our skilled web designers will work closely with you to create a website that reflects your brand identity positively with your target audience. We use the latest web design techniques to ensure your website leaves a lasting impression on your visitors. 


Our website design service is not just limited to aesthetics. We also prioritise user experience, ensuring that your website is intuitive to navigate, loads quickly, and is accessible across all devices. By optimising your website for search engines, we also help to improve your online visibility and attract more potential customers to your business.


Make Space Marketing pride itself on providing exceptional customer service and delivering high-quality websites that exceed your expectations. We have the expertise and resources to create a functional and visually stunning website for organisations of all sizes.


Conclusion

Web design is an integral part of any online business. It's not just about how your site looks but also how it functions and interacts with visitors. If you're looking for someone to build your website, this article has given insight into website design and the factors you should consider. 


Contact us today about our website design service.

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