Effective web design is about more than what design styles are in fashion. It’s essential that your company gets it right with a sleek and secure website that communicates your passion for what you do.
Feel like web design trends are as changeable as the weather? Whilst some trends come and go, we’re keen to shine a light on the features that are in it for the long run. In truth, these are the key elements that will ensure your website stands out from the crowd.
Read on for the top ten web design trends your business should know for 2022.
1. Fast loading
Your website’s speed depends on many factors – the number of pages you have, file sizes and inefficient code are just a few examples. To make the most of your website, it’s got to be fast.
Is your website costing you customers?
Portent’s research shows website conversion rates drop by an average of 4.42% with each additional extra second of load time. Don’t let your website sabotage your sales – make it snappy.
2. Secure
We know you value everyone who visits your website, but do your visitors notice? Demonstrate your integrity by putting web security in place. Visitors need reassurance that their data is safe.
Will your visitors know you care?
You can put your visitors’ minds at rest by having a website with HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure). When this is in place, your customers see a padlock at the end of the web address bar, confirming they’re protected.
3. Branding
Clear branding proves your professionalism. Your website’s theme should correspond with what your company does.
Will your customers recognise you?
If you already have an established logo and brand, it’s wise to carry this through to your website. This will help your customers to recognise you, continuing your highly regarded reputation.
4. Content
Your business counts on people grasping what makes you special straight away. Make your goals clear by carefully considering the words you choose. When users understand your purpose, they’ll want to be a part of it.
Do your website’s visitors quickly understand what you do?
You need to show you are focussed on what you do. Cut the waffle – summarise your service. Underline the problems you can solve. Establish the all-important connection between you and your customer. Then set the ball rolling by closing with a strong CTA (call to action).
5. Great UX
No matter what themes are trending, great UX (user experience) will never go out of fashion. Your website has got to be easy to navigate, with all the information where you’d expect it to be.
Is your website’s layout letting your business down?
You’ve probably experienced the frustration of trying to search a clunky website. There’s nothing worse than losing out on business because visitors simply aren’t seeing what you’ve got to offer. Invest in a professional website designed with your customers’ needs in mind and it will benefit your profits too.
6. About section
Whether it’s a page or a paragraph, you need a section that explains who you are. This is your chance to start a relationship between you and your clients.
Is your website overshadowing your passion?
When designing and building a website, it’s easy to get carried away with sell, sell, sell – rather than actually telling your story. As well as learning about what you offer, customers want to know about the unique journey that’s shaped you – it tells them why they should go with you over the other companies that provide similar products or services.
7. Search engine friendly
With approximately 3.5 billion Google searches every day, it’s vital that your website is search engine friendly. Stay current by including popular keyphrases and improve your search engine ranking at the same time.
Is your website limiting your reach?
If your website isn’t search engine friendly, your business won’t reach the number of visitors it should. Straight off the bat, make your website crawl-friendly. This means search engine bots can crawl through your entire website without hitting broken links. If your website passes the test, it will rank better.
8. Mobile friendly
Since 2015, the percentage of web traffic from mobile devices has increased by 75.9%. Now more than ever, it’s important to make sure your website is mobile friendly. Give the best impression of your business by making your website smooth on mobile devices.
Will customers be able to find you?
What’s more, failure to make your website mobile friendly will cause your search engine ranking to suffer. Google now judges websites primarily on their mobile version. Make your website mobile friendly and help it rank higher.
9. Accessibility
The internet is ever-increasingly essential for finding information. This means everyone needs to have an equal opportunity to use it. For instance, if your website includes images, they need to be annotated for visually impaired visitors.
Are you excluding your business from an area of the market?
If your business overlooks accessible website design, you’ll lose potential customers. Your website should have everything to cater to as many people as possible.
10. Clear contact details
Is it easy to contact you? Showing you’re easy to reach is an essential part of showing your reliability. It creates a connection between you and your customers.
Is your website a barrier between you and your customers?
Just because you have a website, it doesn’t mean your customers can easily contact you. Recognisable symbols, like the email emoji, let people know they can talk to you at the touch of a button.
How Rapport Digital can help your accountancy firm
Keeping up with the latest updates can feel like a never-ending task. If you want an excellent website for your accountancy firm that ticks all the 2022 web design trend boxes, Rapport Digital is here to help.
We design stunning websites that help your business stand out. But we go beyond web design alone. Our team takes a holistic approach, assisting with the whole of your digital marketing efforts to make sure you succeed online – from social media and content to SEO, PPC and email marketing.