Rather than focusing solely on how a website looks, despite this being an important part of your business branding and image, UX design focuses on the way the website works and performs. Paying close attention to the features of the website that customers will use throughout their customer journey. With the key intention of your website to grow your business and increase customer engagement, how your website performs for your users will have a huge impact on the way it performs and the results it yields.
The definition of UX design and its importance
UX design (user experience) is an approach to web design that from the beginning to the final product will consider the user’s experience when navigating the website and how this website will help the user in accomplishing their end goal. For whatever reason a user has entered a website, they will have an end goal. Be it, to make a purchase, make contact with a company, or find the answer to their question. Good UX design will allow them to achieve this goal faster, whilst making sure to interact with and navigate the site smoothly.
The importance of UX design
In the world of digital marketing, a website’s design plays a significant role in the presence of a brand online. When it comes to developing a site that ticks all the boxes, UX design must be prioritised. From making sure the website looks good to performing and allowing a business to benefit from its use. Not only will your customers benefit from good quality UX design, so too will your business.
A website that performs well, loads fast, is easy to navigate and provides the result users are searching for in a simplistic manner is much more likely to see increased engagement and returning users. Helping to retain customers, foster positive customer relationships and build a loyal customer base.
Features your customers will look for in a well-built website
There are some specific elements of a well-built website that customers, particularly modern internet users, not only want but expect from their favourite brands and companies. Since accessibility to modern technology and advanced web design, as well as expert web developers, allows for greater features and modern functionality, the general public will quickly become frustrated with websites that do not meet their modern standards, potentially leaving your business behind in the competitive online marketplace.
Your checklist of key features should include:
- Easy navigation
- Fast website speed and loading
- A responsive design
- Content that provides the user with the information they are looking for
- Accessibility and security
- Call to action
While it might be easy for some companies to design and develop a website using UX designers in house, many do not have access to the expertise of professional designers and developers to do this correctly. Which is why outsourcing your design and development to expert designers working for specialist development companies is the next best thing. Catering their skills to their client’s requirements, such designers will have the capability to deliver websites that are aesthetically pleasing and have high quality functional features in order to achieve a business’ goals.