Your website is probably the very first touchpoint that consumers will have with your business in this digital age. Visitors come shaped by their experiences on social media and e-commerce platforms, so if your site fails to live up to these standards, they’re going to click away—fast.
At Notice specialize in designing for what modern visitors look for on a business website, and compel them to take action. Let’s discuss what visitors look for (supported by trends and numbers) and how design, layout, and content come together to make an impactful impression.
The Impact of Social Media and E-Commerce
Social media and e-commerce services such as TikTok, Instagram, and Amazon have altered the way that people consume digital information, with a focus on:
- Visuals: Sites focus on compelling, digestible visuals.
- Instant Gratification: Customers want information or products available instantly.
- Actionable Content: Seamless navigation and clear CTAs (calls to action) are essential.
If your website isn’t visually appealing, intuitive and user-friendly, visitors will get frustrated and leave.
What Modern Website Visitors Want
1. Professional Design That Builds Trust
First impressions matter. It is reported that 75% of users assess the legitimacy of a company by how their website looks. A clean, professional website conveys credibility and professionalism, while a dated or overly busy design scares away customers.
- Example: Apple’s website is an exemplar of clean, polished design. Its clean layout and focus on high-quality images guide users effortlessly through the site.
2. Clear Navigation and Intuitive Layout
People just want to get the information they’re looking for without having to scramble through the mud. One of the easiest ways to lose them is a hard-to-use navigation bar or overly cluttered design.
- Stat: 88% of online users are less likely to return to a site following a negative user experience.
- Tip: Structure your site to make it easier to find and organize information through a logical hierarchy and clear CTAs.
- Example: Amazon excels at navigation. Its search bar and logically categorized product pages enable users to browse products with little hassle.
3. Relevant Content That Solves Their Problems
Users scroll rather than read word for word. According to research, 79% of users scan a page and look at headings, bullet points, and highlighted text.
- Use concise, impactful language.
- Highlight important things with bold font or subheadings.
- Compress content into bite-sized chunks for easier reading.
Design Insights Reflecting Social Media
Millennials’ use patterns are defined by how much time they spend on social media. Using familiar design components will make your site more usable and user-friendly:
- Prioritize Images: Much like Instagram focuses on images, the more prominent images, videos, and graphics, the better the website performs.
- Design for Scroll: Using the scroll behavior of social media keeps users engaged longer.
- Engage Users: From share buttons to comments, interactive design fosters interaction.
Why Frustration Kills Conversions
When users aren’t able to access the information they want easily, frustration takes over. The result? Lost opportunities.
- Stat: 53% of mobile users will leave a site if it takes over 3 seconds to load or is difficult to navigate.
- Example: Compare an unoptimized website with cluttered or unnecessarily large menus to Google’s homepage. Google’s simple and clean design make search seamless for users.
Trends That Shape User Expectations
- Mobile-First Design: Since more than 60% of website traffic comes from mobile, a responsive, mobile-friendly design is an absolute necessity.
- Fast Load Times: People expect websites to load quickly. Even a delay of one second will decrease conversions by 7%.
- Clear and Actionable CTAs: Websites with well-positioned and intuitive CTAs seamlessly steer customers toward what they need to do, which significantly increases engagement and conversions.
How We Use These Best Practices
At Notice, we build websites that respond to current user behavior and demands. Here’s how we do it:
- Designed by Experts: Every site we build is beautifully designed and reflects trust and legitimacy.
- Optimal Navigation: We place an emphasis on logical structures and simple CTAs, so users can get what they need in the shortest amount of time.
- User-Oriented Design: Professional digital media ranging from custom graphics to captivating videos grab the eye of users.
- Mobile-Friendly & Fast: We optimize our sites across every device and ensure that the site loads quickly to minimize bounce rates.
- Minimal Yet Effective Copy: We create clear, scannable copy that highlights key points without overwhelming users.
Key Takeaways for Business Websites
People visiting your site look for:
- Professionalism, visual impact, and trust.
- A clear and frictionless navigation that moves them around seamlessly.
- Concise, useful content that solves their problems or answers their questions.
- A lightning-fast experience that adapts to any device.
Incorporating social media and e-commerce design elements will help make your website feel familiar to visitors.
Conclusion: Meeting Modern Expectations
An attractive website isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a crucial part of your business success. People visiting today are more impatient than ever, and they don’t have time to waste. By putting professional design, navigation, relevant content, and calls to action in your favor, you will convert casual site visitors into long-term customers.
At Notice, we design stunning websites that turn clicks into customers. If you’re ready to enhance your business’s online presence on budget, let’s talk.
