1. Responsive design
The share of mobile devices is growing all the time so websites are required to work on devices of all sizes. Responsive design means that the layout of a website automatically adapts to the screen dimensions. The same site works across all devices automatically and no platform specific versions needs to be developed.
According to Statista, “In 2016, 43.6 percent of all website traffic worldwide was generated through mobile phones, up from 35.1 percent in the previous year.” It’s true that the importance of mobile-friendly web design has been increasing for the past several years, and that trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Now, in the first half of 2019, Google will be rolling out its new Mobile First Index, placing more importance on the mobile version of your website by making it the first to be seen in the search results. This means that your website must have mobile-friendly design.
2. Search engine optimization
The majority of visitors to a website come via search engines (mostly Google). With search engine optimization you get free search engine visibility and perhaps don’t need to buy ads. The headings and texts should describe the company using the most common terms, so that when somebody enters these terms in a search engine, the website has a chance of being in the results.
In addition to relevant content, the technical presentation must also be correct.
3. Fast loading
The amount of mobile users (who in general have slow connections) has increased, and the speed of wired connections hasn’t significantly increased either. Having a website that loads fast is still very relevant. This is particularly demanding as websites should be ever more impressive, but the file size of big images should not grow.
Fast pages get better higher search engine rankings. Do you want more users, who stay at your site for longer and are more return more often? Invest in speed.
4. Good web addresses
Shorter equals better: Easier to remember, easier to type on a touch screen, easier to fit in the 140 characters of a tweet…
Using the www in domains is useless. Simply example.com is enough.
Using the www in domains is useless. Simply example.com is enough.
Carefully choose domain names with your most important keyword embedded, as it has a big impact on search engine results.
5. Social media integration
A website needs to share content where people already are, so that the content gets visibility. Push out your contents to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other similar services. Visibility sparks interest to visit the website. While users visit your website, promote sharing to social networks. Two-way integration leads to a positive loop!
Also remember map services and directory services. Traditional channels still have their users: provide a RSS feed and an e-mail subscription option.
6. Visitor analytics
For most businesses the point of a website is to increase visibility among potential customers. Well, how many potential customers has there been then? Do you have statistics and analytics?
All investments into a website should be guided by the expected results (ROI). Results should be evaluated from visitor statistics. A weekly PDF report is easy to automate!
7. Easy to update
Stylishness is an important part of the visitor impression, but content in most important. At minimum the content should be correct and current. Wrong information (e.g. price, address, opening hours) on a website will make people angry and spur mistrust.
Management must always remember the website and value it as the most important communication channel.
8. Affordable to improve and maintain
There is always something to improve or maintain. But there’s not always lots of resources? Development and a changes costs must be laid out before hand, otherwise it may not be cost effective.
12 Web Design Trends to Watch in 2019
1. Making Mobile a Priority
2. Irregular Grid Layouts
3. Bold Fonts & Bright Colors
4. Increase in Micro-Interactions
5. More Advanced Scroll Triggered Animations
6. Top Sticky Elements vs. Bottom Sticky Elements
7. Responsive Design
8. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
9. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVGs)
10. Progressive Web Apps
11. Internet of Things Connectivity
12. More Pictures