Web design trends are constantly evolving, thanks in particular to the emergence of new technologies, as well as changes in user needs.
In this article, we'll take a brief look at the key principles of web design to help you in the website creation modern creation to stand out on the internet.
We will discuss elements you might include (or exclude) to modernize your website. Features, web design, images, content — discover how to build a trendy, high-quality site to boost your presence on Google.
Did you know? It is generally cheaper to have your website built by freelancers. Some are even skilled in multiple areas (web development, web design, integration, etc.). Get quotes from the best freelancers by posting a free job ad on Codeur.com.
What is a modern website?
Before giving you some tips to modernize your site, it's important to clarify what we mean by a modern website.
Indeed, a modern site doesn't just mean creating a cutting-edge design while using outdated rules. You need to bring it up to current “standards” in terms of design, yes, but above all in terms of usability. Your site must be structured simply and effectively so the user experience is as good as possible.
This way, you're more likely to turn your online visitors into customers. Whatever your activity or field, whether you want to create a showcase site or an e-commerce site, the user experience will directly affect performance and interactions.
A modern website is one that captures users' attention at first glance while conveying a professional image. That's what attracts visitors and also builds their trust.
Once that first step is taken, the visitor needs to navigate easily between your pages and find the information they need about your services or products just as naturally.
A modern website offers many advantages compared to an outdated site:
- better visibility and therefore a growing audience;
- constantly growing traffic;
- therefore a conversion rate also steadily increasing;
- and finally, increasing revenue.
Finally, a modern website can be viewed from any device. Don't forget that more than 55% of people access the web from their smartphone. So it's better that your site is readable and easy to use both on a computer and on a mobile phone.
To create a modern website, we've gathered here the six current trends to follow to ensure your success through an optimized user experience.
Creating a modern site: 6 tips
Create a website requires a lot of resources. To save time, it is recommended to create a specifications document to list your needs.
Download our free template for specifications document for creating a website.
Before you start, source images, write your page content, and plan your menu!
1. Keep things simple
Designing a website today can be summed up by the maxim “Keep it simple.”
Don't be fooled: keeping things simple is probably the hardest thing to do, especially with the abundance of animations and gimmicks available to designers who often want to show off their skills.
Don't lose sight of why your site attracts traffic. It's not for the neat animations or flashy details, but for your content. Give visitors what they're looking for with a simple, effective design.
So we eliminate 3D buttons and other frills; instead you should use:
- Some simple illustrations,
- Some bright colors,
- Some subtle animations,
- A minimalist look ensuring more white space to allow users to easily follow the information they are looking for.
An easy option if you don't hire an agency or freelancer to build your site is to use a CMS like WordPress.
WordPress lets you create your site easily using a theme. There are various themes, some free and some paid. You'll surely find one that fits your business. Then all that's left is to write text to enrich your pages and add images.
Make sure to keep your site and theme updated to always stay current.
Some hosting providers like OVH let you automatically install a WordPress site when you order your domain name and hosting, so don't hesitate!
2. But what are the police doing?
The font is another crucial element in your website's design. Reading content online requires good legibility, so the typeface must be chosen carefully. A good font highlights the text and information on your pages.
Find a typeface that best suits your site, or create one. This will help add credibility to your brand and users will be able to identify your brand as soon as they see that font.
With the ever-growing number of typefaces available to designers, choosing an appropriate font for your brand is becoming easier every day.
3. The Scroll League
Another important concept in designing your site is scrolling. In a world where mobile browsing is becoming the norm, it’s important to have a mobile site or a responsive site. Navigation is essential to the user experience.
The ease of use of a site has become a deciding factor. Consequently, the one-page design (single-page) approach is considered an important advance to help users find information on your site, especially for customers who use a mobile device to browse your site.
Using internal links that lead to different parts of the same page allows visitors to easily access the section of the page that interests them.
This practice significantly reduces the time it takes to reach information, since it’s no longer necessary to load multiple pages to access it. Users familiar with this layout click and the page scrolls to the appropriate location, without having to wait for a new page to load to find what they’re looking for.
4. The color palette
Of course, colors in web design are among the fundamental elements and there’s no limit to surprising or delighting visitors.
But the use and arrangement of colors are critical to the appearance of your website. A color palette that is both strong and simple will help create cohesion among the other elements of your design.
Although there is no limit to the range of colors available, the number of colors you use in your design is important:
- If you decide to use too many colors, be careful: it can be visually distracting (or ugly).
- If, on the other hand, you keep a simple color scheme, it becomes easier to focus on the important elements.
5. Calls to action
This is where you can turn your visitors into potential leads, then into customers. This is another key aspect of website design.
A website’s purpose is to bring you people who are interested in your products, services, or the information you share. And when they arrive, your goal is to make them come back regularly.
So, what makes a good call to action?
- A button to fill out a newsletter signup form
- A button to fill out a discount coupon request form
- A free consultation
- E-books or white papers available for free download
- And many more.
Implement it from the start of your design so it integrates as naturally as possible. This will help you collect your visitors’ contact details, which will enable you to start conversations, engage your users, and convert them into customers.
You can appropriately include CTAs throughout your site, including at the end of blog posts, on the homepage, product pages…
6. The visitor comes first
When designing your website, make sure it’s for your users first and foremost. That is the most important element of your design.
Sometimes you might be tempted to do things that harm the user experience but are beneficial for SEO. Don’t forget that your user is the priority. Make your website user-friendly before considering anything else. That will also help your SEO.
Besides, even before designing your website, it’s necessary to clearly define your typical visitor. Your site should appeal to them. That way you ensure higher traffic and conversion rates because your site will speak directly to your target audience.
Our tip for creating a modern site
Of course, you can try to do it yourself. But nothing is more effective for creating and designing a modern site than hiring a professional specialist who stays up to date with market changes and shifts in users’ browsing habits.
All the more so since it only takes a few seconds for a visitor to form an opinion about your business and the professional image you project, deciding whether to keep browsing your pages, convert into a customer, or move to another site to meet their need.
That’s why, for creating your website or updating your site to a modern version, we recommend using our freelance web developers by submitting your project for free on Codeur.com.
They will be able to guide you and offer a design that reflects you while showcasing your professional identity and company values.
