The new year has really only just started, and there have already been several indications as to how website design is set to evolve for the rest of 2014. Just as we all watch the weather in Calgary with some trepidation, we also watch design trends with a touch of unease. Some changes can cause real problems for unprepared sites. Fortunately, however, the news is good for those that have remained on top of the progress of the Internet. If you have already incorporated elements to make your website reactive, agile and optimized, you remain ahead of the curve.
Emphasize Design creates customized online marketing packages for motivated businesses in Calgary.
What Websites Need For The Next Year
We just can’t say it enough. Responsiveness, responsiveness, responsiveness. The demands of today’s gadgets keeps expanding, and sites now have to be able to be read easily and operated quickly from a wide variety of tools. And those tools also have varying degrees of screen size, resolution and capability. A responsive web design is key to taking advantage of the number of channels people may use to filter in to your website.
Keeping it clear is another point. There is a great number of people investing in high-density pixel displays. This can be tough for designers who are constantly trying to optimize their images to load as quickly as possible, but with proper photo editing and a thoughtful choice of imaging the difference should be negligible. If you have a gorgeous photo that begs to be front-and-centre, allow it to be! Content can be secondary to a great image and the page can still do well as long as you pay attention to best practices for image SEO.
Image optimization can also help your ability to make a sale through your online store. There is nothing more frustrating for a user than not being able to get a clear view of the item they are thinking about purchasing. Be judicious about your choices, though. Simple products shouldn’t require a lot of pixel space, but more complicated items deserve the room.
Going video can be a great solution. Inserting a video into a single page can be just as valuable as adding several pages of text explaining exactly what the video does. These days video can be quickly adapted to suit the demands of search engines, and can be an attractive and effective addition to your website.
Although it may seem as though what’s becoming most important in the Internet world just follows the trends of the hippest technology-lovers out there, it may actually be the opposite. Less is more in the world of website design these days. Just as Calgary business owners are always trying to capitalize of their opportunities in the market, website designers are always trying to capitalize on their space on the Internet. Good content remains a key component to performing well in search engine rankings, but being “real” is even more important. Having a human face and voice associated with your website can be a big advantage…especially when that human is real, can be contacted and responds when asked.
Pare down your number of pages and present the necessities. Then use your blog – written by your company representative – to address questions, present new information and interact with consumers.
More and more websites (and companies) are moving to inbound marketing strategies, where fundamental pages are optimized to provide an added benefit. Landing pages are where the user is directed to a useful resource, such as an eGuide, and allow for direct contact to be made and a communication stream to be opened.
Through inbound marketing, a business’s strengths are outlined through strong imagery and well-written, informative, up-to-date and relevant content. Inbound engages the user and entices them to do more, simply because there is value for them in doing so.
Discover Inbound With Emphasize
Calgary Internet marketing specialists Emphasize Design represents several local clients with diverse businesses and individual needs. We use our skills to attract, convert and close customers online, and through collaboration we can build your brand and reputation at the same time.
