The Latest in Web Design - How to Keep up with Trends in a 5 Step Checklist
Does it feel like your business is constantly changing to keep up with the latest technology and design trends, as well as the everyday task of satisfying consumers? Web designs and trends are evolving to boost the user experience. A website needs to be engaging, up-to-date and have fast loading speeds otherwise consumers will simply jump to the next site.
Here is a 5 step checklist outlining the latest design features and trends for 2013. Use this list to determine if your website is behind the times and if so, it may be in need of a revamp.
A responsive layout is a single web design that is supported across all devices including laptops, desktops, Smartphones and tablets. The responsive layout responds to the size of the browser display used by the consumer, identifying the right platform.
As the number of consumers on the go and using a Smartphone increases, so does the need for website designs to be compatible with these devices. If your website does not employ a responsive layout you may be losing a large volume of consumers due to the frustration of trying to navigate around a normal sized desktop website not responsive to mobile or tablet.
Larger Images with Defined Text
Consumers are looking for instant answers with larger photos and smaller amounts of text. Scrolling through large volumes of text is a thing of the past. Bigger images are both eye catching and can engage with the user quickly.
The bigger images and defined text means businesses can promote and market their brand with a single image, icon or logo. This is a great way to capture the visitor's attention and leave them with a lasting impression.
Social media badges on a website are crucial for the marketing and social media aspect of the website. This form of media is becoming more popular as users want to re-post or share interesting topics or articles they have read.
These media icons can be placed anywhere on the layout of a website. Most sites have them positioned right next to the article for ease of sharing. Here are some social media icons you can try on your own website:
• Twitter Re-tweet
• LinkdIn Share
• Google+ Button
• Pinterest Button
• StumbleUpon
New products hitting the market may need an enhanced demonstration to get the product and message across to the consumer. This is why videos or sliding image presentations are a great way to promote the product on the homepage of a webpage.
The idea of the presentation is to entice the user by displaying all the information right in front of them. Big graphics are an easy way for the user to gain knowledge about a product while drawing attention to the website.
The sliding webpage banners move from the left hand side of the screen to the right, and each new banner is designed to display a different message. This is a great way to display a variety of information to the user without overcrowding the webpage.
The speed of the banner can be adjusted accordingly depending on how much information is on each board. The purpose of the banner is to include small amounts of information, with photos to entice the user in with calls to action. The user is then able to click on a banner of their choice and be directed to a more in-depth description of information.
