Use UX Design to Improve Your Website Performance.
UX design can sound intimidating, but in simple terms—as it relates to website design—UX is the process of creating an experience for your user that is enjoyable and helpful. It can help turn your website visitors into loyal, satisfied customers.
UX (User Experience) website design is the process of optimizing your website visitors’ experience—crafting it in a way that makes it fun and meaningful. You want it to be easy for them to understand what you offer, why it would benefit them, and how to get it. When users have a positive and efficient experience on your website, they are more likely to engage (sign up for an email, read a blog, make a purchase, or schedule a call), share your site, and return to it. Here are some ways you can create a great UX experience on your website:
1. Faster Loading Times
Optimizing your website for a seamless user experience includes improving loading times. Faster websites tend to rank higher in search engines, and users are more likely to stay and engage with content when pages load quickly. If your site is taking too long to load or your photos aren't loading, users tend to leave and not come back.
Several things can slow down your website, but one of the most common issues I see is not properly resizing images. Images often take the longest time to load on a website since image files tend to be larger than HTML and CSS files. Luckily, you can easily reduce the file size by optimizing your images, which typically involves reducing the resolution and dimensions and compressing the image file itself.
The best image resolution for the web is 72 pixels per inch (PPI). The best resolution for print images is 300 pixels. So, if you have an image that was optimized for print and you load it on your website, it could cause your site to become sluggish. In addition, you want to keep your image size below 500 KB; I try to get them under the 200-300 range by compressing the file. There are great free tools to help you optimize your images, including jpeg-optimizer.com and tinypng.com. And remember, when you resize your images, make sure you are naming them using SEO best practices: use brief descriptions with keywords.
2. Mobile-Friendly Design.
With a growing number of users accessing websites on mobile devices, it's essential that your website is responsive and mobile-friendly. A good mobile UX can lead to higher engagement and better search engine rankings, especially since Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing. A good UX design on desktop might not translate well to a smaller screen. Consider using more images, less text, and larger CTA buttons with plenty of white space. For more ways to learn how to make your website mobile-friendly, check out my blog.
3. Intuitive Navigation
Clear and intuitive navigation menus and site structure help users find what they're looking for more easily. This reduces bounce rates, increases time spent on your site, and boosts the likelihood of users taking desired actions.
4. Consistent Design
Maintain a consistent design throughout your website, including colors, fonts, and branding elements. A consistent and attractive visual design will make your site more welcoming and appealing to your target audience. It also reinforces your brand, creating a sense of trust and professionalism, which can positively impact your conversion rates.
5. Content Hierarchy
Arrange content with a clear hierarchy, using headings and subheadings to guide users through the page. Use visual cues like typography, graphics, color, and white space to emphasize important content.
6. Engaging Content
UX design is not only about the structure; it also requires high-quality and engaging content that helps to keep users on your site longer. Quality content can indirectly affect your search engine rankings as search engines consider user engagement metrics. However, keep in mind that what makes your content engaging is that it speaks directly to your target audience's needs and pain points. It is essential you have a clear understanding of your ideal customer and develop content specifically for them. And use the craft of storytelling to whisk your visitors on an irresistible journey that leads them to your desired action.
7. Clear Call to Action (CTAs)
Effective CTAs guide users to take desired actions, such as signing up, making a purchase, or contacting your business. Don't make your visitors work to figure out how to get your product or service, or confuse them with bait-and-switch offers. Well-written, well-designed, and honest CTAs can improve conversion rates and overall website performance. I will dive deeper into what I mean by a well-written, well-designed CTA in an upcoming blog later this season.
8. Feedback
One of the best ways to learn how to improve your users' experience is to ask your users. Seek out and listen to user feedback to help you identify areas for improvement that you might not have noticed otherwise. You can also use analytics tools to track users' behavior on your site and make data-driven improvements.
In Summary
a well-designed and user-friendly website will not only help to attract visitors but will also keep your visitors engaged and satisfied. This results in improved website performance and overall business success. However, remember UX design is an ongoing process, and it's essential to adapt to changing user needs and preferences as well as changes you might make to your products or business goals.
If you need help crafting a great UX experience on your website, I'd love to help. Let's talk.