“You don’t need a pretty website design, you need a strategic one”. <<< You’ve seen this Instagram post or something like that from a designer right? While I’m here to bust the myth that the look of your website doesn’t matter. In fact, a strategic website should be pretty and vice versa.
What Does Strategic Website Design Mean?
And in this blog, I’m breaking down why you need a pretty website for your creative business if you want to get new client leads from your website.
Why you need a pretty website design
Website statistics back up that you need a pretty website design
While I’m not the type to rely solely on data regarding website design decision-making—it’s still a good source for getting your website heading in the right direction. And the website statistics back my theory up that YES, you do need a pretty website design.
Here’s what the website design statistics say (link to source):
59% of people prefer browsing ‘beautiful and well-designed’ sites to basic ones.
Almost 60% of users say they will not recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site.
Website design is an important factor in determining business credibility for 48% of visitors.
Around 50% of internet users say that website design is a crucial factor in formulating an opinion about a brand.
I think with those percentages ^^^ it’s safe to say that at least half of your website visitors want your website to be pretty, if not more.
BUT now that you know why you need a pretty website design—what is actually goes into making your website pretty?
5 Elements of a Pretty Website Design
Uncluttered page design layout
Cluttered website pages make them look less appealing. You don’t need to go with a design so minimalist that it looks boring BUT making it *simple is important. You don’t want to add so many crazy moving pieces of collages that it becomes distracting instead of good-looking.
Plenty of white space between elements
When in doubt, add a 3-ish finger width of white space around your website page sections and elements. <<< This will give your website design “room to breathe” and make it easier for someone to skim your website.
Why Your Website Needs to be Skimmable
Consistent brand fonts & color palette
Lack of consistency without your website colors and especially your fonts is a recipe for an ugly website—and it’ll be hard to read too, which is going to make people leave your website. You should only use your 5-8 brand colors throughout your website & stick with 2-3 fonts max.
How to Choose a Website Color Palette
How to Keep People from Leaving Your Website
Cohesive & professional brand imagery
Lackluster imagery can make your website look unprofessional and/or outdated and/or cheap. Ideally, it’s best if you can get custom photos taken by a brand photographer—but even if you do that you’ll probably need to intermingle with stock photos and videos.
How to Choose Stock Photos for Your Website
Clear & easy to understand navigation
While this technically is less design-related it is essential—because if someone gets confused on your website and can’t navigate, it won’t matter how pretty it is because they’ll leave it.
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