Do you need to redesign or improve your website? Then this post is for you. Think of your website as a home: would you receive a very important business visit with your house in total disarray?
In fact, no matter how messy it is, it is easier to fix it than to buy another one. No matter how rich the person is, right?
Here at iWEBAPP, we have seen countless projects, from websites to pages and blogs, completely stagnant, with little online return. It is very common for managers and entrepreneurs not to know where to start.
As someone who understands everything about website creation, I have brought this guide to help you “fix the mess”.
Put each point into practice and then share your progress with us!
Why is redesigning your website important for the user experience?
When it comes to improving your website, it is essential to keep in mind that, regardless of the changes you make, the ultimate goal is always to make the user experience positive. Consequently, this strategy will increase conversions.
For example, selling a product, supporting an idea, signing up for an email list, or any other desired action.
Every adjustment and optimization made is intended to make the website more effective in directing visitors to that desired conversion. The success of the website is measured by its ability to convert visitors into customers, followers, or leads.
Your website is like your home on the internet.
Imagine that your home page is a mess: broken links, outdated pages, and slow loading. It’s the same thing as a completely dusty room, with broken furniture and leaking water. You can’t welcome anyone like that…
That’s the same feeling with your website. If it takes forever to load, with broken links and an unpleasant design, the user experience will be frustrating and they will inevitably leave your website.
And look, this is not just a matter of opinion.
According to a Forbes survey (2024): almost half of users don’t wait more than 2 seconds for a website to load. Another 40% admitted that they would leave a website if it took more than 3 seconds to load. The secret to improving your conversions is to focus on the user experience. You will achieve your goals when you solve real problems for users and provide a useful, enjoyable and frictionless experience on the website. How to improve your website conversions? The activities you do to improve the website and conversions are related to improving the user experience (UX). UX is a process of deeply understanding the user’s needs and goals, identifying where their biggest problems are and working generatively to create solutions for those problems.
Here are the 7 attributes of a good UX design:
- Useful
- Usable
- Findable
- Credible
- Accessible
- Desirable
- Valuable
How to improve UX and increase website conversions
Online competition intensifies as digital innovations advance, and in the midst of this, user experience (UX) becomes a differentiator for improving your website.
It’s not just about attracting visitors, but also about converting them into satisfied customers.
Check out 4 ways to improve your UX and, consequently, increase your conversions:
Build trust
It’s essential to include trust signals on your website, not only for the user, but for Google.
In simple terms, it works like this: Google’s robots go through all the websites in the world and read the page’s source code.
Based on this reading – among other factors – Google defines which position the websites will be in when someone searches on Google for a certain keyword.
See the 4 most important signals for building trust on your website.
Customer reviews and testimonials;
Payment partner logos;
Security information;
Return and refund policies.
About Us and/or Author Page
These signals demonstrate professionalism and trustworthiness, helping users feel safe doing business with you.
Create engaging and intuitive visual hierarchies to enhance your website
When designing your website, it’s tempting to invest in a creative design to impress users. However, familiar designs are often more intuitive and therefore more usable.
Make sure your pages are the right length, that important call-to-action (CTAs) buttons are easy to find, and that navigation is clear and straightforward.
You can use tools like heatmaps like Hotjar to understand how users interact with your page and adjust your design accordingly.
Site Navigation: Follow the User’s Path
Navigation on your website serves two important purposes:
Make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for
Help your site rank in Google and other search engines
Put your visitors first, and search engines second. Always think with a “people-first” mindset.
Use descriptive navigation rather than generic terms like “What we do.”
Choose words that your visitors use and are searching for. By doing this, you reduce the number of clicks for the user and also help search engines recognize the relevance of your site, and, consequently, it is an action that aims to improve the site.
For example, if you offer financial consulting services, when visiting your site your menu should describe the names of each of the services, for example: investment consulting, financial planning, portfolio analysis.
This helps the user decide what to click on and thus improves the overall experience.
Avoid jargon or internal language. Many companies try to sound smart instead of connecting with visitors. No one knows what “MedeirosFeed” means. If it is your blog, simply name it “Blog”.
Call to action text: guide your visitors
Call to action buttons, or CTAs, are essential. You have already captured the attention of users on the site, now it is time to direct them to the desired action. So be clear!
Buttons should suggest actions such as “Request a Quote”, “Download”, “Open an Account”, “Go to Checkout”. The button text should start with a verb. Otherwise, it will not be a true call to action, just a button with some text. “More Information”, for example, is not a CTA.
Use the first person voice (I, my, me) to allow users to indicate to the CTA what they want to do. For example: “Download my Guide”..
What is the impact of modernizing the website for users?
According to Forbes’ statistical survey, 73% of online users report frustration when encountering a mobile site that loads excessively slowly.
This data highlights the importance of having a responsive and fast-loading website, especially today.
Users want a positive experience, but they must also meet Google’s criteria, which prioritizes mobile-friendly and responsive websites in search results.
If your website doesn’t meet these requirements, it runs the risk of being ranked lower in search results, which can result in a reduction in organic traffic and online visibility.
I’m sure you don’t want that experience, and we at iWEBAPP have the solutions you need to improve your website.
What do you need to do?
Just keep reading to understand everything about this subject and, at the end, we can talk!
Improving your website: which points of the sales funnel are important and how to follow them
In this part of the guide, we highlight the TOFU (Top of the Funnel), MOFU (Middle of the Funnel) and BOFU (Bottom of the Funnel) stages.
This funnel is like a basic framework that any business can use, but the details can vary greatly depending on the type of customers you have.
By deeply understanding who your audience is and what their needs are, you can apply the right strategies to improve your website.
Here are the main points of the sales funnel and how a website can follow each of them:
- Top of the Funnel (ToFu) – Awareness: At the top of the funnel (ToFu), we are talking about awareness. Here, your website should be a reliable source of educational information to attract visitors and introduce them to the problems that your company solves. You should use SEO to optimize the content with relevant keywords to increase organic traffic; Middle of the Funnel (MoFu) – Consideration: Your website now needs to present persuasive solutions to the visitors’ problems. Integrate call-to-actions (CTAs) that direct visitors to related content, such as ebooks, webinars or free demos;
- Bottom of the Funnel (BoFu) – Decision: it’s time to make a decision. Here, social proof is essential. Testimonials from satisfied customers, case studies and numbers that validate the effectiveness of your products or services are essential to influence the purchase decision;
- After-sales: after-sales may not be present in some companies’ funnels, but it is super valid to have one that is aligned with the team and is capable of taking responsibility for customers;
- Retention Strategies: keep in touch with customers through newsletters, exclusive promotions or loyalty programs to encourage repeat purchases.
- These are some questions that will help you reflect on the main strategies to improve your website. By following these tips, you increase the chances of setting up a (competitive) showcase on the internet for your company’s success.
7 professional tips to improve your website in 2024
One way to improve your website is by redoing it, a complete renovation.
To redo a website, the most important thing in this process is to have a team of experts and advanced preparation.
Similar to renovating a house, moving forward without considering objectives can result in disappointment.
Modernity requires understanding reality based on data, that is, on real insights, otherwise, you may end up back at square one.
The alternative? Check out our 7 tips below that will help in the process of redesigning your website:
1. SEO strategy: be found on Google
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the set of techniques and practices that aim to improve the visibility of a website in the organic search results of search engines, such as Google.
It’s how you can make your website appear higher and more frequently when someone searches for keywords related to your business or content.
Here are some important SEO strategies that can help boost your website:
- Local SEO: Imagine you own a pizza place in a busy neighborhood in the city. When someone searches for “pizza near me” or “best pizza place in (neighborhood name),” local SEO ensures that your business appears at the top of the results;
- Title and description optimization: Your page titles and descriptions are like business cards for your website in search results. By optimizing them with relevant keywords and compelling information, you increase the likelihood that users will click on your link;
- Blog content production: Creating and sharing relevant and useful content through a blog attracts qualified traffic to your website and helps establish your authority and expertise in certain topics;
- Creating targeted landing pages: By creating niche or region-specific pages, you can better target your target audience and increase the chances of conversion. For example, having pages dedicated to specific services, such as “website creation for doctors”, or to specific regions, such as “website creation in Rio de Janeiro”;
- Investment in backlinks: backlinks are links from other websites that point to yours, and are one of Google’s main ranking factors. Quality investment through partnerships, guest posts and other methods can help increase your domain’s authority and improve your positioning in search results.
2. Website redesign
Your website is like your 24/7 salesperson, and has the potential to be your greatest asset and the center of your marketing strategies.
A website redesign is basically a visual overhaul of the website.
It’s like giving your website a new look and functionality to make it more modern, attractive and effective in obtaining results.
Here are some advanced strategies for a website redesign:
Consistent Branding
Make sure your new website design consistently reflects your brand identity and message.
This includes using colors, typography, logos, and design elements that reinforce your brand image.
Intuitive Navigation
Make your website navigation simple so that users can easily find what they’re looking for.
This involves organizing your content logically, creating clear menus, and implementing an intuitive navigation structure.
Quality Content
To create quality content, focus on producing relevant, useful, original, and up-to-date information for your target audience.
When it comes to blogging frequency, be consistent, prioritizing quality over quantity, adapting to your audience’s preferences, and always keeping an eye on your competitors.
When planning keywords, research relevant terms, diversify your choices, and integrate them naturally into your content. These practices will help boost your blog’s engagement and success.
These advanced strategies can help ensure that your website redesign not only attracts visitors, but also engages and converts them more effectively.
3. High-level user experience
UX, or user experience, encompasses all aspects of user interaction with a website, application or digital product, aiming to provide a positive experience.
Two applicable strategies are: usability testing, which identifies points for improvement on the website through interaction with real users, and content personalization, which adapts the website content to the individual preferences of users.
When it comes to redesigning a website, design and user experience (UX) must come together harmoniously.
In addition to being visually appealing – design and layout up to date – a website must also be easy to navigate and meet user expectations.
4. Mobile First
The concept of mobile first says that the website must first be created for mobile and only then adapted to other devices. In other words, the mobile device user is the priority.
It is not difficult to understand that this is a strategy that involves creating a digital experience to improve the website.
But what many people don’t know is that it is essential to start with the content.
The first step, therefore, is to define all the content before worrying about the style, prioritizing the visual hierarchy to highlight the most important information.
After that, worry about keeping the design simple and functional to meet the needs of mobile users.
Prioritize organization and make use of white space, as it gives the page a breather and helps the user understand the site and avoids visual/cognitive overload.
5. Give an overview of your process in simple steps
To help your visitors have a proper understanding of your company and feel safe, it is essential to describe the steps of your process in a simple and clear way.
For example, on the home page of our website, we included a “How it works” section.
This is interesting because it summarizes your work process for the user and saves them time.
To make this work, write from your client’s perspective. Even if the actual process is more complex on your side, focus only on the parts that are relevant to your clients.
Remember that this is not the time to explain technical details to clients, but rather to make them feel confident in moving forward with you.
Without enough information, they will get worried. With too much information, they may feel overwhelmed. The ideal is to provide just the right amount of information so that they feel confident and empowered to make the next decision.
6. Loading speed
If you already have a website, the first thing you need to know is whether your site is slow or fast. And for this, we recommend using tools like Google PageSpeed, which will assign a score to your site and show you any corrections that may be made.
There are several ways to improve your site speed:
- Optimize Images: Compress large images to reduce their size without losing quality.
- Use a Quality Server: Choose a fast and reliable hosting provider.
- Minimize Plugin Usage: Disable or remove unnecessary plugins and use only the essential ones.
- Enable Caching: Use caching plugins to store versions of your pages and load them faster.
- Reduce Unnecessary Code: Clean up your site code by removing unnecessary whitespace and comments.
- Use a CDN: Distribute your site files across servers around the world to improve loading speed.
- Enable Compression: Enable gzip compression to reduce the size of your site files.
- Update Regularly: Keep your site software, themes, and plugins up to date to improve performance and security.
Implementing these practices can significantly improve your site speed, providing a better experience for your visitors and increasing your chances of conversion.
7. Make your website accessible to everyone
When you create a visually appealing website, it’s essential to consider the diversity of users, including those with visual impairments or other special needs.
Here are some ways to make your website more accessible to everyone:
Use Alt Text
Add short, accurate descriptions to your images, videos, and other media. These descriptions, known as “alt text,” allow screen readers to describe visual elements to visually impaired users.
In addition to helping users with disabilities, text alternatives also improve search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines use these descriptions to understand and index the content of images, helping your site rank higher in search results.
Be Descriptive and Concise
Instead of simply describing the image, convey its meaning or context. For example, instead of “a picture of a woman smiling,” you could use “a young woman smiling while holding a book in a sunny park.” This gives a better understanding of the setting.
Include Descriptions in Videos
For videos, describe the visual and auditory content. Summarize what is being shown and describe important dialogue or sounds. This ensures that everyone can understand the content of the video.
By implementing these practices, you make your site more inclusive and improve its visibility in search engines. This not only helps create a better experience for all users, but it can also increase traffic to your site.
Have you ever found yourself lost in the many options and technical details when it comes to improving your website?
Follow these tips and offer a good user experience, as well as stand out in search results and, consequently, from your competition.
As experts in website creation and SEO strategies, at iWEBAPP, we understand that a well-designed website is just the beginning.
That’s why we offer SEO and link building consulting services to improve your website’s positioning in search engines and increase your online visibility.
Request a quote to create a professional website and have a quality digital presence! Click the button below.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is it important to redesign my website regularly?
Redesigning your website is crucial to ensuring a positive user experience, improving loading speed, updating the design and staying competitive in the digital market. A well-structured and optimized website can significantly increase conversions, turning visitors into customers and followers.
What are the main factors that influence the user experience (UX) on a website?
The main factors that influence UX include website loading speed, intuitive navigation, visual design, usability, accessibility and relevant content. Focusing on these aspects helps to create a pleasant and efficient experience, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
How can I improve the speed of my website?
To improve the speed of your website, you can optimize images, use a quality server, minimize the use of plugins, enable caching, reduce unnecessary code, use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) and enable gzip compression. Tools like Google PageSpeed can help identify and fix specific issues.
What is SEO and why is it important for my website?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a set of techniques and practices that aim to improve the visibility of your website in the organic search results of search engines, such as Google. Implementing SEO strategies, such as keyword optimization, creating relevant content and obtaining backlinks, increases the likelihood of your website appearing at the top of search results, attracting more qualified traffic and improving the chances of conversion.
