If you’ve ever searched for something and landed on an unbearably slow website, only to close the tab almost instantly, then you understand just how important website design is.

At Gold Edge Digital, we understand the frustration that comes with having an outdated website. We’ve helped small business owners like you transform their poorly-designed websites into high-performing assets!

In this article, you’ll learn why modern and professional website designs are a must in the current digital landscape. You’ll understand the key principles of modern website design and discover some of today’s best website design practices. You’ll also get some easy web design tips so that hopefully, you can implement them and watch your website traffic grow (and sales too!)

Why Website Design Matters for Businesses

Think about your website as a digital handshake to your prospective clients. You need to make the best and strongest first impression possible. Your website is your business’s most powerful tool. It’s where prospective customers first discover your services, learn about your brand, and decide whether to trust you with their business.

With the way things are and the attention-scarce digital economy, a strong online presence is no longer optional, it’s the bare minimum.

Did you know that studies show that 75% of consumers judge a business’s credibility based on its website design? For small businesses, this makes professional website design a critical investment. A poorly designed website can result in higher bounce rates, missed opportunities, and lost revenue. Nobody wants that!

Key Principles of Modern Website Design

Google’s algorithm when it comes to ranking websites has always been a mystery. However, if there’s one thing for sure: Google prioritises its users. This is why user experience is a must!

Let’s try to understand the basic principles of modern website design that are all centred on giving visitors a great user experience. .

User-Friendly Website Design

If a website is too complicated to use, bounce rates will skyrocket through the roof. An effective website is a “usable website.” Make sure it has a user-friendly website design so visitors can easily navigate, find the information they need, and take action.

Use simple menus and categories to help users find content effortlessly.
Ensure your website is inclusive and accessible to all.
Structure your pages with clear headings, bullet points, and white space to improve readability.

Pro tip: Invest in intuitive UI/UX design for websites to guide users seamlessly through their journey.

Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design

Do you know that as much as 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices? Here’s what you need to know:

Mobile-First Indexing– If you don’t have a mobile-optimised website design, your search engine traffic is going to suffer.
Responsive design– A web design that allows your content to adapt to any device or screen size. With responsive website design, your visitors will get optimal experience whether they’re on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Aesthetic and Lead-Generating Design

Yes, looks aren’t everything when it comes to websites. However, since humans are highly visual creatures by nature, a clean, aesthetic website design can help boost that first impression we all want to have. Again, this is a digital handshake with our prospective customers so we want to make the best out of it. What can you do?

Avoid clutter. A clean layout ensures your message stands out.
Use visually distinct buttons to direct users towards key actions
Get custom website designs tailored to your brand and goals.

Website Design for Performance and SEO

Contrary to initial expectations, website design is not just about “aesthetics.” Sure, having an attractive website with all the right colours and fonts in all the right places and sizes is an advantage. But beyond the way it looks, what about its functionality? Is it fast to load? Is it easy to use and navigate? Can visitors easily find what they’re looking for?

SEO-Friendly Website Design

A great design isn’t just for your visitors. It’s also for search engines. An SEO-friendly website design is easier to read and understand so it improves your visibility in the search results. You need to use relevant keywords naturally throughout your site, including in headings, alt tags, and meta descriptions.

By integrating SEO during the design process, you set your site up for long-term success.

Fast-Loading and Lightweight Website Design

No matter how aesthetic or how well-planned your website design is, nobody likes a slow website. That’s just the reality of things. No matter how good your content is, if the page is slow in loading, visitors will leave fast. A second delay in loading time can reduce conversions by 7%. In fact, 40% of visitors will leave your website if it fails to load within 3 seconds. In short, website speed is critical! You need to optimize images and compress large files without sacrificing quality.

Keep things as lean as possible, and you’re going to beat your competition!

Google-Friendly Website Design

While original and relevant content is always a plus for SEO, Google now also evaluates website performance depending on how well visitors engage with your website.To rank well in search engines, your site must meet Google’s Core Web Vitals:

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)– It refers to the average load time of a page’s main content. Media and text are the main content formats.
- Ideal Score: 1.8 seconds or less. 3 seconds or more is poor.
- Website Optimization Tips:
  - Move to a faster web server or dedicated hosting.
  - Enable website caching for static assets.
First Input Delay (FID)– This measures the time between a user’s input and the page’s execution. First inputs include links, buttons, and keys
- Ideal Score: 2.5 seconds or less.
- Website Optimization Tips:
  - Minimize and combine CSS/JavaScript files.
  - Compress images and other assets to reduce file sizes.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)– this assesses the stability of your website’s page as it loads. A high CLS score indicates that the page elements are not visually stable.
- Ideal Score: 0.1 or less. 0.25 or higher is poor.
- Website Optimization Tips:
  - Always close open connections before the user navigates away
  - Test to ensure your pages can be cached

A Google-friendly website design ensures your business stays competitive in search rankings.

Trends and Best Practices in Website Design

Website Design Trends to Watch

You don’t have to put in too many things on your website for it to “stand out.” Key website design trends include:

Creative Website Design (customised and unique)
Minimalist Layouts
Dark Mode
Interactive Elements like video or images

However, it’s essential to balance trends with usability to ensure your site remains effective.

Best Practices for Long-Term Success

Once you have a website that matches your standards, don’t just leave it and forget it. Regular updates and maintenance are vital to keep your site relevant and performing well.

Check for broken links, outdated content, and technical issues.
Monitor website design trends and adjust your site as needed.
Use analytics to identify areas for improvement, from bounce rates to conversion paths.

Ready to update your website?

Your website is more than just a digital storefront. You need to think of it as a tool that can grow your business. By investing in modern website design, you can create an online experience that’s not only visually stunning but also user-friendly, mobile-optimised, and SEO-friendly!

Wanna say goodbye to your outdated website? Gold Edge Digital is here to help. Our team of experts specialises in creating custom, professional websites tailored to your business needs. Let’s design a site that sets you apart and drives real results.

Modern Website Design For That GOLD Edge in Business