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How to Design a Website That Is User-Friendly and Easy To Navigate

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At the heart of a successful website is one that is designed with the user in mind. Websites that rank high in ease of use of having simple navigation may get more traffic and better results in the search engines. A user-friendly website starts with intelligent design choices. You need the help of an experienced SEO and website design firm, Unwired Web Solutions, to make your site more effective.

Learn About Your User’s Behaviour and Habits

First, businesses need to understand their user’s behaviour and habits while searching the web. Companies can work with their marketing team to develop a baseline demographic of their ideal customer. You can learn about your potential customers with marketing research into their habits and lifestyle.

Once you find out what is important to your customers, you should focus on that information and make it easy to find on your site. You should also have your web design team plan out the overall purpose of your site and ensure the flow of information is logical and makes sense to your users. Users that get frustrated with a website may leave and never return.

Create a Clear Structure for Your Site

Next, work with your web design pros to create a clear structure for your site. Web design trends have changed in the last few years, making it essential to revise your site’s structure if it’s older and tired. Use feedback forms and surveys to get information about how you can change the layout of your site to better serve your users.

Whatever structure you choose to go with, be sure that your site is functional in all types of internet browsers. Popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox may be fine, but users may have different browser preferences that are different, such as Opera, Safari or Edge.

Use Intuitive Navigation Menus

Your site’s navigation also needs to be updated to be more intuitive and user-friendly. Most successful sites start with a landing page that presents important information to users and instructs them with a specific call to action. Ideally, your landing pages will be able to convert users into customers and bring in more revenue.

Your web design team should be experts in advanced programming languages, such as DHTML, JavaScript, Motools and Ajax so they can build navigation menus that function smoothly. If you have a lot of information on your site, your team should be adding drop-down menus or other navigation tools to simplify the organization.

Optimize for Mobile Devices

Many users today browse the web on mobile devices, such as phones or tablets. The look and structure of your site may function differently when it’s not being displayed on a computer.

Your site needs to also be optimized for mobile devices with a different layout and structure that fits a smaller screen. Web design for mobile devices looks different from desktop designs and needs unique features, such as a condensed navigation bar, larger fonts and optimized images.

Improve Load Times

Modern internet users are also very impatient, so your site’s load time is critical in keeping them engaged with your content. Most web design experts recommend clearing sites of annoying add-ons that increase load time, such as videos, pop-ups and complicated widgets.

The average site has about four seconds of leeway for load time, so anything you add to your design needs to have a fast turnaround time in order to be effective for your audience. Our team works with our clients to test site load time and improve speed so you don’t turn off potential customers.

Make a User-Friendly Website

If you aren’t sure how to make a user-friendly website, that’s where we come in. Unwired Web Solutions understands the latest trends in web design and can apply them to usability. Our team of designers, programmers and testers can revamp your site so it not only looks great, but it generates leads and results. We combine this with our content marketing strategies to give you a comprehensive team approach to web design.

Contact the team at Unwired Web Solutions today for more information about our web design process. We approach design by first learning about your company’s goals for your site and then working with your existing structure to design something more effective.

How Website Design Mistakes Could Hurt SEO

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6 Common Web Design Mistakes That Hurt SEO

Most businesses understand that a website is crucial for success in the modern marketplace. Unfortunately, many companies work with inexperienced website design services or attempt DIY solutions to save money, resulting in poor-performing sites. Without at least a foundational knowledge of SEO best practices, businesses are bound to make little mistakes that can hurt their performance in search engine rankings.

Website Mistakes That Hurt SEO

An effective website is about more than looking attractive; it must have substance. Also, the design and engineering of the site must allow for meaningful consumer interactions and engagement. SEO is about optimizing your site not only for search engines but also for the viewer, regardless of the device they use. When creating your website, try to avoid the following six SEO mistakes.

1. Poor Speed

A slow website speed is detrimental to a business. According to Google, slow speed affects a company’s ranking in search results because it compromises reputation and credibility. Over 45% of visitors to a page will not wait longer than three seconds for a page to load.

While there are many things you can do to improve webpage speed, the most significant contributor can include the hosting service you use. You want to invest in the best hosting experience to ensure your customers get rapid access to sites.

2. Poor Navigation

Consumers want to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. If your website does not provide clear navigation tabs, buttons, or features, your customers will become frustrated or bored and leave the site.

Many business owners lack the knowledge to implement effective navigation strategy and design. If you feel navigation and web design are outside your area of expertise, hire a full-service digital marketing and web design agency.

3. Non-Mobile Friendly Site

Mobile devices are the primary tool people use to access the web. If your site is not mobile-friendly, or better still, mobile-responsive, it will not perform well. Google will not even display non-mobile-friendly sites to mobile users.

Having a mobile-friendly site used to mean having a separate URL for the different devices. Today, you can build a responsive site with a flexible design. Responsive sites automatically adjust the page layout to fit a consumer’s screen size.

4. Low-Quality Content

Search engine algorithms are sophisticated. They can tell a web page’s quality by analyzing the text and links. If search engines like Google determine your content is spammy or low-quality, they will penalize you and remove your content from the results.

Consumers are also judges of content. When you spend time writing content, you want visitors to spend time reading it. A consumer will not waste time on irrelevant content.

When focusing on a content strategy, consider quality, uniqueness, and relevance. A digital marketing agency can help you design your SEO and content strategies.

5. Pop-ups

Over 90% of consumers hate pop-up ads, so much so that they will close out a page. Businesses perform better with pop-up-free designs. Consult a reputable digital marketing and web design service to learn more.

6. Missing CTA

A call to action tells a consumer what you want them to do, whether buying a product or subscribing to a newsletter. Too many companies invest in beautiful web design only to leave out the CTA. By ignoring the CTA, you effectively sabotage your conversion rates.

Improving Web Design With Professional Services

Most business owners do not understand web design or SEO strategies, which is fine. However, it is a mistake to ignore these essential tools. Instead of trying to master an entire field, you can hire an experienced web design and digital marketing firm. Contact Unwired Web Solutions to learn more.

Tips For Choosing A Web Designer

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3 Tips for Choosing a Web Designer

Nearly every venture, especially in business, requires a digital presence. If you want to prove authority, your business or brand needs to have a social and digital profile. Website design services can help bring credibility to a brand by creating and managing its digital portfolio.

However, you should never be too eager to hire a web design firm without checking out its legitimacy. Also, with the number of design firms available, you need to find ways to narrow your search to ensure the correct fit between business and design. Thankfully, a few strategies can help you and other brand managers select the right web design service, one that complements your brand’s image and voice.

1. Do Your Homework

Research should be a significant part of any business decision. When looking for a website design firm, you will want to talk with business allies, read reviews, and look at all prospective portfolios.

A business partner might have experience working with a web designer. If they recommend someone, it is likely because the individual or firm performed some work for the company. You can get a first-hand review of the service and review the project.

While not as valuable, online reviews can offer tremendous insight into the customer relations of a prospective firm. You will need to take most reviews at face value because they are subjective, but you can learn a lot by looking at average ratings and weighing the best against the worst.

Finally, most web design companies will have digital portfolios. You need to review the prospective portfolios for functionality and comparability to your project.

2. Check Services

Every web design firm has specific services they provide. Some firms only deal with the creation of websites but not the management of them. Other firms are full-service firms, providing not only design features but management and content creation.

When you are searching for a company to design your site, you need to consider how hands-on you want to be and what exactly you need from a website. Do not worry if you do not know everything yet; you can consult with full-service firms to get a better idea of what you need.

Ultimately, before you sign on the dotted line with any firm, make sure it offers what you need. If you do not know what you need, it is best to consult with a specialist before contracting any services.

3. Ensure They’re Capable

Before you spend any money on web design, you will want to ensure the company you hire is capable of doing what you need. While a service’s website is a good way to get an idea of what the business is capable of doing, it is best to go straight to the recipients of the service.

Before signing any contracts, ask the service about references. It is not enough to receive a couple of links. When looking into references, you want a list of previous customers you can actually talk to. Only when you get that one-on-one, face-to-face time can you make an informed decision about the work ethic and abilities of service.

Many business owners and brand managers do not have enough time to research all available design firms, but they still need to settle on one they can trust. Unwired Web Solutions is one of Canada’s leading web design firms. If you want to work with a firm you can trust, contact an Unwired Web Solutions representative. They can learn about your website needs and walk you through your available options, ensuring you are comfortable and informed about the service’s capabilities.

What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Website Design Agency

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5 Rules To Follow When Hiring a Website Design Agency in Kitchener

Most businesses understand the necessity of a website in the digital age. Unfortunately, many companies fail to execute web design in an efficient and appealing way. A web design and SEO company in Kitchener can help take your business’s digital identity to the next level, but you must be careful. A legitimate design company is a game-changer and worth every penny, but not all establishments are created equal. Therefore, you must understand and follow five fundamental rules before diving into a professional relationship with a web design firm.

1. Understand Your Business Requirements

What does your business require from its website? All companies are different. Some businesses want a website that will allow e-commerce functions so that they can make online transactions. Other companies want a simple interface for customers to find contact information.

The requirements you need from a website are likely specific to your business. Before selecting a web design firm, it is necessary to make a list of all the elements essential to operations, especially those necessary for digital consumer interactions.

Keep in mind that any service you work with should have experience in your industry. The designer’s expertise will help them guide you through the creation process, possibly bringing more needs to light.

2. Research the Agencies Process

When selecting an agency, you want to get an idea of its design process. The process is about more than strategies for image optimization for SEO; it is about how the company manages its projects.

An excellent company will have a repeatable process. They will create timelines, deadlines, budgets, and deliverables. As the client, you will know when your site will be finished and the steps it took to get there. Essentially, a process saves time and yields results, and a lack of one results in frustration and delays.

3. Create a Realistic Budget

You get what you pay for; it is a common saying that happens to be true in the case of web design. Creating websites from scratch is a time-consuming process, and ensuring those websites comply with SEO best practices to ensure traffic and rankings is challenging.

Knowing your budget can help you select better options for web development. For example, if you have a small budget, a DIY option like Squarespace or WordPress. A fully managed solution with a design firm is likely best for moderate to large budgets.

4. Communicate Effectively

Communication is paramount to any professional relationship, and it goes both ways. A client should expect a web design firm to provide routine updates about the progress of their website. However, a client also needs to communicate their needs with the designer.

Most often, breakdowns in communication result in poor outcomes and bitter partnerships. Too many professionals assume that design services should know what they want, but design firms are not psychic. To make the most out of your experience, communicate.

Before hiring a firm, contact their office and ask questions. A firm willing to answer questions and welcome inquiries are likely an excellent company to work with.

5. Contact References

Legitimate web design firms are happy to supply potential clients with references for their services. Too many prospective clients ignore the reference list, failing to call or chat with even a single customer. Communicating or checking out references is one of the only ways to familiarize yourself with a company’s process and product.

Businesses are aware that websites are vital to operations in the current market. If you want to improve your business and convert more sales, it is time to focus on web development. Contact a representative with Unwired Web Solutions to discover what a quality website can do for your business.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Experimental Web Design

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There’s a reason why businesses often stick to tried and true web design practices: because they work. But there’s also a reason to experiment, try new things, and see what might be possible if you push the boundaries. That’s where experimental web design comes in. By testing out new ideas and designs, you can find out what works and what doesn’t and adapt your website accordingly. This blog will talk about why not to be afraid to experiment – it could lead to some big improvements for business!

Experimenting Defies Traditional Layouts

Conventional web layouts are easy to spot. The homepages typically have a large header area with the navigation bar right below it. Then there’s usually the main body area where most of the content lives, followed by a sidebar and/or footer. If you were to ask someone to draw you a website, this is probably what they would sketch out. And while there’s nothing wrong with traditional layouts, sometimes it pays to break the mold and try something new. Experimental web design is all about testing out new ideas and seeing what works.

Grid System

One popular trend in experimental web design is breaking up the traditional layout and instead using a grid system. This means that instead of having one large body area, the content is broken up into smaller sections that are arranged in a grid. This can be a great way to organize content and make it more visually appealing. It can also make your website more responsive, as the content will resize itself depending on the screen size.

A grid system is known as a basic foundation for web design. It divides a webpage into columns and rows, making it easy to place content in specific locations. Grid systems can be custom-made or use pre-made templates. They’re popular because they make creating websites easier, as everything is already laid out for you. Plus, they create a cohesive look across all the pages of your website. If you’re interested in experimenting with web design, using a grid system is a great way to start!

Don't Be Afraid Of Experimental Web Design

Parallax Scrolling

Another trend that has been gaining popularity lately is parallax scrolling. This is where the background image moves at a different speed than the rest of the page, creating a sense of depth and movement. This can be a great way to add visual interest to your website and make it more engaging for visitors.

There are a few reasons why you might want to consider using parallax scrolling on your website: first, it can be visually appealing and help grab people’s attention; second, it can be used to direct focus to certain areas or content on the page; and third, it can add some interactivity and excitement to a website.

However, there are definitely times when parallax scrolling is not appropriate – for example, if you’re looking for a minimalist design or your website needs to be accessible on mobile devices. You should also avoid it if you’re worried about user experience, as it can be confusing and overwhelming for some people.

If you decide that parallax scrolling is right for your website, there are a few different ways to go about implementing it. You can use HTML and CSS to create the effect manually, or various plugins and frameworks are available that will do the heavy lifting for you.

These are just two examples of experimental web design trends that you could try out for your business. Of course, there are endless possibilities, and you should feel free to experiment with whatever you think might work. Just be sure to test everything out first to make sure it’s actually effective. Otherwise, you could end up making some changes that aren’t really necessary.

Push The Limits

Each day we perform actions that are so routine we barely register that we are doing them. Scrolling on a website gets no more thought than pushing an elevator button. Experimental web design challenges us to work outside those instincts. When thinking of your customers, they will remember your site because it pushed them to get outside their routine actions. 

A site with an experimental design may ask customers to scroll horizontally or direct them to hold down the space bar to explore content. While these design elements can be viewed as playful, it is important to remember that they may also make a website less accessible. Building a website with the right accessibility and experimentation can be a challenge, but it is possible. 

The Bottom Line

Don’t be afraid to experiment – it could lead to some big improvements for your business! By trying out new ideas and designs, you can find out what works and what doesn’t, and adapt your website accordingly. So go ahead and have some fun with experimental web design – the possibilities are endless!

Contact us today for information on Unwired Web Solutions custom web development or custom web app development!