Top tips to make your website stand out from the crowd

We’ve designed a whole host of websites in our time, covering all sorts of sectors so we understand what a big decision it can be, and how daunting the process can be.

With so much written about what you should and shouldn’t do, what Google does and doesn’t like, it can feel like too big a task. Well, luckily for you, we’ve rounded up our top tips that will make your website stand out from the crowd, and most importantly, your competitors.

Ready? Let’s go…

Don’t scrimp on design

Your website is your very first impression for a new customer. It needs to reflect your brand and its personality. Depending on your sector this will vary but you will want your website to look fresh, engaging, professional and credible. We’ve all visited websites that make you question whether you’ve clicked on the right link, so don’t let that be you. Ensure the brand on your website is consistent with other areas of your business too. This will help increase brand trust and authenticity.

Make it all about your customers

From the content you write and the pictures you use, to the website architecture and the user experience (UX) you create, this needs to be created with your customers in mind. UX design can increase conversion rates up to 400%, improve your SEO ranking and can increase revenue so it’s important to truly understand your customer’s habits, the user journey and their expectations.

Optimise

58% of all online visits came from smartphones in 2021 but there is a 9% year-on-year decrease showing that desktop is still important. Don’t only build for mobile! Ensure that your website is responsive and engaging on all devices to ensure you’re not losing traffic to competitors. It’s also worth noting that particularly for e-commerce industries, conversion rates are much higher on desktop, so really think about your customer’s journey from mobile to desktop if they are looking to complete a purchase – how can that be seamless?

Build with search in mind

It’s no secret that Search Engine Optimisation is vital for any business seeking to obtain customers through organic search. Before you begin your new website project, it’s best to speak to an expert (you could speak to us!) about how you can design a search-friendly website, while not compromising on your user experience. With Google’s advice continually changing, we can help you navigate what’s critical, and what’s not.

Keep your website current

Whether through news and resources, recent case studies or portfolio projects, ensure you’re keeping your website up-to-date with your latest products, services and successes. We know this can be time-consuming so don’t focus on ensuring everything needs to be perfect. Get your team involved to create some content or if you feel like you don’t have anything new to say, take inspiration from industry insights or wider news.

Here at Fox&Bear we love getting stuck into a new project and taking it from concept to completion. You can have a look through some of the websites we’ve designed and built here, or if you fancy a chat, you can drop us a line here.