As we’re all aware, technology changes fast, and website design trends are no different. Design elements and website features that were once modern and innovative, may have become tired and overdone in recent years. The last thing you want when visitors arrive at your website, is to lose conversions because your website looks outdated or ignores critical web standards.
There will always be aspects of web design that are never going away – user-friendly navigation, data security, and fast load times should just be a given today. However, you can keep your website at the forefront of design and search engines by adding these innovative website features and elements.
Interactivity
In today’s world, internet users are expecting an experience when not only visiting your establishment, but also your website. Adding interactive sections to your website is a great way to provide value for them and to get them to engage with your site, setting them up for a great experience when they decide to book with you.
Great examples of interactive marketing include things like competitions, videos, 3D tours and integrated live watch parties.
Thumb Friendly Navigation
Responsive design is no longer an optional thing. Your website should work perfectly on any mobile device. However, being “thumb friendly” is imperative as most of us use our thumbs to scroll as our fingers are wrapped around our smart phones.
Putting the navigation bar, menu, and even contact buttons in the space your thumb can reach (the centre of the screen) makes your site more comfortable to use and improves your user experience tenfold.
Smart Video
Tying in with nr 1, video has long been a must-have for webwebsites. People just adore a good video. It’s engaging and arguably the most effective and valuable marketing tool.
However, gone are the days of just slapping on a Youtube video because you know you should have one. Well thought out content and a high quality video will do wonders for your conversion. It’s also great to use on all your social media!
SSL Certificates
SSL certificates are less a trend and more of a standard security measure for websites. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and the certificate is installed on your web server. It serves two purposes: it authenticates the website’s identity, which guarantees visitors that they’re not on a bogus website, and it encrypts the data being transmitted.
This ensures a private “conversation” between your website and your visitors. If your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, getting one should be a priority in 2021.
Updating your website’s design can most certainly positively impact your brand and ultimately create more direct booking conversion.