Website design trends haven’t always been successful in growing leads and customers (cue to the online banner ads that tended to get on visitors’ nerves). But in 2014, web design took a step in the right direction, especially in terms of inbound marketing. As we head into 2015, many of these trends will continue to get more sophisticated and ultimately help grow leads, customers, and the entire user experience. Here are 11 key trends to employ in your website design in 2015 so you can stay ahead of the curve!
1. Responsive Design
If you haven’t already adopted a responsive website, now’s the time to do so. With 60% of Americans using their cell phone to access the Internet, responsive design is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a must. Your website must be optimized for mobile and tablet devices if you want to grow leads and customers from your website.
2. Typography/Fonts
With web design, the font and typography you present helps to tell your brand’s story. Demonstrate brilliant typography that is eye-catching. Furthermore, make sure your font choices make sense for your mission.
3. Video & Image Backgrounds
This trend is likely to stick around in 2015. Visual cues grab attention much faster than taglines. Since you have less than 10 seconds to grab people’s attention, quick recognition is key.
4. Scroll Instead of Click
This is a trend that continues to grow for multiple reasons. First, it provides a better experience on multiple devices because it allows you to utilize the full width of the page for content. In addition, scrolling doesn’t require you to load a new page. However, when you do utilize scrolling instead of clicking, you’ll want to track scroll performance carefully, as you likely won’t have click tracking.
5. Endless Scrolling
When you have a lot of content to display, typically images, endless scrolling will save your website visitors from loading multiple pages. It will also help you minimize the risk of losing the visitor en route to the next page. With another eye-catching image just a scroll away, it will be difficult to lose your visitor’s attention.
6. Card Design
Another hot trend in web design is card design. Simply put, card design is the grouping of information into a rectangular or square shape. This web design will allow you to fit more information on one page in an organized manner.
7. Storytelling
If you want to connect and communicate with website visitors in a meaningful way, a storytelling style of website design will help to do that. Know your buyer personas and craft your entire website experience based on them. This will help to tell your story in a way they can relate to.
8. Personalization
What should you do if one story won’t fit each of your buyer personas? What about when your customers use your website differently than prospects or first-time visitors? In these cases, you can personalize your website design based on user demographics or characteristics.
9. Interactive Infographics
You can gather data from website visitors and targeted audiences in 2015 with data visualization in the form of interactive infographics. Even if you already have the data you need and don’t need to gather information, you can create interactive infographics by triggering animations or providing more information with scrolling or clicking.
10. Flat Design
Flat means “smooth and even; without marked lumps or indentations.” In flat design, a website makes it smooth for the visitor to find the information they need by minimizing elements of the design. Smoother site navigation means a better chance of turning visitors into leads and then leads into customers.
11. Dooms Day of Websites
The reality is that customers and leads don’t need to visit your website to engage with your brand. For some companies, “dooms day” may be sooner than you’d think (the day when consumers get their information from third-parties or use the company app instead of navigating to your website). Stay ahead of the curve by making sure you can be found by your target buyer no matter what medium they use to find you. Also, if you give people a good reason to visit to your website, this means that visitors want to come there and you don’t risk them getting their information from a third-party.
As you head into 2015 and plan your website’s design changes, keep these 11 key trends in mind. But, more importantly, make sure that you’re choosing to utilize those that fit best with your target audience. Design smarter and be recognized for it!
Want to learn more? Click below to discover 25 website must-haves!
