5 Essential Elements for Designing a Website

Although web design plans vary from one project to the next, there are certain elements to include when designing a website every time.

From white space to professional images, to CTAs and navigation components, there are universal elements that visitors expect whenever they visit a website.

Let’s take a look at five essential elements for designing a website:  

1. Space

Space is the portion of a page that is left blank. It is also the space between text, graphics, images, columns, margins and other elements.

Space is one of the most important design elements because it affects everything on your website – from flow to readability.  

Tips:

• Begin with key elements like navigation menus.
• Make sure elements are arranged in a way that makes each CTA button or word stand out individually.

2. Navigation

Navigation is created to help users search for content. It should be simple and intuitive.

Tips:

• If you can, stick with a simple navigation scheme as the foundation for your website organization. Simple navigation helps to make it clear to visitors where they need to go, which leads to a lower bounce rate.
• Things to consider when designing navigation:  knowledge of where the user is on the site, a way to go back to the previous page or home page, and clear directions (for more complex websites).

3. Call to Action (CTA)

Having call to action statements is another one of the essential elements of designing a website. Websites are meant to be the online gateway for businesses to meet target objectives such as close a sale, generate leads, or gather contact information. To guarantee these objectives, call to action prompts need to stand out.

Before creating CTAs, first decide the main goals of your business. Then you can design your site and pages so that CTAs are obvious and lead users to your desired goals.

Tips:

• Make your CTAs obvious by using elements such as colors that stand out, larger fonts, and large buttons.
• Place Call to Actions on prominent areas of your site and next to items they relate to.
• Buttons should be of contrasting colors and say exactly what action is needed from the visitor such as:  Sign Up Free, Buy Now, Download Now, or Join our Mailing List.  Orange and green are common colors used for call to action buttons.

4. Footer Information

Footers, which usually contain links located at the bottom of websites, assist visitors by providing additional information and navigation options which may not necessarily be included in the main, top navigation menu. They may also show information such as the company address.

Tips:

• Keep it useful and simple.
• Include important details not covered above-the-fold such as a sitemap, helpful links, and supportive details about your business.
• Emphasize essential business information such as contact details and products and services offered.

5. Images

Stunning visuals attract users to your site.

Just like your navigation and CTAs, great images are important for engaging users with your brand.

A well-constructed image displaying your product at its best will result in more sales. Having well-written descriptions is also important.

Tips:

• Use original images to produce a unique visual experience. Hire a professional photographer or illustrator to develop images for your site.
• Experiment with different crop sizes.

When designing a website, it’s crucial to include the above elements. They keep websites looking clean, fresh, and easy to navigate.

If you’re ready to revamp your website or have questions about web design, contact us today. Our team of experts is here to help!