Why You Need To Stop Focusing On The Look Of Your Website (and start focusing on this instead)
“I like how this looks, I like those colors, I like this feature, can you make that with a border, I want it to move and animate…”
Often times when talking to someone new about their website, they tell me about all the features they want and about all the little design elements that are important to them. Now, I’m a web designer, so I get it and I’ve come to expect it. However, most times, I see people get caught up in the single design element that seems to make or break their sites vision and usually that element has nothing to do with attracting their right client or getting visitors to the goal they are really trying to achieve. What people tend to fixate on, tends to have nothing to do with actually achieving their goal.
So what do I mean by this and why am I even talking about this? Because whether you’re starting out and struggling because your site isn’t ‘perfect’ or are wanting to level up your site or anything in between, it’s important to know that your site’s design is only as good as the functionality behind the design.
Let me give you an example:
You can have a kitchen layout that does nothing for you, it’s too small, you bump into each other or you can’t open a cabinet door without opening the refrigerator door (hgtv fans out there? You know there’s a house hunter episode like that). Not only does the layout not work, but it’s outdated. But when it comes to designing your kitchen, it wouldn’t make sense to just update it without trying to change the layout. You’d still run into the same issues, and ultimately, adding new countertops won’t change the fact that the kitchen just doesn’t work.
This is the same with your website.. Will making your site look pretty, make your business grow?
And now ask yourself: Are you focusing on making it look good or are you focusing on how it will work best for you?
In order to create a website that works for you, you need to start with a strategy. Start by answering these questions…
- What is the goal of your site?
- Where are you trying to direct visitors?
- Are you getting visitors to join your email list?
- Is your copy clear + direct or does it confuse your visitors?
- Am I building trust with my customer?
By creating and having a strategy at hand, regardless, if you are DIY-ing your site or hiring, you will have a better understanding of why certain elements should be where they are and how to create a site design that actually works for your business.
So mini recap: Don’t solely focus on making your site look good or get caught up or fixated on design elements that don’t help you reach your desired outcome in terms of your business. Instead, focus on making your web design intentional and having a purpose + strategy behind it.
