Starting a business is a complex process, and today’s entrepreneurs have to add creating an exceptional website to the list. Unfortunately, your users will determine the effectiveness, attractiveness and usability of your site. However, there are several principles that can make your web design easier.

Write Out Your Website Goals

Your first task should be outlining exactly what you want to achieve with your website. For example, is it informational, will it be used to place orders or are you trying to entertain your clients? You also need to know what customer engagement looks like. Is it signing up for newsletters and updates or placing orders?

Break your website into specific pages and determine their purposes. They should also fill your customers’ needs, so write down how each one solves a problem for your target audience.

Make It Easy To Navigate

Your customers want to find what they need quickly. Therefore, your website should be easy to navigate. It should be easy to locate information, place orders, sign up for things and learn about your products and services.

Place the most important information where your customers look first. Research shows that most individuals search websites in an “F” pattern. Therefore, position important information on the top and left side of the website. Then, move down and across in order of importance.

Make It Quick

Your website should be responsive. It should load quickly. This may require that you shrink the size of your image, video and other files. The code you use can minimize HTTP requests, making your load speed faster. Test your website regularly and continually work to reduce your load time.

Make It Flexible

Your website needs to be flexible across devices. Most of today’s consumers use their smartphones and tablets to find information and order products online. They are readily available and convenient, and their adoption has grown rapidly. Therefore, your website needs to load quickly and be easily navigable on mobile devices. This can be challenging because the screen size is so much smaller than a desktop or laptop screen. You can create a responsive website that adapts to your user’s screen size or you can build separate websites for your mobile customers.

Vary Your Content

Avoid building a website that is all text. Your customers are looking for variety. A mix of text, images, infographics and videos can create interest and engagement opportunities. In addition, each customer may have different preferences for how they learn things, so make it easier for them. Even stock photos can improve your website’s readability and attractiveness.

Whether you have to create a new website or you have one that needs updating, consider these web design principles.