Imagine: you have decided to start a bakery. You make the most delicious cupcakes in the world, but there is just one problem – no one knows who you are.
Of course, you could always stand on a busy street corner shouting ‘Come and try my cupcakes!’ at people. But that is not exactly ideal; it’s like running a business without a website in today's world.
A website is your bakery's digital storefront. It’s where visitors can find you, read about your amazing cupcakes (with maybe one or two mouthwatering photos), and above all else, place an order.
But here's the thing: just like you wouldn't open your bakery without making sure it looked inviting and had everything customers need; likewise, you shouldn't just throw a website together. That's where web design comes in.
Think of web design as icing on a cake (or maybe sprinkles if you prefer).
Sure it makes your site look good but it also helps users find what they are looking for while on the site and makes their experience enjoyable.
But I do get it… Honestly speaking, mastering the art of making perfect macarons often feels easier than learning about web design in general.
There is a whole language of words such as “UX” and “UI,” and code that looks like nonsense to most of us. But don’t be afraid fellow baker (or yoga teacher, dog walker, whoever you are!), because I am here to explain it.
How do I make my website look delicious?
Let’s begin with the exciting part: the look and feel of your website. This is where web design gets creative. We’re talking about stuff like:
Colors and Fonts: Similar to those warm yellows and welcoming blues that give your bakery a homely touch, colors and fonts you select for your website set the mood. A fun-filled bakery might use bright, cartoonish font while a yoga studio may go for something calming and elegant.
Images and Videos: High quality photographs are the window display of your site; they will make people stop & drool (or in the case of yoga practice, feel good). Consider this – are you more likely to buy a cupcake from a blurry photo or one that looks so amazing you can almost smell it?
Layout: This is all about the way you put together the things on your website for instance think of a bakery, where displays are probably arranged in front; a counter where orders can be made and comfortable seats when you need to stay longer there. A nice web design layout should be like that, where everything is accessible and easy to use.
Making Your Website Customer-Friendly
But web design is not only about how it looks like. It also deals with making sure your website works properly. This is where words like UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) come into play.
UX (User Experience): Think of UX as a journey your clients take from one area of your site to another. Is it easy to find information? Can people order cupcakes with just a few clicks? A good UX designer ensures that your website makes sense and does not frustrate users, in the same way that no customer would want customers struggling to locate their bakery’s washrooms.
UI (User Interface): This relates to buttons, menus and other interactive parts on your site. Are they clear or confusing? With this, a good UI designer develops user-friendly websites so that users can easily look for what they want thereby taking action(such as ordering those cupcakes).
Mobile Friendly: Because Over 60% of Your Customers Will Use Their Mobile Phone to Order
Remember how I said websites used to be designed just for desktop computers? Those days are gone. Nowadays, almost every person is stuck on their phones; therefore, your website must be visually appealing and work smoothly across all devices ranging from big computer screens to small phone displays.
A great web designer will see to it that your website is responsive, which means that it adjusts itself to fit the screen size one might be using.
So Why Do You Need a Web Designer?
Obviously, you could probably create a website yourself by using one of those online services like WiX or Weebly.
But here’s the thing: if you had never creamed butter and sugar together, would you try baking your own cupcakes from scratch? The answer’s no. And this is why web designers exist.
We have got the skills and knowledge needed for building not just attractive but also well-functioning websites so that you can get more customers and achieve whatever goals you have set in your business.
The Takeaway
Think about a nicely designed website as a secret weapon in today’s digital world; it is the difference between screaming out your name in an empty space or having customers lining up at your door day after day.
So, if you're serious about taking your business to the next level, then investing in web design is a no-brainer.
And hey, maybe you can even offer a special discount on cupcakes to celebrate your new, amazing website!