In this digital age, a website is now akin to a shop, a first point to a customer, and a favorable advertisement. However, a well-crafted site may have some conversion barriers. Did you know that a slow service will cost the retailers incalculable sales billions in dollars each year? Or that nearly 70% of users will leave a site due to poor design? At Icecube Digital, we eat and sleep live and promote your business online. Yes, I believe this can be done as well. I would like to talk about the nine common website elements that perhaps are working against your success and discuss how they can bestow more engagement.
The Impact of Website Performance on User Engagement:
1. From Generic Navigation to Intuitive Guidance
Standard terminologies such as ‘Services’, ‘About Us’, and ‘Contact Us’ may be common but most of the time, such words are not direct and require one to interpret the purpose of the page on that navigation. Instead, go for navigation labels that are concise in the description of the content they direct to.
For example: Rather than a single ‘Services’ menu item, one could have ‘Website Design’ in which other more specific services can be included, SEO, and so on, where the user can self-serve what they want.
2. Welcome Authenticity with Original Imagery
If we are to talk of social media for instance, there would never be a comparability measure as the accuracy in the portrayal of oneself is what matters for each individual. Other than merely accentuating the message, such stock photos are not as relevant today as they can be used as authentic placeholders. From the perspective of brand communication, it is useful to understand and apply the best practices of using original photo content that is aimed at depicting the essence of your brand.
For example: If you are a provider of e-commerce website development services, there is no better way to gain prospects than putting up images of your team in action or images of e-commerce sites you have developed in success with the clients. How one houses such visual proof of their specialty is much better than an ordinary picture of people working in an office.
3. Rethink Dates on Your Blog for Evergreen Content
Updating information such as events can be useful or necessary. This is not however valid when it comes to evergreen content. These highly informative and useful objects that are not limited by any period should be as appealing for readers years into the future as they are now.
For example: As with examples already discussed above, take the example of a blog post titled “10 SEO Mistakes to Avoid for Beginners”. It is wise to remove the date so that this piece of content isn’t irrelevant to the current generation of readership, irrespective of how long ago this content was published.
4. Optimize for Speed: The Need for Website Velocity
In today’s fast-paced digital realm, attention spans are fleeting. Users expect websites to load instantly, and even a second delay can lead to frustration and abandonment. Prioritize a seamless user experience by optimizing your website’s performance for speed.
For example: Utilize tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your site’s loading time and receive tailored recommendations for improvement. Consider techniques like compressing images, enabling browser caching, and choosing a reliable hosting provider to ensure lightning-fast loading times. A professional SEO agency can also be instrumental in implementing these technical optimizations.
5. Present Information Directly: Reconsidering PDFs
Although PDF format can be convenient for downloadable content, white papers, or case studies, the very act of asking a user to download further information tends to aggravate their surfing experience.
For example: Offer users not have to download a PDF brochure. Rather create a conceptual structure and an infographic pleasing the eye on the pages of the site for the same. In this manner page within the browser with the content replaces the PDF file, thus helping make users keen on the author’s site more and more.
6. Curate Current News: Refreshing Your Press Section
While previous press announcements might be historically valuable, they do not make much sense for the present audiences wishing to learn as much as possible about your company. Use the term ‘News’ or ‘Press’, as the last one is more appropriate if one has nothing more than one sentence, and use it only for the freshest most relevant news.
For example: Focus on the credits that the company has earned over a certain period and demonstrate them creatively in the format of interesting and attractive business cases. This demonstrates the relevance of your brand and serves the potential audience or partners with useful information.
7. Capture Attention with a Compelling Homepage Headline
Your home page headline is the first impression of yourself in the virtual world and this serves as an opportunity through which one can reach the audience’s attention and give them the brand’s value proposition. If the headline is not captivating enough, there are many chances of missing out on the opportunity to engage the audience.
For example: Don’t state. Welcome to [Company Name], rather argue either one of the sentences such as “Helping Businesses Succeed is Our Mission Using Data-Driven Digital Marketing Strategies.” This gives a picture of what the expertise is and how that can help a prospective client.
8. Engage Readers with Descriptive Section Headers
Section Prescription statements are called standard in website content because they do not hook the reader or provide a clear context about the content to follow. Engage your audience and enhance your content by making use of this type of persuasive, problem-solution-oriented headings that capture attention and facilitate easy navigation of visitors to your website.
For example: Don’t just say “What We Do” call it something more active like “Custom Websites Designed to ensure Every Visitor is a Retained Customer.” This more specific, and benefit-driven language is relevant in getting the intended audience and makes one want to look for more.
9. Strategic Placement of Social Media Icons
It is very important to keep communicating on as many social media sites as possible, however, social media icon usage is also important to the experience of the user. Social media icons positioned near the top of your website can be a distraction as they may cause visitors to leave your main content area before the visitors see what your brand is trying to communicate.
For example: How about removing the social media icons from the top and locating them in the footer or on the side of the website? This way people are first presented with the content of interest and only if they desire do they pursue you across social networking sites.
Icecube Digital: Your Partner in Digital Evolution
The ever-shifting landscape of digital marketing requires a proactive and strategic approach. At Icecube Digital, we are delighted to help your business within the modern-day digital world. From comprehensive WordPress development company services to results-driven SEO strategies, we offer a full spectrum of services tailored to elevate your online presence. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us collaborate to achieve your digital aspirations.
