The last couple of years have been a roller coaster ride. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have had an impact on all aspects of our lives, including how we interact online.
In today’s competitive market, modern, cutting edge business websites not only need to look great, but also need to generate leads and outperform the competition.
This article will look at 10 website trends that every business owner needs to know about regardless whether you have an online or traditional business model.
1. Content Personalisation
You might have visited a website and then noticed that it’s content has changed when returning to the site a couple of days later.
It’s no secret that most websites track your location and browsing history. Cutting edge website designers will advise their client to display dynamic personalised content based on past interactions and whether the visitor is returning to the website for the second or third time.
Personalised content is most important for online shop owners who can tailor offers and recommended products based on customers past purchases that help to increase conversions.
2. Voice Activated Search
Nowadays, the way we find information online is changing rapidly. Many websites have been optimised for voice search and this trend will only continue as more high-end users begin to use these technologies.
3. Thumb Friendly Mobile Navigation
Over 54% of all website traffic now comes from mobile devices, and that number continues to rise.
With so many visitors now using mobile and tablet devices it’s a no-brainer that innovative web designers will continue to improve the mobile website experience by making it as simple and intuitive as possible.
4. Interactive Content
Website visitors love content that they can interact with, whether it’s a quiz, a poll or an online calculator or any other interactive tool.
Expect website designers to include interactive content and tools as part of their website building approach in 2022 and beyond.
5. Accessibility
A new trend has been building over the last few years and will continue to grow more prevalent. Voice optimisation for accessibility is becoming increasingly important, and with advancements in voice control, we can expect to see more of it in 2022.
6. White Space
The current trend in website design is towards minimalistic aesthetics and plenty of white space. This style is popular due to its use of simple shapes and typography that allow for a clean, uncluttered layout.
7. Dark Mode
The prevalence of dark themes on websites has increased significantly over the past 5 years or so due to an increasing number of web designers using them in their work. A dark theme is typically used for websites that are about minimalism and simplicity, which is why many people love the design so much.
8. Micro Interactions
On a website, micro-interactions are small animations that offer subtle feedback to users. We’re all used to seeing a link change colours when a user mouses over it. With the focus on micro interactions, the same experience might be given more attention to stand out a little bit more.
9. Local SEO
The importance of local content cannot be overstated. Content generated locally is often of a superior quality to that generated elsewhere, and the effort of getting the content onto a platform is far less. All of this is true of social media platforms, which allow for a continual flow of relevant content generated from around the world 24/7. Local businesses should make the most of this by ensuring they have a social media profile and by posting regularly.
10. Load Time and Page Speed
Studies say that visitors expect your website to load in no more than 2 seconds after clicking the link, if it takes more than 3 seconds then your visitors will start to leave and it’s unlikely they will ever come back.
