7 Website Trends to Use in 2016

As a brand, your business needs to stay relevant and current. If you haven't updated the content and look of your website for a few years, now is a good time to do it. Otherwise, you risk falling behind competitors who also have sites, but are more in tune with the needs of today's clients.To give you some ideas on how to update your site and networks, here are 7 online trends that you can make your own. Click on each category below to learn more:

Responsive Web Design

Responsive Web Design (RWD) is an approach to web design aimed at crafting sites to provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience—easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling—across a wide range of devices (from desktop computer monitors to mobile phones). A responsive site adjusts according to what device it’s viewed in. By now, this is pretty much considered mandatory for anyone who has a website, but it’s still worth noting in an increasingly mobile world.

Minimalist, User-Oriented Design

When it comes to web design, less is often more. Even the most tech-savvy, financially privileged visitor can appreciate a site that isn’t overloaded with graphics, or doesn’t use up too much bandwidth. The needs, wants, and limitations of end users of a product, service or process are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process.

Illustrations

Illustrations allow the viewer to invent their own interpretation of a scene or idea, and connect more readily than with picture-perfect model/stock photos.

video

Video is a powerful business tool that grabs peoples' attention and retains it for longer. Using videos within your site increases traffic and improves search engine ranking. It's easily shared so you can reach a lot of people in a short amount of time. Custom videos can deliver a lot of information very quickly and can demonstrate information easily. Another advantage is that it allows you to portray the human side of your company, putting a face to the name.

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Content is still king. The mediums might be changing—in 2015 we saw a massive shift from text to media—but the competition for visibility has never been stronger. With more businesses building out their content strategies and the rising advertising costs, optimizing your organic content is at its highest demand.

social networking

Although social media doesn’t directly influence your search ranking, greater social signals (such as people sharing your content and sending more traffic to your website) can help you rank higher.  Companies should expand their concept of SEO to include not just the traditional search engines [Google and Bing] but also social search engines. When searching for a brand on Facebook or Twitter it’s not uncommon to see several different profiles pop up, and it’s not always clear which one is the real deal. Brands need to ensure that it’s super easy for users to identify their official social profiles.

Google MAPS - for business

​Enhance your presence and take your business to the next level. We get your business details verified with Google, and get your brand on the map. With 4 out of 5 people using search engines to find local info like business hours and directions, you don't want to miss this opportunity for updated and current details.

Crawford Designs specializes in these 7 categories. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help promote your products and services. 2016 is your year to shine online!