10 Easy Tips to Make Your Website Look Professional
We live in a digital era, where websites are often the first time a user encounters a new brand. So it’s important to make sure it’s giving the right impression.
A professional-looking website can help build trust and credibility in your audience. This in turn will lead to improved customer engagement and more conversions. So, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to make your website look more professional.
Our 10 easy tips are applicable regardless of whether you’re running a travel blog or are a big-time eCommerce brand.
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10 Professional Website Tips
1. Use a Responsive Design
A professional website should be accessible and visually appealing across all devices. This way, regardless of whether your audience is using a laptop or a smartphone, they’re still getting a good quality experience.
Using a responsive design is a great way to make sure that this happens. A responsive web design ensures that your site adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes. Meaning it provides a consistent user experience.
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2. Adopt a Clean and Intuitive Navigation
Make sure your website’s navigation is straightforward and easy to understand. Nothing will put a user off quicker than messy navigation.
So, using a clear menu structure helps visitors find what they’re looking for quickly. It also helps convey the message that the company itself is organised. Always avoid cluttered menus with too many options.
3. Make sure you’re using High-Quality Imagery
The quickest way how to make a website look more professional is by using high-resolution images and graphics. But, it’s critical that they’re actually relevant to your brand!
So whether it’s product images, team photos or stock imagery, make sure you’re using professionally taken good-quality images. It can help convey a sense of quality and trustworthiness to your audience quickly.
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4. Always use Consistent Branding
Maintain consistency in your branding elements such as colour schemes, fonts, and logos throughout your website. This consistency reinforces your brand’s identity and makes your site look more polished.
It also helps to make your brand more recognisable off-site! Think of large brands that are well-known for distinctive fonts (Coca Cola) or even colours (McDonalds), the audience doesn’t even need to see a logo to recognise the company behind them.
5. Produce Engaging Content
Quality content is key to a professional website. Ensure that your text is well-written, free of errors, and provides value to your audience. Make sure to use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make content more digestible.
Doing all this not only helps build a connection with your audience but also helps make your website look a lot more professional.
6. Make Sure it has a Fast Loading Speed
Slow-loading websites can put off website visitors, but did you know it can also negatively affect your search rankings? This means that not only will fewer people find you, but the people who do will be put off by its slow load time.
You can optimise your site’s speed by compressing images, using efficient code, and leveraging browser caching.
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7. Display Contact Information Clearly
Make it easy for visitors to contact you. The best way to do this is by clearly displaying your contact information on a dedicated contact page. This adds a layer of trust and accessibility to your site.
8. Always Make Use of Social Proof
Showcase customer testimonials, case studies, or reviews to build credibility. Social proof demonstrates that others have had positive experiences with your products or services, making visitors more likely to trust your brand. This adds to your professional reputation.
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9. Always use a Secure Connection (SSL)
Ensure that your website uses HTTPS by acquiring an SSL certificate. This not only secures data transfer but also signals to visitors that your site is trustworthy. Search engines also favour secure sites in rankings.
Apart from all the clear benefits above, your audience will come to expect that a professional website should have an SSL certificate. So not using it is a sure-fire way to make your website look unprofessional.
10. Always Optimise for Mobile
As a digital agency, we are acutely aware of the importance of mobile optimisation. Mobile-friendly websites are no longer just a ‘nice to have’, but a ‘need to have’. Always test your website on different devices to make sure it’s still a positive experience.
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How to make a website look more professional
Remember that a professional website is an ongoing endeavour. As technology and design trends evolve, it’s essential to stay up-to-date and adapt your site accordingly.
Your website is a reflection of your business. So by implementing these tips, you can create a professional online presence that resonates with your target audience and helps you achieve your digital marketing goals.
