It’s the first thing prospective customers see when they search for you. With about 55% of visitors spending just 15 seconds or less on a web page, when it comes to your business’s website, the importance of exceptional design and seamless user experience can’t be understated. That first impression counts.
When you’re designing a website for the first time, it’s tempting to go with the cheapest option—which often means using a free program like Wix to create your user interface (UI). While that may cut costs upfront, it nearly always ends up costing you more in the long-run. Some things are worth investing in—and that’s especially true when your company is at stake.
In today’s competitive e-commerce market, hiring a professional agency to design the UI for your website places you ahead of the competition and can translate to higher conversion rates down the road. Here’s why you might consider the professional touch.
What is user interface (UI)?
User interface, or UI as it’s commonly called, refers to all the ways a user interacts with your website. This might be comprised of pages they read or interact with, buttons they can click on to add something to their basket or make a purchase, forms they fill out, and any other interactive visual devices and graphics on your site.
If you want to encourage visitor interaction and gain a higher SEO ranking, it’s best for your website to embrace a simple, easy-to-use interface that’s also visually pleasing. A professional UI designer can help.
Why is a professional UI design so important?
Back before online businesses became the norm, you could get away with a website that wasn’t quite up to the highest standards. But with online marketing as ubiquitous as it is today, you can’t afford to skimp when it comes to your company’s website. Unless you’re already skilled in UI design, the DIY approach just won’t cut it.
So many elements go into creating a successful user interface, like mobile optimization, search fields, graphics and wording, color schemes, chat boxes, easily recognizable icons, sharing links, and e-commerce—just to name a few. Homemade websites often fall short in one or more important area, making the user experience more difficult and confusing to navigate.
A successful user interface guides your visitors toward the desired outcome—whether that’s registering, subscribing, making a purchase, or giving a donation—using a combination of elements like color, graphics, and text. The best website interfaces are simple, friendly, and well-branded. They cut out any unnecessary information and distractions. The wording is clear and effective, and each page on the website is consistent in color, layout, and graphics. Just look at sites like Facebook, Airbnb, and Dropbox—on any given page, you know from a glance which company you’re looking at, and where you can click next.
Effective UI translates directly to customer conversion and loyalty—which in turn means higher profits for your company. Plus, the more time customers spend on your website, the higher SEO ranking you’ll receive.
On the other hand, if users get frustrated with a sloppy design and either can’t figure it out or don’t trust it, they’ll abandon your website for a better one—decreasing your SEO ranking and causing your conversions to dwindle.
Ready for a custom website?
At Liqui-Site, we specialize in creating integrated custom websites with strategic, unforgettable user interfaces. As seasoned UI design professionals, we know what goes into making a successful website, whatever industry you’re in.
Contact us today to see what a professional UI design can do for your site.
