Outstanding website design |It's no secret: companies with a strong website are the winners in today's digital landscape.

Now more than ever, people will flock to their screens to check out your business before stepping foot in your store

or calling you. Very often, their search begins on your website .

2022 is just weeks away, but there are a few things you can add/modify to your website

to make sure it is ready for the new year and beyond.

Accessibility and ADA Compliance

This year, we prioritized learning more about compliance with ADA (The ADA requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations

to employees with disabilities, and imposes accessibility requirements on public accommodations) for websites, as

this is quickly becoming a must-have.

All websites must be inclusive of people with disabilities, meaning all visitors should have the same

experience when navigating around your website.

Many websites still contain major flaws that may prevent people with disabilities from using them.

Designing an ADA-compliant website is more than just part of a good customer service strategy; it can also increase

your conversion rate, boost your SEO , and expand your reach.

Website elements that improve accessibility include:

-Creating a strong color contrast between text and backgrounds

-Adding focus indicators, such as the line that appears under word links when using keyboard navigation

-Adding functional alt text to all site images

-Not opening links in a new window without informing the user first

-Check out these resources on how people with disabilities use the web and modify your website as needed.

You may also be interested in:7 Essential Tips for Beginners to Design a Professional-Level Website

Website loading time and site speed

Although not a new best practice, lightning-fast loading times and site speed are extremely

important for your site's success. If you want your your website website to convert leads and rank well,

fast loading times must always be a top priority.

There are plenty of studies showing that over 50% of visitors expect a website to load within two seconds

of clicking a link. If it takes more than two seconds, potential visitors are likely to leave your site and go

to somewhere else to find what they are looking for.

There are plenty of ways to adjust your website's speed and review its current status. This includes:

-Reducing your image sizes

-Keeping your plugins / website updated

-Avoiding bad plugins

-Take any steps you need to make sure your website is not affected by loading time and site speed.

Thumb friendly “easy to use”

A mobile-responsive website is no longer an option; if your website cannot provide the same experience on

all devices, this is a change that must be made as quickly as possible.

If your website is mobile-friendly, take it to the next level in 2022 and make sure

that it is easy to use.

What does “thumb friendly” mean? We’re glad you asked!

Think about the way you use your phone. If you happen to be reading this post on your phone, look at how you are holding it.

Chances are your fingers are wrapped around the back of your phone, while your thumb is doing the scrolling and tapping.

An easy-to-use website must take into account specific areas that are easy to reach and hard to reach

and a common “natural” zone.

Here is a visual image outlining these areas (from Smashing Magazine):

You can instantly improve your website's user experience by keeping this approach in mind for your website.

You may also be interested in:7 steps to transform your website from “very pretty” to “awesome”

A mix of visual elements

allow best websites for users to easily digest content, while using visuals to support your site's message.

Although your website copy should never be overlooked, it is wise to make sure you put a lot

of thought behind the visuals. It is also important to offer a variety of elements.

From illustrations and infographics to GIFs and videos, there are plenty of ways to add some

accompanying elements to your web pages.

Along with visuals, make sure your content is visually appealing and written for the web.

Micro-interactions

Going along the same lines as the point above, micro-interactions add a nice touch of appeal

visual too. These small animations are used to provide subtle feedback to show users where they can

continue their journey on your website.

An example of this is a link that changes colors when a user hovers the mouse over it, but it's time for your website

web to expand these animations for 2022.

Button movements and icon hover times are some examples of this, but the sky is the limit. However,

there is a way to overdo these micro-interactions, so keep them tasteful and only add them to areas where

that makes sense.

Your website acts as a digital storefront for your business; Leave a lasting impression on your visitors! With these

five trends in mind, you can stand out from the competition in 2022 and be seen as a leader

industry when it comes to a strong digital presence.

To learn more about 2022 website best practices or to start implementing them on your website,

Contact Ibtdi today!