Excited about building your own website? While you can design the site in any way you want, you might become frustrated if you aren’t familiar with what sparks continued interest or lasting website success.
What are the main components of a good website? At Rival Digital, we have completed over 200 home service website design projects, and know the factors that make a business website rank well and attract new customers below.
What Do Search Engines Consider Good Web Design?
You must consider search engine optimization (SEO) throughout the entire website creation and design process. Make sure you double-check that every URL, from the front page to the About sections, includes these important components.
Relevant Domain Names
Your domain name is a technical part of your website’s SEO. Think of it as the site address or URL. Does yours include the following?
- Your brand name
- The physical location, if applicable
- Specific product and service names for each product page
Keep the domain short and sweet. Don’t forget to choose a trustworthy web hosting service when building your website!
Relevant Keywords
When you write blogs, product pages, and other written content, you want to connect with your audience through the copy. You must sprinkle important keywords throughout the written content to help your site rank higher in search results. Use a well-rounded content management system to identify keyword trends and you keep track of your calendar.
User-Friendly Navigation
You must always put the user first and build a predictable user experience. Extend an invitation with an intuitive home page or landing page. You’ll ensure visitors find what they need almost immediately.
While navigation elements come in all shapes and forms, they should always include:
- A website header clearly introducing the web page and brand
- A navigation bar that links out to important pages like online forms, special offers, financing options, and service pages
- The content body describing your business, products, or services
- A call to action that inspires the visitor to contact you or purchase products
- Social media links enabling your visitors to quickly follow your business on other platforms
Website Header Examples
The header of your website should introduce who you are and what you do. Additionally, it is a good opportunity to begin reinforcing your brand by including your brand tagline, branded imagery, mascots, or other relevant visuals that users will recall or remember when they arrive.
Navigation Bar Examples
Your navigation bar plays a critical role in the user’s experience on your website. It’s important to include helpful links that may help then navigate to the appropriate page that they are looking for. We generally recommend analyzing past user behavior on your website to see which pages are most commonly visited. This will help you formulate a hierarchy when designing your navigation bar.
To find these numbers, we recommend using Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and also using a website heatmapping tool such as Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity so you can visibly see how users interact with your website.
Keep your navigation clean and simple to understand. If you offer HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, you likely have a lot of service pages to include. In these cases, we generally recommend having a tab labeled “Services” that funnel users to the top level service page for each, or simply include a sidebar navigation that includes all of the links. Your navigation bar is valuable real estate…don’t waste it!
Content Body Examples
Though we always want the user to convert “Above The Fold” there are times when folks need to read a little more. Ensure that you have ample content on your homepage that clearly tells them who you are, what you do, how you do it, and why they should trust you. Here is an example of how we incorporated friendly, branded imagery with a brief company history for AC Plus Heating & Cooling:
Good Call To Action Examples
You should try to have a Call-To-Action (CTA) throughout your content and throughout the website. Everyone needs a clear path forward, make it super simple for users to understand how they can get started. We generally recommend having a consistent CTA located just above the footer on each page, but, you will want to observe user behavior through a website heatmapping tool to better understand how customers in your market browse, navigate, and convert on your website.
Mobile-Friendly Website Layout
What are the main components of a good website that performs well in searches? Mobile-friendly designs that translate well on home, product, and landing pages are essential. Searchers increasingly use mobile devices to access engines, websites, and other platforms.
When website visitors navigate to your site, they shouldn’t have to traverse a clunky layout that looks blown out or excessively minimized on handheld screens. You could lose your ranking and potential customers without this essential element.
What Website Design Elements Do You Value?
SEO isn’t the only thing you need to consider when creating your site. Next, think about how you’d like your website to represent your brand. How will your business and offerings influence other functional and visual elements? What’s going to help your business stand out amidst a crowd of competitors? You might include these extra features:
- A carousel of positive reviews. When new visitors see a testimonial or review carousel, they feel more confident about your brand since others had good experiences.
- A live feed of social media pages. Effortlessly supply additional content with live social feeds.
- Product or service highlights on the first page of your online store. Which products are flying off shelves? Do you offer limited discounts? Entice your visitors to investigate further with savings and popular products.
- A reputable blog or e-commerce platform you can easily maintain. Like your target audience, you prize accessibility, reputation, and usability. Pick a third-party service that simplifies basic site maintenance and web page building.
What Are the Main Components of a Successful Website?
Although website design and additional elements depend on your brand and purpose, you can significantly improve search performance and visitor appeal by including the basics:
- Relevant domain name and additional URLs
- Solid site building and hosting service
- Intuitive navigation and layout
- Designs that seamlessly translate onto phones, tablets, etc.
- Engaging, informative content with just the right number of related keywords
Check your industry competition for examples of what works best for your field. Add a professional website design service into the mix, and you’ll be well on your way to extensive brand growth!
Enhance SEO and Appeal With Rival Digital’s Website Design & Development Services
So, what are the main components of a good website? Balance SEO with creative touches that represent your unique business. At Rival Digital, we specialize in growth-driven digital marketing, including site design and SEO. Book a consultation with our team at 800-674-9823. Let’s see what success looks like for you!
