Top Website Design Trends for 2012
Ahhhh…a new year!
Filled with opportunities, fresh starts and high energy! Makes for a great time to review your current marketing, especially your website design. If your website is more than 3-4 years old, maybe it’s time for a facelift. Here are some of the trends we’re anticipating going forward for website designs. Inspired 2 Design would love to speak with you about your business’ current site, or new website design ideas and how to make your website work harder for your business in 2012.
User Experience
Web users are looking for simplicity, easy navigation and usability – so this is a good time to review your current site map, menu navigation, and link structure. It’s also a great time to take a look at your site on multiple devices, from your desktop PC, to your MacBook, iPad (or Android tablet), and mobile phone to see how it loads, and what it takes to get around…
Design Elements
With the coming of Web 2.0, simplicity came forth in a big way through design. Use of more negative space and larger font sizes helped website designs achieve that goal. Rest for the eye, while incorporating the important information and call to action are still critical today. White space may be overrated however, so be on the lookout for whites turning to natural tones and use of more textures, watercolors and hand-sketched design elements, and even the use of custom 3D elements (like I2D did for Little River Animal Hospital). Minimalistic design is important to gaining, and keeping, a visitor interested and moving forward on your website. While animation still serves a purpose though HTML5, not Flash, use it intentionally. Avoid cutesy and unnecessary objects, buttons, etc and make sure everything on the page has a specific purpose that moves the visitor toward your call to action.
Chose Content Carefully
By minimalizing copy and photos to create clean design, your site will not only be more to the point (provided you choose well), it will load faster – a critical element of the mobile web. Worried less type = less impact with search engines? Ask I2D about how to make the most of the copy you have and keep through on-site SEO (search engine optimization), off-site SEM (search engine marketing) and local search. Less may be more when it comes to use of large, carefully selected single images, rather than several smaller photos. And here’s something we designers have been praying for – browsers are opening themselves up to display a wider selection of fonts, so look for more opportunities for creative use of fonts on newer website designs.
Wider Page Designs
While we have to considering mobility (see more below), the desktop PC user is looking for you to utilize their bigger screen real estate with an updated wider website. If your site was designed before 2010, it may have a boxy look, and be at risk of alienating certain target markets… let I2D help you determine if your site needs a space makeover! Also in 2012 headers and footers will gain more real estate as no one is afraid to scroll anymore! The fold has really ceased to exist folks!! Let your logo shine in a deep header that includes contact info, links and more. Keep your foot firmly in the door with a footer that includes your copyright, text links, address etc. and be bold about it!
Mobile Mania
With more than 2.4 billion mobile phone users and a thousand more every minute – it’s no wonder you have to think about fitting a small screen as well as a large! More than 700 million people surf the web on their phone. In fact, mobile browsing is on track to become the major platform for Internet use. A website that’s optimized for mobile use is becoming a must-have for businesses online, not to mention the location-based benefits and Google search benefits associated with a mobile site. Wanna be really cool? Consider a mobile app for your business as a new and exciting tool to gain customer loyalty and to spread the word.
The Social Butterfly
It’s a small world after all, and it’s indeed getting smaller if you look at the social media explosion over the past few years. You must have a business page on Facebook, you need to seriously consider Twitter and a Blog (like this one). Inexpensive marketing tools that really just require an investment of time – mainly through research, planning and implementation. Share buttons and other linking/updating will continue to grow and become one of the most often used elements in a new or redesigned website. Making your website "get along well with others" socially, will continue as a trend and become more important as the year progresses. Ask I2D about Facebook for business training, social media graphic design and implementation, and blogs. We can install a blog on just about any website, teach you how to use it and how to incorporate it into your overall marketing plan.
A Higher Bar
Look in 2012 for a marketing and website design partner who provides exceptional customer service, after all, it’s your money and your business we’re talking about. A fast, accurate and reliable source for your graphic and web design, your hosting and your other marketing needs is critical for you to meet you goals for the new year. Remember too that value is not always found in the lowest price.
Design, content, and branding all deserve equal time and have to work cohesively. Your brand strategy is key to the successful growth of your business in 2012…so what are you waiting for!? Let’s get started!
