Useful Trends for 2024 You Can Use for Your Website
I don't know if you know this, one of my past lives was running a web design agency for 15 years. I spent a lot of time thinking, designing, planning, and executing websites. Today, even as a marketing person, it's always fun and interesting to see what's happening in the web design world. Today I wanted to share some trends I see happening - I promise I will only focusing and identify practical trends that you, a small business owner, can use!
It's always good to see what's happening but when it comes to your own website, start simple and then layer on these extra features.
Minimalism
One trend I'm happy to see taking off is Minimalism. It's grown more popular in the last year and provides a nice change to overwhelming visual designs that quickly become too much.Just to summarize, minimalism in web design focuses on:
Soft, inviting spaces
More negative space
Flat elements and patterns
Easy to use navigation
Simple color palettes
A good example of an elegant, simple website is a past client Terry McDougall's website, a career coach and published author.
Storytelling
I'm a huge fan of storytelling. If any of you have worked with me, I love to help you tell your story and incorporate ways to help you be the guide and your client be the hero in your content. People love stories and it helps folks remember and visual what you are sharing. Ways to tell stories in a website are through visuals, animations, or interactive elements to tell the story of you and your services.
Storytelling is a powerful tool that can be used to engage visitors and help them understand the purpose of your website. Expect to see more web designers incorporating storytelling into their designs by creating visuals, animations, or even interactive elements such as a quiz can help a potential client engage in a playful way.
One of my client's, Heather Wilde, is a natural storyteller and you can enjoy her story through visuals on her home page
Accessibility
Accessibility in web design has become very important for SEO performance, but it’s also good to welcome all users to your site. Features can include:
Screen readers (A screen reader is a piece of computer software that converts digital text into audible and/or tactile form. Screen readers enable users to interact with their devices in a non-visual manner, and are used primarily by people who are blind or have low vision, as well as those with cognitive limitations that prevent them from viewing onscreen text and media.)
Keyboard navigation (Keyboard navigation allows people to use their computer even if they have difficulty using a trackpad or mouse.)
High-contrast modes for greater readability (I actually teach about contrast in an exercise to my marketing students. They are asked to improve a poor performing landing page by making it easier to read through color/contrast.
Captions on all video
Accessible on all mobile devices (phone. tablet, and more)
While it was hard to find a website with all of these features (and by no means would you need to do all of these to your site), here's a good example: 1% for the planet
1% for the Planet is a network of businesses and organizations that have agreed to donate 1% of their profits to environmental causes.
1%'s motto is “Putting people and the planet over profit,” and the organization’s website demonstrates its commitment to accessibility too. High-contrasting text, accessible web content, and simple pages display in fully mobile responsive.
Want to learn more ways you can improve your website? Join us at the Marketing Focus Days and you can spend some time on these types of questions in supportive community!
Be sure to join us Thursday January 4th at 9am PT/ 12pm ET
Marketing Focus Days are monthly FREE 90 minute virtual group workshops with entrepreneurs and solopreneurs like yourself to provide focus and accountability to work on your marketing.
Marketing Focus Days for January: Does your Website Need a Makeover? I'll share tips and advice on how to spruce up an older website, trends for 2024 and when you need to build a new website.
Hope to see you there!