A website builder is a tool that lets you create a custom website without writing a lick of code. You can drag and drop elements, adjust settings, and preview your site in real time through the user-friendly interface. You can also choose from hundreds of templates, themes, and features to suit your needs.
But just creating a website isn’t enough. You also need to ensure that your website provides a great user experience (UX) for your visitors. UX is how people feel when they interact with your site. It affects their satisfaction, engagement, loyalty, and, ultimately, how much they spend.
So, how can you improve UX on your website when you use a website builder? Here are 7 of the most important things to consider about UX design.
In real life, no one likes getting lost. The same applies to the digital world. When a user visits your website, they're on a mission. Maybe they're seeking valuable information, considering a purchase, or trying to request your services. You can make their journey easier by ensuring they can navigate your site intuitively.
Most website builders, like Wix and IONOS, offer built-in features to help you customize your navigation menu. It's your job to use these tools to create a clear and concise navigation structure. Prioritize the pages that are most important to your users and organize them in a way that makes sense.
Aim to limit your main navigation menu to 7 items at most. Too many options can overwhelm users and make it harder for them to find what they want.
Also, position your navigation menu where it's easy to find, usually at the top of the page or along the left side. This approach follows the standard web conventions that most users are familiar with.
In the pursuit of delivering as much information as possible, many website owners overlook white space. This is a crucial element of web design that can significantly enhance UX. White space, often referred to as 'negative space,' is the blank space between the stuff on your page. It's not wasted space; rather, it's a powerful tool that can help guide your users' attention and make your content more digestible.
Most website builders provide easy-to-use tools that let you control the amount of white space on your site. For example, in the Weebly editor, you can adjust the margins and padding around your elements with a simple slider.
By giving your content room to breathe, you make it easier to read and prevent your site from looking cluttered. It's all about finding the right balance that aligns with your content and brand.
Today, it's not just about creating a beautiful website; it's about building one that looks and works great on all devices. With over half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, making sure your site is mobile-friendly is no longer optional.
Thankfully, website builders have risen to this challenge. They offer features that allow you to see how your website will appear on different devices. Take Shopify, for instance. Its builder has a feature that lets you switch between desktop and mobile previews.
It’s important to check how your website looks and functions on a smaller screen and make necessary adjustments. Keep in mind the nature of mobile devices—ensure buttons are big enough to tap comfortably and the text is large enough to read without squinting.
Many website builders offer responsive themes. A responsive theme automatically adjusts its layout, content, and images to fit the screen size of the viewer. With responsive design adapting automatically, you can be sure your website always looks its best on every device.
The visual elements of your website play a vital role in shaping your users' experiences. It's not just about using images for the sake of it. Instead, it’s about using relevant, high-quality images and multimedia to bring your content to life and better engage your site visitors.
Many website builders include libraries of free images or integrations with stock photo services. Shopify and WordPress, for example, have smooth integrations with third-party image libraries like Unsplash. Use these features to select images that align with your message and captivate your users.
Also, consider adding videos or infographics if they can aid in conveying your message more effectively. Just be cautious of the file sizes. Large files can slow down your site, but luckily, most website builders will automatically optimize them for you.
Every website has a goal, whether it's to sell products, gather newsletter sign-ups, or get users to fill out a form. This is where your CTA comes in. It's a crucial element that guides users to take the next desired step.
Most website builders offer customizable buttons that you can use for your CTAs. By choosing colors that contrast with the rest of the page, your CTA buttons will really stand out to your visitors.
Think about the wording of your CTAs, too. They should be action-oriented, clear, and compelling to the user. A vague or uninspiring CTA may not yield the results you want.
For example, a lackluster CTA on a real estate page could be "Browse properties." Changing it to it "Find your dream home today!" emphasizes the incentive for the reader to act immediately.
Website visitors are known for their need for speed. A slow-loading website can frustrate users and even cause them to leave, increasing your site's bounce rate. That's why it's crucial to ensure your website loads quickly and smoothly.
One of the benefits of using website builders is that many are designed to optimize load times. Wix, for instance, automatically compresses images and uses efficient coding practices to ensure your website runs as quickly as possible. They also often use content delivery networks (CDNs) to speed up the delivery of your website to users all over the world.
Still, it's essential to do your part by minimizing the use of large files and unnecessary add-ons that can slow down your site.
The final tip in our guide is to make it simple for users to contact you or provide feedback. If someone becomes frustrated or confused while using your site and can't find a way to reach out for help, they may just leave and not come back.
Most website builders offer built-in contact forms that you can add to your site. These forms can usually be customized to fit the look and feel of your website and gather the information you need from your users.
Some builders, like WordPress, even have plugins that can automate responses, giving your users immediate feedback and saving you time. Additionally, consider adding a feedback form or survey to your site. This can give you valuable insight into your users' experiences and show them that you value their input and are constantly striving to improve.
Creating a fantastic user experience on your website is within your reach, especially when using one of the top website builders. It's all about focusing on your users and what they need. Whether it's simple navigation, effective use of white space, mobile optimization, high-quality images, clear CTAs, fast load times, or easy contact methods, each aspect plays a crucial role in making your website user-friendly.
By keeping these 7 tips in mind, you're well on your way to crafting a site that both you and your users will love. And ultimately, happy users can lead to more sales and a more successful website overall.