Design-Wise Tips to Boost Website Engagement in 2021

According to a report by the Nielsen Norman Group, web visitors decide to explore or leave a website within 10 to 20 seconds of landing on a page. This means you only have a small window of opportunity to impress potential customers.  

One of the most effective and surefire ways to leave a lasting impression on your visitors is through design.  

Having a responsive and engaging website design can grab people’s attention, establish credibility, and give a positive impression that your company is bigger and more successful from the second they land on your page.  

Engagement is a common term and frequently used metric in digital marketing.  But, what does an engaging website mean? And more importantly, how do you achieve this?

In this article, we will share with you the top five West Palm Beach web design trends of 2021 that you can use to upgrade your website and provide a more engaging experience to your visitors this year.  

But, before we jump into that, first things first……

What Is an Engaging Website?

The term “engaging” means to attract interest or attention. It can also refer to a person who has become involved or interested in something.  

In the context of websites, it can suggest that a website is interesting enough to make a visitor spend time, explore, and contribute to discussions that are happening on that page.  

Why Is It Important to Have an Engaging Website?

Below are just some of the many reasons why you want to have an engaging website for your business:  

• An engaging website increases the average time visitors spend on each page of your site.
• A highly engaging web design can urge your visitors to come back and even tell their friends about it.
• Having an engaging website with video content and using professional photography can help your business look like the better choice compared to your competitors.

• You can use user engagement as a strategy to collect consumer feedback.
• People love it when they can share their ideas, contribute, and become involved in something. It’s one of the ways you can make a connection with your audience.

What Are the 5 Ways You Can Make Your Website More Engaging?

Let’s take a look at five of the most popular web design trends of 2021 that can help elevate your site and make it more engaging for modern-day users.  

1. Embedded Videos on Homepages

Naturally, the human brain is drawn to motion. It has something to do with our survival instinct, specifically with our fight-or-flight response. We are hardwired to notice any movement in our surroundings and perceive it as a potential threat, so we pay close attention to it.

This remains true even today. We find ourselves still captivated by motion. Anything that moves catches our attention.  

So, embedding a branded video on your homepage just makes sense. Aside from the fact that it draws your visitors’ attention, it can also help you achieve the following:

• Boosts Website Traffic: Websites that use video get 41% more web traffic than those that don’t. (Aberdeen Group)
• Increases Average Time Spent:  The average internet user tends to spend 88% more time on a site that contains a video. (Mist Media)

• Engages Visitors: 68% of consumers prefer to watch videos about a product or service they want to learn about compared to reading articles, infographics, eBooks, or presentations about them. (TubularInsights)
• Boosts Search Rankings: Videos can help convince visitors to stay on your site longer, which can help decrease your bounce rate and in turn, increase your chances of being ranked on the first page of Google search results by 53x. (Forrester)
• Increases Conversions: Websites that use video have 27% higher click-through rates and 34% higher web conversion rates. (Aberdeen Group)

However, you can’t just embed any kind of video on your homepage and the rest of the page on your site. There are still rules or best practices that you need to follow to ensure the best results.  

Here are the dos of homepage videos:

• Choose a video that communicates your value proposition to your visitors. It should be able to quickly answer what your business is all about.  
• Feature your target customer's pain points and show them how your business can solve them.
• Keep your video short.
• Make sure your auto-playing videos are silent or give visitors the option to play or keep them muted.
• Put your video above the fold.

• Set a specific goal. Figure out what you want your homepage video to do for you.  

For the don’ts, keep these things in mind:

• Avoid getting too detailed in your homepage video. You only want to give them a quick overview of what you do, or your products and services.
• Don’t use poor-quality video because users don’t like it and it leaves a bad impression
• Avoid overwhelming your web visitors with too much motion in your homepage video. Remember, your homepage video is supposed to assist visitors with the navigation, not keep them from it.  

2. Modern Minimalism with a Twist of Neumorphism  

Nobody likes to look at a website that has way too many elements and graphics on it. Not only is it painful to look at, but too much visual clutter can also make it confusing to navigate around the site.  

Users today prefer a modern design that’s not only aesthetically pleasing to look at, but one that also offers a more streamlined user experience. Meaning, users want a design that makes it easy for them to find the information they’re looking for on the site.  

One of the West Palm Beach web design trends that caught our eye is Neumorphism. What we love about it is that it elevates flat design and makes it look and feel more realistic.  

The effect looks like digital embossing or debossing. It allows visitors on your site have that tactile experience, which in a way heightens their experience.  

Here are some examples:

3. Dark Mode and Low Light UX

Dark mode and low light UX web design make it easier for users to view your website in low light environments.  

Why is this necessary, you ask?

Well, data from John Lewis Partnership Card shows that one in 15 purchases are made between 12 midnight and 6:00 am.  So, you also want your website to cater to midnight shoppers and night owls by offering dark mode.  

Aside from this, people are spending more and more time on their phones. It is estimated that the average American adult spends about three hours and 43 minutes a day on their mobile devices.

Jumping on the dark mode design train will help your visitors’ eyes feel more relaxed while browsing on your site thus a better experience.  

Here are the other benefits of offering dark mode for your site:

• Lessens eye strain: As a result of increased screen time, many people experience eye strain and headaches. The dark mode is easy on the eyes and can even feel like a relaxing change.  
• Increases visibility in low-light environments: Dark mode helps reduce the bright light that makes it difficult to see or read content in ambient lighting.

• Saves battery life: Dark mode uses more black pixels, which puts the device on battery saving mode
• Allows better focus: White light and bright colors tend to be distracting. Dark mode UI allows your visitors to focus better on your content by directing their attention towards it, letting your content pop and the background disappear.  
• Gives an emotional boost: Offering dark mode to visitors can, in a way, make them feel like they’re doing something a little healthier, not just for themselves, but also for the environment. It’s just like that good feeling you get whenever you recycle or buying from environmentally conscious brands over those that aren’t.  

4. Scroll-Triggered Animations

If you want to wow your website visitors, then you’re going to like scroll-triggered animations.

Scroll animations are an effective way of bringing your website elements (like text, graphics, photos, etc.) into life as visitors scroll down through a page, making your website look and feel more dynamic and interesting.  

Click on the link to see how Culturally Connected was able to use scroll-triggered animations to engage web visitors!

Animations are more likely to grab a user’s attention, and as a result, keep them longer and more invested in your page.  

That’s not all! Here are three other reasons why you want to consider using scroll-triggered animations in your website:

• Highlights key areas on your site that you want your visitors to focus on and view in a specific order. This is why scroll-triggered animation is usually used in storytelling websites. It prevents them from getting distracted and lost on your site.  
• Boosts conversions by making the step a natural process for users as they scroll down your page. You can use scroll-triggered animations to highlight and draw a visitor’s attention towards a call to action, a special offer, or the next step in a process naturally and more intuitively.  
• Enables faster page loading time. If you’re concerned that your website might slow down if you use this design, you shouldn’t be. It actually supports faster site speed, which can help boost your SEO. Plus, users like it when a website loads fast, as it creates a better user experience!

5. Storytelling Web Design

If you plan on using scroll-triggered animations, then it’s best to have a storytelling website.  

A storytelling web design is a responsive West Palm Beach web design that takes your visitors on a journey as they navigate through your site.  

It motivates them to engage and interact with the different elements on your page, and by the end of it, you may have already convinced them to buy or avail services.  

So, what exactly is a storytelling website?

A storytelling website aims to tell a visitor about your company by unfolding your story gradually, taking them on a journey with you. It uses clear visual cues that tell a visitor to move on to the next part.  

Time for a bonus tip!

Dynamic Landing Pages

We all know how effective ads turn out when paired with an effective landing page. However, a stationary landing page might no longer be enough to keep potential customers on the page.

So, you want to engage visitors even more by adding responsive design elements into your landing pages, like animation and interactive features, and make them stay longer - long enough for them to actually convert!

Looking for a West Palm Beach Web Design?

Embedding video on your homepage, bringing your website elements to life, and taking visitors on a journey as they scroll through your site are some of the best ways you can engage modern users this 2021.

Consider upgrading your website with the five design trends we shared with you above to increase the average time each user spends on your site and to reduce your bounce rate!

Digital Resource is your go-to West Palm Beach Web Design company. We can help develop a highly engaging design that’s tailored for your business and your goals. Contact us today for a free consultation!  

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