A good website effectively communicates your brand’s message and provides visitors with basic information. But in today’s competitive digital landscape, simply being “good” isn’t enough. A great website does more than convey information—it captivates visitors, builds trust, and drives conversions. Here’s what separates a good website from a truly great one.
It Starts With The Software
Generally speaking, if your website is being built on a template-based platform like Wix, Squarespace, or even Wordpress Themes then you are destined for limitations from the very start. It's extremely difficult to stand out from the highly crowded digital spaces when you are using the same templates as everyone else. If you really want a brilliant website, you have essentially three options.
- Hire a developer (or team) to code the website from scratch. This will run you up an unnecessarily high bill.
- Find a no-code expert that can still develop truly custom websites using tools like Webflow or Framer. However, we can't expect the same level of complexity that comes with the development team.
- Hire a team that is exceptional at both no-code develop and custom code integration, for the best of both worlds. This keeps costs down, and opens doors to unlimited creativity and functionality. That's Luminate Denver.
It Ends With The User
Once you've made this crucial primary decision, then we move on to the details. These individual areas of focus are the reason great websites are great.
1. Exceptional User Experience (UX)
Good websites are functional and easy to navigate, but great websites elevate this to another level. They anticipate user needs and provide a seamless, intuitive journey from page to page. Every element is strategically placed to guide visitors, reduce friction, and encourage further engagement. Key features include fast loading times, clear navigation menus, and consistent design elements.
2. Compelling, Quality Content
While a good website has decent content, a great one tells a story that resonates with its audience. This means crafting blog posts, landing pages, and product descriptions that are not only informative but also engaging and tailored to the needs of your target audience. The content speaks directly to visitors’ challenges and provides valuable solutions, establishing your brand as a trusted authority.
3. Strategic Calls to Action (CTAs)
A good website has CTAs, but a great one strategically places them to guide visitors toward desired actions. CTAs on a great website are clear, concise, and compelling, using persuasive language that aligns with user intent. Each CTA is relevant to the content on the page and stands out visually, ensuring visitors know exactly what to do next.
4. Mobile Responsiveness and Accessibility
A good website looks fine on desktop computers, but a great one is optimized for all devices, ensuring that mobile users have the same quality experience as desktop visitors. It’s also designed with accessibility in mind, providing features like alt text for images and keyboard-friendly navigation, so that all users can easily interact with the site.
5. SEO Optimization
While a good website might incorporate basic SEO practices, a great one weaves search engine optimization seamlessly into its content and structure. Great websites use strategic keywords, have clean URLs, and optimize metadata to improve their search engine rankings. They also produce fresh, valuable content regularly, which keeps them relevant and appealing to both users and search engines.
6. Continuous Improvement
A good website may be set up and left alone, but a great website is regularly updated and refined. By analyzing visitor behavior through tools like Google Analytics and A/B testing, great websites evolve with their audience’s preferences, constantly improving their design, functionality, and content.
The Path to Greatness
A good website does its job, but a great website creates memorable experiences that build lasting connections with visitors. By focusing on exceptional UX, compelling content, strategic CTAs, mobile responsiveness, SEO, and continuous improvement, your website can make the leap from good to great. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing site, incorporating these elements will ensure your website is primed for success.
