The significance of the digital sphere in the corporate image, communication, and marketing strategies of any company or business continues to grow year after year. However, even now, as we approach 2021, we still come across company websites whose corporate web design It is far from being effective and achieving its goals.
Whether due to a lack of preliminary research, a lack of technical expertise on the part of those responsible for developing the website, or poor choices regarding the design itself, there are still many business sectors where companies have underutilized corporate websites and are therefore losing business.
At Webbing Online, we've been in business for years designing and implementing web projects through a development and systems department at the forefront of technical expertise and know-how practical. In their own words, “simplicity, research, and empathy” are the perfect combination for good corporate web design.
Let's dig deeper into the issue 😉.
What defines an effective corporate website design?
Corporate web design, in terms of its effectiveness for the user (what we call “user experience”), has has evolved tremendously In recent years, incorporating elements and steps “demanded” by internet users themselves. The fact is that our habits and needs as users when we visit a website have also changed, and they set the standard for all corporate web design.
We would summarize the concepts key that a good web design must be entered in:
- Corporate Identity
Clearly defined and presented on the website, the design must respect the company's unique character, conveying the brand's core values both verbally and visually. In this way, we achieve a single corporate website and in line with the client's history. We'll achieve this by working closely with the client, talking with them, and getting to know them in depth.
- Graphic and Aesthetic Design
In line with the brand's corporate identity, create a website design that is appealing to users, depending on the target audience. The goal is convey professionalism and reliability, but also other concepts highly valued by consumers, such as trust, credibility, peace of mind, and security.
- Web Usability
We base our work on the User behavior on our website, what actions they take and how they navigate. But before that, we've already had to define a coherent web architecture based on our products/services. Define the path we want visitors to follow and make that path easy to navigate. Focus the web design on the conversions we set as goals through intuitive and effective navigation.
- Information Architecture
In any corporate web design Information architecture must, once again, be consistent, add value what visitors to the website are looking for when they come to get information or search for the products and services we offer, and of course, with a Strategic Aspects of SEO to attract qualified traffic and improve the website's organic search rankings among competitors in the industry.
- Valuable Content
As mentioned in the previous point, the Relevant content is what Google values most and other search engines. That content should be SEO-optimized, yes, but even before that, it should focus on addressing and answering the reasons why users have come to the website. To that end, it’s always advisable to contribute web content Concise, direct, and well-written, with clear CTAs (calls to action) that help every visitor understand what the website is about and where to find the information they need.
Before embarking on web development—which must adhere to these fundamental principles—it is It is essential to understand and study the industry and the competition. And to do that, in addition to the information provided by the client, we will, of course, turn to the Internet.
It is mandatory to complete a industry keyword research and the client's business sector. Once that's done, we'll analyze the SERPs that Google returns for the main queries of the business. Analyze the initial results—especially those from direct competitors—and then draw conclusions about their website architecture.
Our corporate web design can easily replicate the patterns found on websites that are highly ranked by search engines. In fact, it’s both advisable and smart to do so. While always maintaining the brand’s unique identity, if those competing websites are ranking at the top of organic search results, there must be a reason—don’t you think?
Technical Features of Corporate Web Design
In addition to the concepts we just discussed, for any corporate web design project we undertake at Webbing Online, we equip it with the most appropriate technical features to rank highly in organic search results and, as a result, exponentially increase its online visibility.
It will always depend on each project and each industry, since not all of them require the same actions, but in general, the following technical implementations help the vast majority of digital projects:
- Design responsive tailored to each device
- AMP Pages
- Definition of Structured Data
- Web performance optimization focused on user experience and the site's organic search rankings
Key Information Our Corporate Website Must Include
When we talk about a company website, we have a crystal-clear understanding of the key content that needs to be conveyed. That content will go hand in hand with the objectives that the brand aims to achieve through a digital platform such as its website.
The order of priority for content is highly specific to each brand, and only those in charge of the brand can determine it. While we do not intend to “set” a standard order of importance for content in a corporate website design, we do outline below the information that should be included on every business or company website:
Branding
Company Information, its origins, its members, its objectives, its values, its added value, and its business and/or social milestones.
Our Team
We've already included it in the branding, but there are companies that... corporate culture they highlight it in particular, and in these cases they may have a specific section where introduce their team one by one to make the company feel more down-to-earth and approachable.
Products/Services
The main purpose of everything corporate web design It must be to submit the feature that the company offers to the public—that is, its products and/or services. Its importance in the design process is paramount; it is the focal point of the site’s layout and web architecture, and it is the target of the usability efforts carried out during the design process.
Business Value Added
There are many services and products with similar features. When it comes to set ourselves apart from the competition, whether through price, product features, or service terms, for example, that added value is the cornerstone of our pitch to customers. It should therefore be highlighted on the website and communicated in a manner commensurate with its importance.
Success Stories
Our dominant position in the sector as suppliers The success of products and/or services is determined by customers—and by “customers,” we mean satisfied ones 😛. It’s highly recommended to talk to them, and for those who are willing, to highlight them on the website—but not in a secondary or afterthought manner. In a powerful corporate website design, there should be a specific section—perhaps even with a special layout that differs from the rest of the site—dedicated to showcasing the best advocates for any business: none other than satisfied and repeat customers.
Special Offers and Promotions
If there's one headline capable of grabbing the attention of even the most skeptical internet user, it's a a good deal or promotion on the website. If our business or company regularly launches these types of initiatives, highlight them at the top of the website’s “Home” page to emphasize their importance. Also through elements call to action throughout the website design to make it easier for users to find that information.
Contact Information
Essential for completing a functional, user-centered corporate web design project. Provide all the information we have created, with all means of communication: email, phone number, WhatsApp button, contact form, a button for the company to call you (rather than you calling them), etc. It's a good idea to always include essential contact information (phone number and email address) in the website header, as well as in the footer and on the contact page.
Our Brand's Web Design Objectives
Websites operate like any provider of products and/or services, and as such, they must to satisfy users who visit them for one or more reasonsin mind. Therefore, the primary goal of our website’s corporate web design will be to satisfy the users who visit it. How? That will depend on each visitor’s needs.
But we can say with confidence that all internet users will be satisfied with a digital environment if corporate web design offers:
- Positive user experience (fast loading, consistent structure, intuitive navigation)
- Don't overuse animations or pop-ups
- Compatibility with all digital devices (responsive)
- Good placement of appropriate CTAs (which typically align with users’ main goals on a website)
- Valuable content (accurate, precise, and comprehensive information on the website's area or areas of expertise)
- Engaging, concise, and easy-to-understand writing
- Creative Design Based on Industry Trends and Brand Identity
- Provide ways to connect with the brand
- Facilitate the conversion or conversions we have as a business (few steps from the moment a user lands on the website, clarity in the information requested from the user)
Most Common Web Errors
Corporate web design, despite becoming increasingly widespread among professional sectors in our labor market (few businesses still resist having a corporate website), continues to make mistakes in many cases mistakes we must avoid at all costs. For example:
- Web architecture that is inconsistent with the brand's business objectives
- An extensive main menu that does not prioritize key business lines
- Outdated graphic design
- Difficulties Adapting to New Consumer Digital Devices
- Poor performance that results in long page load times
- Illegibility of the transmitted text content
- Poorly written and outdated content
- Interlinking: Nonexistent or poorly made
- Failure to comply with European privacy regulations
- No security certificate (SSL)
- Domains that are hard to learn (unfriendly)
Conclusions
Even today, many brands still have websites with significant shortcomings that limit their potential in their digital marketing strategies. Define a corporate web design One that aligns with the business's strengths and objectives, and that understands the industry, its needs, and the competition, is the cornerstone of a company's or personal brand's corporate image.
At Webbing Online, we've already helped hundreds of companies create a functional website that's goal-oriented (whatever those goals may be), Google-friendly, and a reflection of their corporate values. We're here to help Also, if you need it 💪.