WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems on the web and accounts for a fifth of all websites live today. If your business uses a WordPress site, there are many ways in which you can design it, given its incredible versatility.
From the theme you choose to the fonts, there are numerous design best practices that will help you design a business site that will wow your visitors. Here are some of the best practices to consider when creating eye-catching and professional website design.
#1: Choose The Right Colour Palette
Cohesive web design on WordPress always works from a set colour palette. Think about your brand’s colours – how do you want to incorporate them into your website theme? What tone do these colours convey, and how can you capitalise on their inherent atmosphere? Well-thought-out colour palettes instantly engage the viewer, encourage them to spend time on your site, and point them in the direction of the content they should be focusing on.
Your keywords here are compelling and simple. We know how easy it is to get carried away when constructing your colour palette, but try to limit yourself to just two or three main colours. Darker text on a white background is the best combination for site readability, but a dark background with light text also works well (and is more accessible for those with dyslexia).
#2: Keep Navigation Mobile-Friendly
Most WordPress websites have their navigation menu at the top of the home page. They link to other pages on your website, including “Products”, “About Us”, “Contact”, “Blog”, and more. Sometimes these menus have sub-navigation menus, which expand when you click on or hover over the link.
However, nothing screams poor website design more than a site that is impossible to navigate around, particularly on mobile devices. That’s why you should aim to keep your navigation menus clean and simple (for desktop too!).
So-called “Hamburger menus” are great at collapsing desktop menus for mobile devices, and they look just as good on desktop.
#3: Use Higher Quality Images
When we say higher quality, we’re not merely referring to the resolution! Stock photos that have been floating around the web since the year dot aren’t going to cut it. You want to be looking for new, high-quality images that convey your brand’s message. Ideally, you need to go out and source your own to guarantee exclusivity.
The secret to good web design is the relevancy of your images. If your business has a supply of custom images that are relevant and high-quality, always choose them over stock images. This helps increase your brand authority and gives your website an elevated and professional look!
Bonus tip: Don’t forget to compress your images to not impact your site loading speeds.
#4: Consider Custom Fonts and Typography
Over-used fonts are recognisable and visually unexciting. If your website uses a font such as Arial, Comic Sans, Times New Roman, or Verdana, it can detract from your site’s content.
A good web design practice is to use custom typography to solidify your brand’s voice and the tone of your website. Professional web designers choose fonts by evaluating their readability on desktop (and mobile!) and by assessing the overall feel and tone of your brand.
#5: Use White Space Tactically
To make your WordPress website look professional, you need to find the right amount of white space. Cluttered websites are unreadable and aren’t visually appealing, while sites that are too empty seem sparse and dull.
Your happy medium will highlight your most valuable content with white space and leave enough room around your call-to-action buttons for them to be clear and clickable.
Minimalism is one of the most popular web design trends of 2021. While you don’t have to take it as far as having the majority of your site taken up by white space, there is enormous value in removing unnecessary design elements that merely serve to clutter your website.
Trust Ctrl Alt Create With Your Website Design
Don’t worry if you still aren’t sure what constitutes an excellent website design since we can take care of it for you here at Ctrl Alt Create. We are experts in creating outstanding and unique websites which function intuitively, work flawlessly on mobile devices, and look fantastic.
Why not contact us today to get started with creating an eye-catching website that perfectly fits your company’s voice?