Tips for a better website

Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Website Tips

Make use of white space.

A number of clients have complained that their site has too much white space and that this area should be used to advertise more of their services in the future, on more than one occasion. White space, however, is an essential element of good design. In order to make your content more readable, you should leave white space around the text, while at the same time allowing users to focus on the elements surrounding the text.

It is proven that there is a 30% increase in user attention when there is white space around text and titles. White space can not only create the feeling of freshness and openness on your website, but it can also help you communicate that feeling to your users if your brand matches those elements in the design of your website. It is important to keep in mind, however, that white space does take up space, so be aware of that as well.

In the event that you are trying to get a lot of content above the fold (above the first part of the page that is instantly visible without scrolling), it might be detrimental to have too much white space above the fold. You should always find a balance between what is most important at the top and some space for the image and/or text to stand out in order to be able to communicate effectively.

Improve the speed of your website.

Web users often feel frustrated when a page takes too long to load on the web due to the fact that it takes too long to load. Thanks to mobile devices, people are now able to access content all over the world on a variety of different platforms. They expect quick results when they browse the web or watch television on their laptops at Coffee Club while browsing the web.

If they do not receive it, they will most likely bounce if they do not receive it. A slow page load results in a user’s frustration due to the interruption of their experience caused by a slow page load. It is common for users not to be able to wait for a long time.

The bounce rate of your website can increase by 30% if there is a delay of five seconds in loading the page.

What are the next steps you need to take? See what your score is and find out what you need to do to improve. If you want to know how fast your web pages are, Google offers a free service that will let you know that information. You will also notice an improvement in your mobile and desktop load times as a result of Google’s suggestions.

By compressing all your images before loading them on your website, you will be able to speed up the loading process. Due to the size of the image file, it is common for a page to load slowly as a result of the size of the image file.

Make your call-to-actions attractive.

Your customers are already familiar with the visual cues that you use to determine what content is most important to them. With clear calls to action (CTAs) that are clearly marked with action words, your website users will be able to more easily navigate your website.

It is important to consider color psychology when creating buttons for your website. According to a study by Maxymiser, color variations and action messaging on the Laura Ashley website boosted click-throughs to the checkout area by 11% as a result of color variations. A different color evokes a different message depending on the context in which it is used. You should choose your colors wisely depending on the message you want your users to take away from your design (trust, experience, intelligence, etc.).

Additionally, you should pay attention to the words that are used on your buttons, as well. If you want to entice the user to act, you should include a verb or action word in your message. In order to choose the right words or psychological triggers to use in communication, emotional identification is crucial. There will be no action taken if there is no emotional connection between the parties. Thus, it is imperative that you use words that are bold, action-oriented, and timely in your communication.

Differentiate hyperlinks.

When you add a link to a page, you are telling the user that the link is what you want them to click on. In order to identify links, it is important to use visual cues. Text that is different colors and that is underlined catches the attention of the reader and lets them know that the link needs to be clicked.

As far as hyperlink differentiation is concerned, there is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to it. There is nothing better than sticking to convention when it comes to this kind of thing. The most simple way to test the effectiveness of your links is to blur the design and remove color from them.

When hyperlinking, it is important to consider the link’s length. When the title of the link is longer, it is easier to identify the link.

With bullet points, segment important information.

In a bullet point format, users can locate all the information they are looking for quickly and easily, including benefits, ways that they can solve their problems, and key features of a product/service. As a result, you will be able to make your propositions more attractive and at the same time, your users will be able to get all the information they need about what you are offering. You are not limited to taking a simple circle as your route when it comes to choosing a route.

Icons are a great way to get creative with your bullets and help the reader understand your message in a more concise way. There are literally hundreds of icons out there that you can use. Do you know why we are doing this? Is it for any particular reason? You are forced to focus on the most important points if you get rid of specifics and terminology.

Images should be used

There is no doubt that the Internet is becoming more intelligent and faster at judging the websites of companies before making a decision whether to browse further or not. In the case that someone is viewing your site for the very first time, they are probably going to pick out a generic stock photo they have already seen somewhere else or one that resembles the non-personal style of stock photography that they have seen elsewhere. Stock photography can lead to a loss of trust, as well as making you appear generic and not unique when you are using it. As a business, you are also affected by these associations on a daily basis.

What can be summarized in a nutshell? Despite the high quality of stock photography, it fails to establish a connection between a brand and its target audience despite its high quality.

With stock photography, you will not be able to convey your brand, services, and products in a manner that is as effective as you would like. It is only a matter of time before you are able to achieve this by using your own images that speak clearly to your potential customers at the same time. You should provide your users with a visual break from the text on your website, by strategically placing images on your website in order to provide them with a visual break from the text, but make sure the images are both relevant and not generic.

Headings should be well-written and well-designed.

It is important to consider your potential customers when creating your headings and content. It is also important to include keywords in your title so that your message is able to reach the right audience.

You can significantly improve your search engine ranking if you choose the right heading for your article and make it stand out from the crowd. There is a general rule that search engines give more weight to headings than to other content. Additionally, headings are a great way to help your users navigate your site, making it easier for them to find the content they’re looking for.

Consistency is key when creating a website.

Keeping everything consistent means making sure that everything is in line with each other. Many factors must be considered, such as font choices, color schemes, button styles, spacing, design elements, illustration styles, and image choices, among others. For the design of your website to be cohesive between pages and on the same page, everything needs to be themed so that it flows seamlessly from one page to the next.

Whenever a user navigates through your website, they should be aware that they are still on your website, so that they can receive a beautiful experience while navigating through it. If you make drastic changes in the design of one page to the next, your users may feel lost and confused.

If I am navigating through a site with inconsistent information, I often ask myself, “Am I in the right place?” It is usually when I do this that I leave. Inconsistent designs, according to users, lower the quality of your products and services, and as a result, they affect sales.

Keep an eye out for 404 errors.

The user will punish you for soft 404 errors (page not found), regardless of the fact that search engines do not punish you severely for these errors. A user expects that clicking on a link or an image will take them to their next destination as soon as they click on it.

It is likely that your users will rethink spending time on your website if they encounter a 404 error page (since they may be able to find a faster result somewhere else). The user’s journey on your website is disrupted significantly when they encounter 404 errors, which are just as frustrating as slow page loading times when it comes to the user’s journey.

Using Google Webmaster tools, you can check to see if there are any 404 errors on your website.

Make your site mobile-friendly and responsive.

We are now able to be mobile thanks to the advancement of technology. Additionally, websites also play an important role in the evolution of this industry. Your website needs to be mobile-friendly and easy to navigate regardless of what type of device your visitors use to access your website.

It has been several months since Google began penalizing websites that are not mobile-friendly. This means that responsiveness is becoming more important as time goes on. This is the most effective way for you to improve the usability of your website. In case you are unsure whether your website is compatible with mobile devices.

Following these tips will help you to make your website more user-friendly without having to spend thousands of dollars on a complete redesign in order to make it more user-friendly. Contact us if you need a good website rebrand or looking for a new website build.

Designing a custom WordPress website has many advantages

Web Design, Website Tips, WordPress Development

Most blogs and mainstream websites use WordPress as their CMS. This CMS is used by 43% of all websites on the internet. WordPress is an excellent platform for custom website design. You do not need coding skills to host your website on WordPress; you can use free or premium themes and plugins.  With WordPress, you can achieve a mobile-first design, improve site speed, and optimize SEO. You can design your website with our web design agency in Auckland and Tauranga, New Zealand and include Core Web Vitals and Lighthouse Google algorithm updates for your website to rank higher in search engines.

A faster website

Keeping up with search engine practices will ensure speed on WordPress. A fast website can be achieved with careful consideration. A faster site results in higher rankings in the SRPS, improved user experience, and a lower bounce rate. These common issues should be considered when coding your website for speed, lighthouse algorithm check, and core web vitals:

  • Data movement speed is measured by the latency of the Internet connection. In order to ensure remote access across continents when hosting a custom WordPress website design, you need a minimum network latency of 200ms. The premium hosting options offered by Google Cloud Platform or shared hosting companies that reside on it are therefore advisable. As they are directly hosted on Google’s servers, you will not experience any problems with high traffic because they have a higher internet connection latency.

  • Leanness – As you continue building your custom WordPress web design, you will likely add more plugins and themes. WordPress makes it possible to profile your plugins and monitor how they affect your website, and you can select them appropriately depending on your needs.

  • A custom WordPress website design must include database tables. Make sure it’s clean, and you can use tools like WP-Optimize, which is an excellent alternative to phpMyAdmin. As a result, your custom WordPress website design will perform faster thanks to better database optimization.

  • A free and a premium server hosting option is available for WordPress. On the same platform, you can also use Google Cloud Platform, Siteground, and KInsta depending on your needs. Most major websites use WPEngine in order to achieve maximum performance.

  • If you frequently deal with websites or computers, you’ve probably heard a lot about cache. If you are unclear about its meaning, it is essentially the memory that stores temporary data on your custom WordPress website. WP-Rocket, WP Total Cache, or WP Super Cache are three of the plugins that WordPress provides to handle your cache. A fast WordPress web design depends on managing your cache.

  • WordPress websites can use the HTTP/2 protocol for security and encryption needs. An SQL injection attack can cause your database to experience downtime and data breaches, for example, as interception of your site can slow down processes.

Fully matching your brand guidelines

Building a website that matches your brand fully is crucial for building brand awareness and building trust between you and your visitors. Because WordPress is highly flexible, you have a lot of room to express your creativity. Themes are available for WordPress, but creating your own from scratch is the best way to fully match your brand guidelines. Having a matching website for your brand is essential for your business.

The cost of building your own WordPress theme can reach $100,000. Getting a similar function at a lower price is still possible if you are looking for simple options, but it is not ideal for enterprise environments, and it is more typical of startups and small businesses. It is easy to integrate WordPress themes with your brand, and they are highly customizable, such as colors and fonts.

Unlimited flexibility

People choose platforms for their custom websites based on freedom. Developing themes and plugins for millions of users on open source web building platforms like WordPress provides greater flexibility. WordPress currently controls more than 40% of all websites online, demonstrating how many people prefer the platform because of its flexibility to customise their websites. In order to make WordPress as easy to use as possible, both coders and non-coders participate in building it. In this regard, it is imperative to complement the most effective platforms with tools that enable flexibility without sacrificing performance.

The Framework for WordPress is the most flexible platform available for custom web design. It gives users and coders as much information as possible to design websites to fit their needs. As a beginner, you will not have much trouble navigating it because of its adjustability. It is an exceptional alternative to more rigid platforms such as Blogger, Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix, which cause slow site speed and an inability to achieve superior design aesthetics. You can easily customise your website on WordPress Framework; hence, it is a no-brainer in decision-making regarding the best platform for your needs.

Complete control over your site

It is best to leave this type of job to professionals since beginners will have difficulty customizing their websites on WordPress. In contrast, if you want a more professional web design that fits your brand, WordPress Framework gives you both: managing content and having full control over SEO. Customization features on WordPress, such as plugins, allow you to add features like schedulers, invoices, contact forms, and payment gateways. A lot of people are surprised to learn that WordPress has its own eCommerce platform, WooCommerce.

The WordPress platform is so flexible that you can migrate between hosts easily if you run into security problems, inflexibility, price changes, or preferences change. As it provides cloud support for your data during migration, nothing about your custom WordPress web design will change. Therefore, you do not have to download and reupload your custom features.

When it comes to WordPress website design, however, coding is essential. The ability to code your own themes and plugins requires knowledge of CSS, HTML, and PHP (which is the language used by WordPress). A hosting provider’s dashboard can also provide more customization options, which will give you more control. If you don’t have prior knowledge or if the part is handled professionally, then it can be risky because it may affect the whole site’s functionality.

Reduced plugin maintenance

Little work is required regarding maintenance, and you only need to perform tasks such as:

  • Updating,

  • Deactivating, and

  • Replacing.

A website owner must stay vigilant and update plugins as soon as possible when plugin vendors release new versions with security upgrades. Keeping your website safe from cyberattacks should be a top priority, and WordPress provides easy plugin upgrading.

You can deactivate plugins on WordPress that aren’t being used or are outdated. Deactivated plugins should also be updated since they are a potential exploit for cyber-attackers, and the same applies to themes. Deactivating and updating plugins takes less time and effort than developing them from scratch. It’s a security risk to have too many deactivated plugins, so you should delete them as soon as possible, as they can escape your mind.

Conclusion

You should look no further than WordPress Framework if you are looking to redesign or build a website, since it offers numerous advantages that are ideal for sophisticated businesses that depend heavily on search engine traffic. WordPress websites have never been easier to customise. A website-building platform like Divi and the WordPress Framework is more flexible and more controllable than most other platforms. You get unmatched support as you spend little time maintaining your plugins, and upgrades are a click away, with constant security updates provided by Automatic, a large enterprise running WordPress. We can help you build your next custom WordPress website. Get in touch today.

Benefits of WordPress Websites and using SEO

Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Website Tips, WordPress Development

An overview of the benefits of WordPress websites and the use of search engine optimization

The most frequently asked question when developing a new website or revamping an existing one is – which CMS platform should you use when you are developing a new website? Therefore, WordPress tends to be the most prominent answer most of the time as a result. Do you believe there is a reason why website developers are so passionate about WordPress? This is the right place for you if you feel the same way and are looking for a solution to your problem. In this post, we will take a look at 6 benefits of WordPress. It will also be discussed what types of websites you are able to create with WordPress as well as what the features and benefits of WordPress are.

There is a common misconception out there that WordPress is just a blogging platform. This isn’t true.

It should be noted that WordPress was originally designed to be a blogging tool, but has evolved over time into much more. This is a powerful content management system and website builder that has evolved into a powerful tool in the modern age.

The main benefit of WordPress is that it allows you to build various types of websites easily and quickly, regardless of the type of website. Due to this reason, WordPress has been gaining a lot of popularity over the last few years.

WordPress is a free service and there is no charge for it

There is no doubt that one of the biggest benefits of WordPress is the fact that it is free to use. In addition to being free to use, WordPress is also an open source platform. The download, installation, and use of this software are all free of charge. In addition to that, it can be used to create any type of website you want.

Starting a website is as easy as purchasing a domain name and getting a web hosting plan.

There is nothing more basic than the name of your website when it comes to a domain name. A domain name is the text that we type in the address bar of the browser in order to open a particular website such as www.austindigital.co.nz. Hosting refers to the location of all the files that go with your website. Austin Digital is always available to assist you if you need assistance. It is always recommended that you hire a WordPress expert rather than trying to do it yourself.

It is very easy to customize the themes and plugins in WordPress

In addition to its many benefits, WordPress is also equipped with a number of features. Almost all people who use WordPress for their website design are new to the concept of WordPress website design. Additionally, they do not have any previous experience in the development or design of websites or WordPress websites.

There are thousands of free website templates (themes) available on WordPress for those who are not tech-savvy and are not familiar with creating websites themselves. It is no secret that WordPress themes are available for just about every type of website out there (whether it is a blog, a corporate website, or an e-commerce site).

The majority of WordPress themes enable people to change the colors, upload logos, alter backgrounds, design stunning sliders, and perfectly customize them without having to touch a single line of code. Additionally, you can also use plugins to add custom functionality to your website in order to make it more user-friendly. There are a variety of plugins that can be used to deploy special elements on your website, such as analytics, contact forms, and membership areas.

Similar to WordPress themes, plugins can be downloaded for free as well as for a fee. It is possible to extend the functionality of your WordPress website with plugins, as well as renovate it into a completely new look and feel with plugins for WordPress.

It is no secret that WordPress and SEO go hand in hand

The third and most important benefit of WordPress is “SEO”. When building a WordPress website, high-quality standard compliance code is used to ensure that semantic markup is created as a result of high-quality standard compliance code. There are other search engines and Google that favor WordPress websites from a non-technical standpoint.

The reason for this is that search engines tend to rank WordPress sites better because of this. It is a good choice to go with WordPress both in terms of design and coding. You can also support your SEO efforts by utilizing various plugins that are available on the internet.

There Is An Easier Way To Manage WordPress

In addition to its ease of use, WordPress also offers a number of other benefits. WordPress provides users with easy access to their plugins and themes via the dashboard, making it easy for them to manage updates directly from the dashboard.

It is also possible to update your WordPress site by clicking a button that appears as soon as a new version of WordPress is available to download. In order to protect your data from hacking or accidental loss, you can make use of the WordPress backup plugin to generate backups automatically and store them on a separate system. Furthermore, you have the option to use a mobile application to manage your WordPress site in addition to managing it from your phone.

Here are five reasons why you can use WordPress with confidence

The fifth WordPress benefit that we will be offering is “WordPress Security”. There is no doubt that WordPress is a trustworthy partner when it comes to securing your website and your data. In the opinion of the experts, it is a very safe and secure platform for developing a website. Despite this, nobody knows how things can go awry on the internet, no matter how cautious they are.

There are a number of steps you can take in order to make your website more secure.

The WordPress platform makes it easy to manage different types of media on your website

In my opinion, the sixth benefit of having a WordPress website is the “Media Uploader”. Using WordPress isn’t just limited to writing text. There are many other ways to use it as well. By using the media uploader that is built into the program, you will be able to manage photos, videos, and audio files.

If you type the URL of a YouTube video, Instagram photo, Tweet, or Soundcloud audio file into the WordPress post editor, you will be able to embed that video, photo, or audio file. What are some of the ways in which WordPress can be used to create a website? Besides the ability to create simple websites, WordPress is also capable of creating full-fledged e-commerce websites as well.

WordPress – How Does It Work?

It is common knowledge that the WordPress CMS can be divided into three parts, as we all know.

  • By using the post editor, you can easily create posts and pages

  • Addons and plugins: Plugins enhance the functionality of WordPress. Plugin store is the best place to find any feature you want to add to your WordPress website. It only requires installation and activation.

WordPress is a good choice for who? Is It Right For You?

WordPress has the advantage of being able to be customized according to your needs, which is the benefit of having a WordPress website. If you are not a technical person, you can make it simple, if you are familiar with the WordPress features, you can make it more customized if you are a technical person.

If you are not sure whether WordPress is right for your business, you can use the following checklist to help you decide:

  • WordPress can be used if you want a quick and easy-to-use website for your business but have a limited budget.

  • The basics of creating a website using WordPress can be learned by watching some Youtube tutorial videos if you are not familiar with coding.

  • WordPress is a great choice if you don’t want to spend money maintaining your website on a daily basis. Our web hosting services have built in plugin upgrades

WordPress Can Be Used To Create Various Types Of Websites

WordPress can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Create a blog website

  • Design a website for your business

  • Open an e-commerce site

  • Create a website for memberships

  • Online course sales

Feel free to let me know what you think about this article by liking it or leaving a comment below. Contact Austin Digital today to learn more about how we can help you

Whether you are looking for Web Design Company in Auckland, Tauranga or Hamilton, Austin Digital is your one-stop-shop for all your website-related needs, whether you are based in Auckland, Tauranga or Hamilton. Take a look at our website development packages today to learn more!

What its like to work in Web Design

SEO, Web Design, Website Tips

What Is It like to Work in Web design?

Being a web designer means working with digital media to present information in a visually appealing manner. Web design is a career path for creative thinkers who can display information effectively and aesthetically. So, what is it like to be a website designer, and what are some expectations to have before getting involved?

Website Designing

The main responsibility of a web designers is to create sites that present information in a clear and engaging way. Web designers should think creatively and be able to work with business clients so that the final website design tailors to user experience.

It is important to understand that web designers are not the same as web developers. The developers focus more on the technical side of web development. They usually take the designs from the designer and construct it into a functioning new website.

Overall, getting involved in internet design means working with clients, designing websites, and practicing effective time management.

Visual Design

It goes without saying that you should have a knack for designing if you want to get into this particular business. One of the main focuses is to understand typography, color, and grid systems to produce a visually appealing website. Visual design is one of the key elements to web design, so it is important that you enjoy creating different arrangements.

Website Language

A Web Designer should understand different website languages to have success in their careers. There are three kinds of languages that company websites utilize: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Although HTML and CSS are not technically programming languages, all three help develop the visual elements of a website. So, before going into web design, you should know more about these languages.

Marketing and SEO

Today, many businesses utilize their websites as advertising. Creating a good online image can increase the number of customers. Therefore, designers need to have some knowledge of marketing so that clients can see more traffic within their site.

Knowledge of SEO, also called search engine optimization, is crucial in design. By inputting certain terms onto an internet page, the site can achieve more traffic when potential customers type the same terms into search engines. Businesses can use google analytics to see how many people view the site or come across their page.

Communication, Time Management, and Clients

Getting into this kind of design is not all about the composition of internet pages. You also need to have a good grasp on time management and a good understanding of communication with clients. Without clients, you cannot have work. Therefore, you should have good verbal communication skills as well as time management.

Getting Involved

If you are knowledgeable about designing websites in New Zealand and are very serious about working with web design sites, we are here to help. There are many businesses all over New Zealand that want fresh minds to bring new creative ideas. Let us help to present your information in a digitally creative manner.

So, if you are interested in this form of design in New Zealand, we can help here at Austin Digital. For all your design & development we can give you the perfect experience with Austin Digital. Contact us for more information!

Buying Domains best practises and guide – Austin Digital

SEO, Website Tips

Regardless of what domain name you essentially decide  on, you might want to consider some of Austin Digitals top tips to think about when naming your new business:

Your domain name really should be as brief and short as possible.

Reduced name domains are actually less complicated for direct-type ins, don’t spillover text on your business cards, and could be thoroughly obvious in search engines, and are social friendly (they can be easily shared from someone to the next).

Do not buy a dropped domain.

except if you aware of the record of the domain name. You may inherit harmful consequences or negative affiliations, from the previous owners. Even though the domain may have been scrubbed in google search engine ranking algorithms, you can imagine that the back links to that site were not beautiful.

Don’t put hyphens in your domain.

They are very easy to forget and confuse your consumers and your traffic may divert to the version of the domain names in which don’t work with hyphens.

Don’t use domains that reach all related to someone else’s brand.

This is unlawful and can get you in hot water quickly if an individual discovers and chooses to file a suit against you. Any brand equity that you build into the domain will be lost as quickly as you get that desist and cease notice.

Use key phrases or Keywords.

if in any way possible. Even if there is small Search Engine Optimisation value to a keyword-rich domain, it will build better SEO keywords linking to your domain affiliations with your clients.

However don’t use to many in your domain choice, as this will negatively affect your ranking.

Consider your social presence. If you’re naming a new business.

It is ideal to make sure you can get some other social media accounts with the exact same company name. Just before you settle on the domain use KnowEm.com to search the most popular social media handles and names to see if your brand name is still available.

Acquire similar domain names.

If they are offered, to keep any individual from buying our your brand domains, purchase easy misspells and other popular names associated with your business, It may be expensive to start buy it may save you thousands later on once you have increased a brand and the domain squatters can’t leverage your domains against you for high prices.

Because it might be available, don’t settle for the.co domain of your brand. Although, there are many prominent products and business like angel.co, pocket.co and calendar.co they nonetheless likely eliminate large amounts of quality traffic to the.com versions of their domain which are totally irrelevant to their service.

Study your competitors’ sites

Website Tips

If you want to set your business apart from your competitors, then you need to know what you’re up against. Take a look at the websites of other businesses that offer similar content, products or services. See what kind of deals and proposals they present to their customers so that you can provide comparable prices and products. Examine how your competitors use their sites and try to make your site better. Competition is fierce among almost any industry. You have to be willing to research your rivals in order to put your business ahead in terms of Internet traffic.

A website can make or break your business when you’re relying on it to inform your customers. Having a boringly designed site that’s plagued with problems is a surefire way to kill sales and prevent page views. However, creating a website that’s beneficial to your business is easier than you might think. With these simple tips, you can design a site that will draw in your target audience and maximize the potential of your company or organization. Whether your goal is to increase sales or just bring in more readers, a well-crafted website will accurately represent your company and set your business up for success!