For any company doing business online, its website is of the utmost importance. Online retailers, in particular, cannot afford a website that isn’t up to scratch. And while looking good is crucial, it’s far from the most significant factor. That’s because, above all else, any successful website today must be high-performing.
I’m Luke Robert Flinn, a seasoned and award-winning web developer from Warrnambool, Australia. I’ve worked with clients across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and North America for over 20 years. I’ve seen more than my fair share of websites during that time. Almost without exception, those that performed the best were designed from the outset to be high-performing.
What Is a High-Performing Website?
So, what is a high-performing website? When it comes to websites, performance accounts for a few different factors. One might assume that performance is all about speed and page loading times. But while page loading times are one component, there’s far more to the matter.
High-performing also refers to things like conversion rates. That’s how many visitors to a website end up purchasing a product, for example. A conversion may also be a customer inquiry or a booking. Now more than ever, website performance also hinges massively on how well it caters regarding accessibility.
User experience is vital across the board. And while visual appeal and fast-loading pages are pivotal to user experience, accessibility is an even bigger factor still. With that, any high-performing website in 2023 must cater to each visitors’ needs, including accounting for conditions like impaired vision. So, where to start?
How to Build a High-Performing Website
Building a high-performing website starts with one all-important decision. That’s which platform to establish the website on. Examples include Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress. Professional developers can also create custom-built websites using one or more software frameworks.
Choosing the right one is vital, which is why it’s always a good idea to tap into the expertise of a seasoned web developer. I cater to clients in industries across the board, including major online retailers and much smaller local businesses in my home city of Warrnambool.
From there, it’s all about careful planning, attention to detail, and focusing on the aforementioned accessibility considerations. Again, a web developer can help you with this. A web designer—someone more focused on the look and feel of a website—may also be helpful, especially when designing an all-new site from the ground up.
Working With a Developer
Of course, it’s easier than ever today to build a website yourself. However, if you’re looking to establish a high-performing website straight out of the gate, it’s always advisable to call in some professional help.
If working with a web developer or designer, make sure that you define your goals in the first instance. Maybe you’re looking to sell one or more products. Alternatively, you may be planning solely to generate leads through your website. Either way, you want it to perform and perform well.
Other purposes include simply building brand awareness. In any case, and whatever your goal or goals, communicate them clearly to your developer or designer.
Next Steps to Consider
Once your new website is up and running, you’ll want to ensure it remains high-performing. To do so, focus on optimizing it for search engines. Decide on keywords to target via search engines like Google and Bing. That’s while simultaneously ensuring that your website remains as accessible as possible – including being mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
Great for both search engine optimization and ensuring ongoing performance is high-quality, engaging content. With that, work on blog posts, videos, and other materials that will draw visitors to your website and keep them engaged once they’re there.
Track your progress with a tool like Google Analytics. Identify areas where you can potentially improve, making data-driven decisions wherever possible. Once all that’s taken care of, your website should be attractive, accessible, valuable to visitors, and, with that, high-performing both now and in the future.
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