First impressions can be everything in the business world, and approximately 94% of impressions are related to the design of your website. Good website design will not only help you get past that first impression hurdle, but also help nurture leads and get more conversions. But above all, people are more likely to return to your website if they find it appealing and easy to use.

There are multiple benefits to having a properly designed website for your business. These benefits include the following:

• Increase your online presence: Your website is a way for people to do business with you at any time and from anywhere.
• Provide information to your customers: Your website can be a useful channel to inform your customers about your services and industry-related news. You can list your service information, business hours, contact info, and more.
• Increase your credibility: These days, people expect businesses to have a website, and lacking any kind of online presence would be detrimental to your business’s credibility.
• Cut costs: If you sell directly through your website, you can cut out the costs of large “brick-and-mortar” operations.
• Expand your reach: A website allows you to increase your reach beyond geographical borders.
• Learn more about your customers: You can use your website to gather data on your users to learn more about what they are interested in. This can help you evolve your brand more effectively.
• Advertise: Your website can provide a way to build brand awareness more effectively than with traditional offline advertising forms.
• Rise up to your competitors: If your competitors have a website, you need one. And if they don’t, then you’ll have an advantage over them by having one.
• Provide better service: You can provide helpful product information and customer service through your website.
• Grow faster: Your website will be a central location for your customers, helping you show what your business is about and generally helping you grow faster.

While website design is a complex endeavor, there are 5 key elements that any good website must have:

• Usability: While a design that feels great to use won’t always be noticed, people will be immediately put off by a poorly designed website. Your website needs to be easy to navigate, intuitive, and mobile-friendly.
• Aesthetics: You want a website that holds a consistent brand image throughout all channels (whether it’s a mobile device or a PC). But more than that, you’ll want a website that’s visually appealing and makes people interested.
• Visibility: Even the best design in the world is pointless if there’s no one around to see it. Your website must adopt SEO strategies and best practices to ensure it's found organically.
• Interaction: Your website isn’t just for show. It must engage your audience, hold their attention, and direct them to where you need them to be.
• Content: While content isn’t the first pillar of website design, it’s an important element. Content is one of the ways you can increase visibility through SEO, and it also increases organic traffic and keeps your customers coming back for more. Additionally, the content used throughout a website can easily make or break it.

While each business will have a particular purpose for designing a website, we can generally categorize them under three goals: Awareness, Sales, and Information.

Good website design is what helps you accomplish the goals of your business, no matter what they may be.

The design of your website impacts the perception of your customers and has a direct effect on your marketing, including your content marketing. Good website design can increase the usability of your website, making it easier to access and engage with your business.