When looking at refreshing your web design, it is important to keep the latest trends in mind to reach your maximum audience and leave a lasting impression.
We all know about trends. They may be in fashion, the arts, types of cars you can buy and the kind of food and drinks we consume.
What we also know is that they change rapidly, regularly and sometimes confusingly – they can even go full circle.
The same is true with web design, where finding a balance between delivering information, optimising SEO, improving performance and catching a client’s eye with innovative design can deliver the best results.
The internet has moved on since the early days, and so have how firms present their services, with many professionals looking to create a dynamic and informative format while enhancing SEO capability.
That is where new trends are key to effective web design. So, what should you look out for in web design in 2022?
Bright, breezy and colourful
That may not sound easy after the dark days of the lockdown, but web designers are now looking at more experimental designs, retreating from the more minimalist look we see on many websites.
This can have a big effect on accountants and solicitors as so many more people view websites on tablets and phones rather than desktops, so you need to grab their attention.
This can involve the use of clever interactive graphics, informative videos and the creative use of typography, which after all is a design tool in itself.
What is always important, whatever the design, is the use of the right keywords or SEO enhancements.
SEO or search engine optimisation is the process of taking steps to help a website or piece of content rank higher on Google.
Most firms are aware of its importance, but they may not be able to spot the elements within a design that improve it.
Getting your message across is key and if you can inspire them with visuals and interactions that surprise and engage, you can help them to stay on your site longer bumping up your SEO score.
In 2022, you are likely to see more background video and animations that engage your visitor’s mind, while adding gentle motion to your page.
This can help decrease your bounce rate and help visitors engage with the words and messaging without demanding too much attention.
Mindful web design may feature strongly in 2022
You should be mindful of how visitors view and use your webpage.
Professionals service firms should favour a cleaner, more structured web design with greater use of white space that doesn’t overwhelm users with a blizzard of information.
Fewer elements on your webpage should also make your website load faster, which benefits you in the search engine rankings.
Google also ranks your site on its ease of navigation and how easily your content can be comprehended, including its readability. By keeping it simple, you may help to rise through the ranks.
Accessibility and interaction
We rely on the website for much of our shopping whether it be clothes, consumables, music or video
So, our websites must allow better accessibility for those with hearing or visual impairments by giving them the option to customise what they are looking at, whether it be increasing font sizes and adjusting the screen contrast.
Making it user friendly in that way shows you support their needs, and it is more like that they will return to the site.
This is especially important for older clients, a growing number of whom are using the internet to search for professional services.
Multimedia and 3D design
We have already said how technology is changing almost before our eyes, this is very much the case for accountants and solicitors embracing cloud-based technology to boost SEO.
As the devices we use to access accountants’ and solicitors’ websites are smaller than desktop computers we use to view websites, graphics quality is important.
Picture quality is improving all the time and internet connection speeds are increasing with 5G meaning websites and associated images and text load more rapidly.
As a result, many web designers are enthusiastically embracing 3D design, animation, AR, VR, and large-scale video and imagery.
While not everyone has access to the very latest tech, designers can still build it in to make sure older technology can still view the website without it blowing their minds.
What is positive subliminal messaging?
There’s plenty of negative imagery around at the moment, but presenting website visitors with positive images will enhance their experience and promote your business.
Presenting themes of recovery and growth are fostered with clear messaging and inspiring imagery.
These trends are all about helping your visitors rather than directing them, which will help them think positively about your site and their relationship with you.
Personalised home-made graphics
Personalising your website gives it that uniqueness so the overreliance on digital tools can make it so easy to miss out on that. To accommodate this, expect 2022 to see an increase in DIY graphics.
These can include scribbles and doodles, messy cut-outs, and analogue textures like crayons and paint. It gives that personalised interaction between website and visitor.
Let us do it for you
Creating an effective website can be challenging, especially if it isn’t your area of expertise. The constantly changing trends and technology behind most sites mean that it is often best to seek experienced, professional advice from dedicated web designers.
For more than 20 years we have been helping some of the UK’s leading accountants, solicitors and care firms – along with many other clients, across a range of industries – create effective and attractive websites that create a great first impression.
If you are new to the process or want additional advice on web design, our talented web design team can help you deliver an attractive and easy to navigate site. Get in touch today to find out how we can help.
