You've heard the old saying: “If you build it, they will come.” But what if the “it” you built isn't very good? That's where conversion rate optimization (CRO) comes in. CRO aims to make your website more effective at converting customers into sales, leads, or whatever action you want them to take. It's not just a matter of making sure your site looks nice and is easy to use; specific design techniques can make all the difference between a mediocre website and one that converts like gangbusters. I'll show you how to create such an effective website with these tips from top designers who've mastered this art:
Get Visual
Visual content is a powerful way to help people understand what you do, and why it matters.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but that doesn't mean there aren't any more words left to say. Use images to describe your product or service, give the visitor a sense of what it's like to use your product or service, help them understand how it works, or give them an idea of who you are.
Use a variety of visuals. You don't have to rely on photos or illustrations alone. Consider using a combination of images, videos, and text to communicate complex ideas more easily. When in doubt, try including plenty of visuals that show your product or service in action.
If you're looking for a source of royalty-free, high-quality images, Unsplash is a great place to start!
Be Concise
While your content should be concise, there is a fine line between being straightforward and too vague. If you don't give people enough information, they won't know what to do with your site. So, how do you balance providing enough details while keeping things short and sweet? Here are some tips:
- Use headlines and subheads. This can help break up large blocks of text into smaller chunks that are easier to digest.
- Use bullet points or numbered lists whenever possible; it allows readers to skim over the text quickly if they want to get an overview of what's being said instead of reading everything word-for-word.
- Include a table of contents at the beginning or end of each page/section so that visitors have an idea of where they are within a site before going further into it (and can also refer back later if needed).
Create a Sense of Urgency
- Use a timer.
- Create a sense of urgency with a countdown.
- Offer a discount or coupon that will expire soon.
- Make something available for only a limited time, like an item that is only available to the first 100 people who order it. This is called the scarcity principle and studies show it works!
Make the Call to Action Obvious
You might have the best product, service, or blog on the internet… but if your users can't figure out what to do next, they'll bounce right off.
The most common mistake is not giving users a clear call to action (CTA). A CTA is simple: it's an action that you want someone to take after visiting your site (e.g., download our app). The second most common mistake is making the CTA too subtle—or worse yet, nonexistent!
To make sure that people know what to do when they get to your site, follow this advice:
-Make your CTA big, bold, and clear.
-Don't hide your CTA behind a link or button. Make sure it's visible on every page of your site (including the homepage).
-Use action verbs in your call to action. For example: “Download our app.”
Make It Easy for Users to Contact You
Make it easy for users to contact you.
If you want your website to convert, you need to make it as easy as possible for people to get in touch with you. Your home page should have a clear contact form that's visible at all times. The more visible the form is, the better. Place it above the fold and use contrasting colors so that it stands out from the rest of your website. Include an email address and phone number that people can use if they don't want or can't complete your contact form. This way, even if someone doesn't fill out the form, they still know how they can reach out directly with questions or concerns about their purchase or service request
Optimize Your Site for Mobile
It might not be easy to believe, but more than 50% of the internet is accessed using a mobile device.
Mobile users have different motivations from desktop users, so you'll need to optimize your website for each one.
This means ensuring your site works well on smartphones and tablets.
There are many ways to test for mobile optimization—Google's Mobile-Friendly Test is a good starting point.
Don't Forget About Seo and Keywords
SEO is a broad term that covers several methods of making your website more visible to search engines. It's essential to understand how it works because you can't just slap together a bunch of keywords and expect people to find your product!
The first step in effective SEO is choosing the right keywords. The best way to do this is by looking honestly at what kinds of words people use when searching for products like yours. You could do this by doing some research on Google Trends or other keyword tools (like Moz), or even by asking friends what they would type in if they were looking for something similar to yours.
Once you have chosen some keywords, try not to be afraid of using them freely throughout all areas of your site: headers, body copy, and titles—but don't overdo it! Make sure each word has its sentence or paragraph; otherwise, it'll seem spammy and could hurt rather than help the user experience.”
A/B Tests New Ideas From Time to Time
This is a great way to test new ideas and discover what works.
- You can A/B test your landing pages, email subject lines, social media posts, and anything else you can think of.
- When you have results from the testing, you'll know what does and doesn't work.
Try Some of These Tips Next Time You Redesign Your Website
- Don't forget about SEO and keywords.
- A/B tests new ideas from time to time.
- Don't forget to test your website on mobile devices.
- Don't forget about call-to-action (CTA).
Make sure your website is easy to navigate
Conclusion
Now that you know what it takes to create a website that converts, it's time to get started. The most important thing is that you keep experimenting with different ideas and approaches; don't be afraid of failure! These are just some of the many ways you can optimize your website for conversion rate optimization (CRO). Remember that a good CRO is about testing new things until something works for your audience.
