By now, most businesses know that having a good web design is important. After all, your online presence can make or break your business. But is it enough to have any website design, or do you need more than that?

For small businesses, especially if you’re faced with cost challenges or limited technical skills, investing in a well-designed, professional website may seem daunting. Or if you already have a working (albeit outdated) site, you may doubt the value of a redesign.

However, evidence and studies repeatedly point to the fact that good web design is important, and your business’s website design impacts your customer experience, lead generation and ultimately, your bottom line.

Why Website Design Matters

Your website design is important because your customers care about design. Whether consciously or not, we all react to visuals, and people are naturally drawn to good design. When it comes to web design, studies have shown again and again that users quickly judge your business based on visuals alone, and will often stop using your site if it’s poorly designed. You can get more details on graphic design by browsing www.itsdesign.io/ site.

Here are a few eye-opening facts about why web design is important:

75% of users make judgments about a company’s credibility based on visual design alone

When you come across an outdated-looking website design, what does that make you think about the company? You may doubt their legitimacy, question their products or services, or even look at a competitor’s website for a better answer. Regardless, research shows we definitely judge businesses based on the look of their websites.

94% of users first impressions of healthcare websites were design-related

First impressions are powerful, and what your website looks like can create a good impression or drive visitors away. While this study focused on healthcare website designs specifically, the same is true for other industries.

It only takes visitors 50 milliseconds to form a first impression of your website design

Speaking of first impressions, users form them almost instantaneously. According to a study from Google, it only takes 50 milliseconds (that’s 0.05 seconds)! In that split second, users don’t have a chance to read your site or click on anything. That fast first impression depends on the visual design.

38% of people will stop engaging with your website if your content and layout is unattractive

Poor web design doesn’t only hurt your credibility, it can also drive away potential customers. People prefer to view content on beautifully-designed websites, and if your content is unattractive, you’re likely losing more than 1/3 of your visitors.

What we mean by “good design”

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

But while there’s certainly some personal preference in how people interpret design, studies show a lot of consistency in how we perceive design. In fact, science and psychology support the idea that we are drawn to beautiful things, and people inherently react to good design.

All designs use standard elements like color, shape, and size. A good design applies those elements to create a consistent visual language.

Why You Need Good Web Design

We’ve already proven that your customers care about good design, but how does your website design actually impact their experience? Let’s look at a few specific ways good design can improve your website design.

Usability

design has a huge impact on how easy it is for visitors to find what they’re looking for from your web design. Research shows that 86% of your website visitors want to see product or service information, 65% look for contact information, and 52% seek an About page for you business.

Your web design should make these things as easy to find as possible – otherwise you’ll frustrate your users and potentially drive them away. Consider using standard conventions, like putting your primary services in your main navigation, and featuring your phone number in the upper-right-hand corner of your site.