With the start of the New Year, now is the perfect time to look at your digital ecosystem and evaluate how your platforms are set up to help you achieve your 2024 business goals. Is an upgrade to your website warranted, or can you look at design and functionality upgrades to your existing infrastructure? In this blog post, we’ll discuss why it might be time to explore an overhaul of your business’ website, as well as some practical advice for programme planning.
3 Website trends for 2024
- Website design isn’t just about creating visually appealing pages, it’s about crafting experiences that resonate and engage with your audiences. With new technology and an even bigger spotlight on user behaviour, a key trend for 2024 will be rethinking digital aesthetics and functionality.
- AI is also going to continue to have an impact on web design. AI generated designs and the ability to create custom graphics based on user data will provide new opportunities for personalisation of user experiences. Websites can seamlessly adapt using generative art, providing individual experiences for different audiences.
- Our third trend is around accessibility, which will continue to be a driving force for website design. It’s no longer a design consideration, but a fundamental aspect of a more inclusive online environment. At Cavendish, we are passionate about designing accessible digital solutions, and it’s been a key part to our approach with clients over the last few years. In 2024, we need to move beyond compliance and set industry benchmarks for digital inclusivity.
How to make sure your website is up to date with the latest web technologies
In today’s digital age, having a website that is up to date with the latest web technologies is crucial. Not only does it ensure that your website is functioning properly, but it also enhances user experience and can even improve your search engine rankings. So, how do you stay on top of the latest trends and make sure your website is keeping up with the times? A key aspect of any website programme should be about continual learning and adapting as well as regularly looking at data and adapting based on identifying key challenges. Your website will reflect your commitment to providing the best possible experience for your users.
Improving your customer experience
Elevating your customer experience (CX) should be at the forefront of your 2024 plans. Your website is often the first interaction your customer or stakeholders have with your brand. It’s more than content and aesthetics; it’s about navigation, functionality, and responsiveness. Ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience, no matter the device, can significantly impact visitors’ perceptions of your organisation.
Mobile responsiveness
With the majority of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, optimising your website for mobile responsiveness is no longer an option but a necessity. A mobile friendly website not only enhances user experience but also positively impacts your search rankings.
Prioritise your content accessibility
As mentioned in our 3rd trend for 2024, we need to ensure that not only are websites set up to be as inclusive as possible, but that the content that you create needs to incorporate best practice accessibility. Ensuring your content is accessible to all users broadens your audience, demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity, and is also good business – as the user experience approach also helps a much wider ranging audience.
Embrace personalisation
Personalisation and interactivity should be key components for a successful website. We need to look at tailoring content based on user preferences and behaviour. Creating interactive elements can also enhance user engagement and foster a deeper connection between you and your audience.
Invest in security measures
In an era where cyber threats are constant, prioritising website security is paramount. Safeguarding sensitive data and providing a secure browsing experience builds trust and confidence with your audience.
Continuous improvement through analytics
With the end of Universal analytics and introduction of Google Analytics 4, it’s essential that you start to incorporate analytics into your continuous improvement cycle. Use the Exploration feature in GA4 to understand user behaviour, preferences and pain points, which will highlight what, if any, changes are required to make improvements. We also deploy heatmaps to websites, so we can evaluate elements like scroll depths and web page clicks.
Conclusion
As we start 2024, it’s worth looking at your website solution to see if it’s fit for purpose. Whilst a complete overhaul may not be on the cards, focusing on improving customer experience across devices, embracing personalisation and building a continuous improvement workflow using analytics will help create longer lasting engagement with your audiences.
Power up your digital presence with our 2024 checklist.
2023 saw huge changes in the digital world, in terms of tracking, accessibility and search. So, how can you make sure you’ve started the year on the right footing?
In this short, easy to read checklist, you’ll find out how to:
- Improve your website traffic
- Make your website traffic work harder for you
- Track for success
- Lead the way with regards to accessibility
Download the checklist below:
