Modern Website - 12 Distinguishing Features
Web site - which can successfully generate customers for your business. Often it is the presentation of the site that influences whether we want to interact with the brand or not.
So, let's see what a modern site should contain and what are the common features of the latest trends.
1. Banner on the site
Banners are a section that the user sees immediately after entering a particular site. Until recently, image sliders were used here, but now they are increasingly being replaced by a hero image, i.e. a static image instead of multiple moving images. Therefore, we can say that this is just one slide.
Read about the reasons for this in our other article - is it worth using slides on the main page.
- Such a section is characterized by several aspects:
- First of all, it has a slogan or motto that represents the brand or benefits.
- It has an image or video in the background that matches the brand and its industry.
It has a CTA button that captures the attention of the audience and redirects to the next noteworthy section of the page.
Below is an example of such a solution.
2. Minimalism
An important aspect of a modern site is minimalism, or simplicity. This is undoubtedly the first element that is identified with the modern approach to websites.
Modern style means that the page should be in uniform colors, with a clear separation between the main and accent color. In turn, the elements themselves are devoid of unnecessary decorations (contours, shadows, textures). This is most easily seen in any Google service (e.g. Gmail, Google Analytics, Google Search Console) where you can clearly see what minimalism is.
In addition, these services are dominated by a flat style, another indicator of a modern approach to the theme of the pages.
3. CTA
Another feature of the modern website is the emphasis on effective customer acquisition through the website. All of this is done primarily with the help of CTA buttons, which are designed specifically to direct the audience to a specific place on the page.
In addition, they improve navigation so that the user does not have to think about where to go next, but simply follows the path just laid out by the buttons.
In addition, such buttons, above all, stand out and are pleasing to the eye. An important role is played by the content on them, which should additionally perform the function of a bait. Currently, descriptive solutions work well, where instead of, for example, the single phrase Contact, descriptive equivalents work better:
- Contact us
- Establish partnerships
- Ask us a question
- Use the free version
- Talk to us etc.
4. More analytics
As I mentioned earlier, websites are increasingly focused solely on customer acquisition. Hence the need for deeper analysis of broader analytics on websites.
For this basic and indispensable tool, Google Analytics is not enough. Increasingly, there is a need to more accurately track user behavior on the site in order to optimize the site even better. So analytics is expanding to include things like:
- session recording
- click tracking
- A/B tests on pages
- mouse tracking
- scroll depth Pages
- Form Analysis
With this data, it is easier to make a change decision because you have evidence that a certain section or color is not producing results in terms of number of customers.
5. Marketing Content and Blog
A modern approach to the theme of the site also applies to the content that will be on it. In this regard, it is important to create content that encourages the user to accept the offer. Thus, the so-called benefit language is used, and the elements are highlighted in such a way that they represent what the user will receive when interacting with the company.
Another useful element in this aspect is the company blog, which is also a good feature of modern websites. Content creation is not only about being open to users' needs and sharing the information they need, but also about driving traffic to a website from search engines.
6. Illustrations
Illustrations are another feature of a modern website.
The illustrations create an amazing atmosphere because they are individual and correspond exactly to a specific section on the page. As a result, they fit into the pleasant experience of the page and certainly add an aspect of difference.
See the following example of using such illustrations.
7. Videos
Apart from illustrations, another trend that is gaining momentum is all videos. Usually they are used exactly in the section with the image of the hero and in those places where it is necessary to reposition the product or functionality.
They certainly bring life to often static texts and images.
8. Animations
Animation is also increasingly entering the world of websites. Typically, individual elements are animated so that, for example, they appear as you move down the page. At the same time, elements are usually put forward from different sides, creating a feeling of dynamism and simply modernity.
9. Symmetry and asymmetry
Today you will also notice that the pages are symmetrical - there is a division that is defined by the so-called grid. Everything is based on columns, where, for example, four manuals are presented in a row or opinions are divided into two rows of three positions each.
Such a scheme is especially powerful in terms of reaction speed. Simply put, elements can be easily scaled to fit different screen resolutions.
On the other hand, the modern approach is to break this grid and create elements that are exactly asymmetrical. With this approach, for example, subtitles overlap images, or you can simply see with the naked eye that the elements do not line up in a grid.
10. Contact tools
Another aspect of modernity is the tools for establishing contact through the website. This is done in order to stimulate contact and increase the chances of acquiring a client. Therefore, when visiting new sites, you will notice various pop-ups that allow you to establish contact other than the traditional one - a message through the form.
These include, for example:
- Live Chat
- Contact Request Tool
- Site Integration with Facebook Messenger
11. SSL Ser tifikat
Modern web The site also has an SSL certificate to improve the security of data exchange. This is somewhat of a forced change for websites due to Google, where sites that have a certificate installed get extra "points" in their search engine rankings.
In addition, sites without a certificate have a disturbing "Not secure" message in the browser.
12. Optimized menus
A modern site is characterized by a menu layout when only key subpages are placed in the main menu, and the rest of the subpages are hidden under one button or in the page footer. Again, everything is aimed at increasing conversions.
In addition, you will also notice that sometimes the entire menu is hidden under the button, and only when you click on it, individual items appear in front of us. This is no doubt taken from the menu in the mobile version, where it is always displayed.
What should a modern website contain?
I hope that the above text has given you an idea of what it is about, and now you can easily determine what a modern site is.
What else do you think is a modern website?