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Building a website in 2024 is exciting, but has become overwhelming with what you must do to have your site be successful online. As technology continues to evolve, creating a website that stands out requires up-to-date knowledge and strategic planning. Here are the ten essential things you must know to build a successful website in 2024.
Mobile-First Design is Non-Negotiable
Mobile internet usage has surpassed desktop, making mobile-first design a must. As of mid-2023 mobile traffic is approximately 60% of total website traffic. For some sites, it may even be higher. Your website is fully responsive, meaning that it works equally well on all device sizes. There’s nothing more annoying when trying to look at website content on your phone than not being able to see or access all of the content. That’s the fastest way to lose users and sales. You must provide an excellent user experience across all device sizes. Google also prioritizes mobile-friendly sites in its search rankings, so optimizing for mobile is crucial for visibility.
Core Web Vitals Are Critical
Google’s Core Web Vitals, which measure the speed, responsiveness, visual stability, accessibility, best practices, and basic SEO of a website, are essential for SEO. In 2024, these metrics will continue to influence search rankings significantly. Focus on making your website as fast as possible by compressing images before adding them to your site. Use a content delivery network (CDN) to ensure that all your users have an equally fast experience.
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Traditional CMS platforms are becoming better and faster than ever. There are so many options as to the mode and platform to build your website, that it will make your head spin. Talk to a website design or development professional to talk about different options and find the option that will be best for you. If you have a static site, need to take bookings, sell through eCommerce, etc. your needs for your site may be best met on different platforms.
Enhanced Security Measures
Cybersecurity threats are growing, making robust security measures indispensable. It is non-negotiable to have HTTPS for your site. Search engines don’t encourage users to click on sites that aren’t secure and won’t recommend your site in search results. Regularly back up your website in case of emergency and use security plugins or services to protect against malware and attacks.
AI Integration
AI and machine learning can significantly enhance user experience and site functionality. From chatbots providing customer service to AI-driven content recommendations and personalized marketing, integrating these technologies can give your website a competitive edge. Many website platforms also offer AI builders to help you design content for your website. Play around with the tools available to you and see what they’re capable of. As with anything AI-related make sure you’re checking the work and editing it to make sense for you and your business.
Continually Update Content
With the rise of voice-activated devices, or even people using voice searches more on their phones, optimizing your website for voice search is becoming increasingly important. Focus on natural language keywords and ensure your content answers common questions succinctly to capture voice search traffic. Your website should be able to answer questions that people ask naturally. For example, if I want to come up for searches where people are looking for a web designer to build them a website in Wix or WordPress, I need to have the answer to that question incorporated into my website.
Web Accessibility
Creating an accessible website is not just about meeting legal requirements; it’s about inclusivity. Use a correctly formatted heading structure, provide alt text for images, ensure keyboard navigation, and comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This makes your site usable for people with disabilities and improves overall user experience. If you are unsure if your website meets basic accessibility standards, have a website accessibility audit done on your website to find out if your site is accessible.
Building a Website for Performance and Speed
Website speed directly affects user retention and SEO. I always get asked, “How fast should my website load?” The easiest answer is as fast as possible. In a 2023 study, it was found that average load times on a desktop is 2.5 seconds and 8.6 seconds on mobile. Use techniques like lazy loading, image compression, minimizing HTTP requests, and compressing CSS and Javascript files to boost your site’s performance. Tools like GTMetrix can help you identify and fix performance issues.
Continually Update Content
The content on your website needs to be fresh, relevant to users, and continually updated. Depending on the type of website you have and how you use your website for your business will determine how best to make updates to your site. If the content on your site is fairly static because your service offerings don’t change, then adding a blog is a great way to update your content frequently without always having to fully update your entire site.
Sustainable Web Design
Sustainability is becoming a critical consideration in web design. Build a fast and efficient website to optimize your website’s code and create server efficiency to reduce its carbon footprint. By using optimized templates to build your website, your website will be super fast out of the box leading to smaller server usage. Use green hosting providers and design with sustainability in mind to contribute to a more eco-friendly internet.
Key Takeaways to Building A Website in 2024
Building a website in 2024 involves much more than just good design. From mobile-first design to sustainable practices, understanding and implementing these key aspects will help you create a website that not only stands out but also provides a superior user experience and keeps up with technological advancements. Stay updated with the latest trends and continuously improve your site to meet the evolving needs of your audience. Contact 2 Dogs and a Laptop today to get started with your next project.
