If you build it, they will come. That sentiment might apply to some things, but it certainly doesn’t apply to all websites. The competition for web users is too intense for that, and just because a website exists, there’s no guarantee that it’ll have visitors. Most visitors receive no visitors whatsoever.

So, how can you increase the chances that people will be interested in visiting and spending time on your website? By giving them what they want and expect.

Not sure what those things are? We’ve got you covered. Below, we’ll outline a bunch of things that modern web users expect to see on a website. Make sure yours has them all, and you should notice that user engagement begins to creep in the right direction. 

6 Things Your Website Users Want

Depending on your website, there may be more than six things your site visitors want to see. However, these are all relatively standard practices to incorporate, regardless of your brand or industry.

1. Useful Information

You’ll have your own goals from your website. For instance, you might wish to make sales or find more clients. But those things won’t be the primary or only concern of your website visitors. They’ll likely be first looking for information that they find helpful. 

Let’s say, for instance, that your business sells premium coffee for home use. In that example, useful information might be a blog that outlines the best machines for making gourmet coffee at home. 

Buried within that blog could be internal links to the bags of coffee that you sell. 

Even if the web visitor doesn’t make a purchase, they’ll still have learned something valuable from your website — and there’s every chance that they will come back in the future to purchase for real.

2. Visually Appealing Design

Internet users make snap judgments about the websites they visit. If they determine that a website has outdated or low-quality design, then they’ll be much less likely to stay on the website. After all, why would they, when they know they can go to another website that does have great design?

If your website isn’t as visually appealing as it could be, consider making some improvements. Working with a web design company, like the one you’ll find at https://www.baldwindigital.ie, can help give you a professional, modern website that creates a positive first impression in the eyes of your visitors. In doing so, you’ll ensure that your visitors stick around beyond a few seconds, which will give you the opportunity to show them what your website is all about.

3. Easy Navigation

Of course, it’s not just the visual style of your website that counts. The navigation credentials of the site do, too. If you have a visitor who wants to explore all that’s great about your website, then make sure it’s easy for them to do so! This contributes to a positive user experience, which is crucial for Google’s algorithm.

To do this, pay attention to your website's overall layout and navigation. Would it be easy for a first-time visitor to reach a particular page? If not, some work will be required. 

4. Easy to Digest Content 

The internet is–or should be–all about convenience. Few people are willing to stay on a website that’s making their life more difficult than it needs to be. When it comes to creating your content, work to ensure that it’s as easy to digest as possible. Your visitors will thank you.

Additionally, it can also be beneficial to incorporate a mix of different content types. For example, if you’ve been relying on blog posts for your educational content, then what about creating videos or infographics? 

5. Regular Updates

Your website might be fun and interesting right now. But it won’t necessarily be that way in a year. Your website should be routinely updated, which will help ensure that your visitors always have something new to enjoy when they stop by. Plus, this will also help boost your SEO — Google loves up-to-date content!

6. Smooth Processes

If you’re selling products on your website, then you’ll need to ensure that the process of making a purchase is as smooth as possible. Nothing annoys web users more than having to jump through more hoops than they should. While some will persevere with the process, many others will give up — and in the process, you’ll have lost a customer for a completely avoidable reason.

The best approach is to put as few steps as possible between the initial ‘buy’ page and the final ‘pay now’ button. It can also be effective to include as many payment options as possible. Some people will want to pay via credit card, while others will want to pay via PayPal or other payment services. 

Need Better Content? We Can Help!

If your website could use a content makeover, we’ve got you covered. Book a free discovery call to learn how People First Content can deliver fresh, relevant, and accurate content to your site visitors to keep them engaged and encourage them to convert.

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