What's Trending in 2016

The new year is right around the corner and with that comes the new trends in web design and what will be popular in terms of boosting conversions. Please note that these trends are not a one size fits all. The design trends of 2016 may be popular among designers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are right for you. You always tailor to your own business needs first and implement design changes that work best for you. With that said, let’s take a look at what will be popular this coming year. Maybe a few of these web design trends will help boost your conversion rates to make for a great 2016.

Show the Whole Picture

Studies have proven that full-width images help capture more conversions. Why? Because a larger image tends to stop people in their tracks and take notice. It’s been said time and again that visual images gain interest. Once people have stopped to look at the images, they generally tend to hang around and check out the rest of the site. And if you want to get a little extra credit and go the extra mile, it doesn’t hurt to have happy, positive looking people and background video. 

Split-Screen Layouts

Depending on the type of business you have, this may be a great option for you. If you have multiple products/services, it can make sense to split your users into the correct area right from the get go. A split screen will get your users where they need to go and efficiently. This is a great way to boost those conversions. 

Single Based Hues and Contrasting Call-to-Action

Your call to action button is a very important element of your website and it should always be a shining beacon for your users. Choose a bright pop of color for your CTA against a neutral or contrasting color palette. 

Single Column Call-to-Action

Sometimes less is more. Sidebar call to actions can be distracting and disrupt the flow of your site.  Put your call to action in a single column to increase clicks. 

Easy to Use Navigation

Having too many buttons on your homepage is the best way to turn visitors away from your site. It becomes too confusing and distracting when a user isn’t sure where to click for information.  You must prioritize your navigation, only using the buttons that are most important. All secondary navigation can be conveniently tucked away in a hidden menu icon. Now your homepage will look clean and inviting.

Video

Right up there with images, video is a great way to capture new and returning customers. One of the main holdups between visiting the site and actually covering into a customer is trust. If a user doesn’t know who you are or what your company is about, they will usually leave your website. However, you can use video as a great tool to personalize your brand and tell your audiences who you are. You can have welcome videos, demonstrations, testimonials, and so on. 

Card Design

This trend is inspired by the ever popular Pinterest. Having a card design will enable users to quickly go to what interests them. For example, if you are a clothing retailer this could be a great option for you. You could have categories for handbags, accessories, shoes, etc. This can also be tailored to other industries as well. Remember, if users can get where they want quickly, they are more likely to convert. 

Make it Personal

This will take a little research effort on your part, but it will be worth it. You can use the location, browsing activity, buying activity, and other data to customize the browsing process to individualized users. Each customer likes to feel a little extra special and if you tailor the buying experience to their needs, they are more likely to convert.