When customers interact with your website, the user experience can make or break their decision to make a purchase or take action along the buyer’s journey. In the fast-changing digital age, companies are consistently researching ways to connect with their target audiences online in ways that build brand awareness and trust.

In terms of the user experience, there are plenty of basics for ensuring a positive journey for the customer on your website. You should have a clear structure that makes navigation from page to page easily. Scannable content allows the viewer to pick up on what they need to know through headings and subheadings. An attractive layout that does not feel like an assault upon the eyes. All of these methods can improve the user experience and guide them along the buyer’s journey.

But there are other ways to go above and beyond when creating a user-oriented experience on your website. Here are some ideas that can make you stand out from the competition.

Frequently Check for Broken Links

Nothing frustrates a user more than a “404 error code.” Though all businesses will work hard to address any broken links on their websites, not all of them are proactive about preventing them. There are several tools available to help you find broken links in your domain.

Using these tools to frequently check for broken or mislabeled links will reduce the amount of time that users may encounter error codes, leading to a better overall experience on your website.

Incorporate User Generated Content (UGC)

UGC is a power that many companies are wielding on their websites to display the authenticity of the brand. When customers create content such as pictures with your product, testimonial posts, or other forms of media, finding unique ways to use that content on your website will improve the user experience.

People will see that you interact with customers regularly and are not afraid to feature them. It is a great way to show that you understand your target audience well and have a presence in the right locations.

Optimize for Mobile

If you are not already doing this for your website, then you are well behind the curve. With millions upon millions of smartphones in the United States alone, most online browsing is done from mobile devices. Ensuring that your website is optimized for the mobile experience will leave a positive impression on website visitors.

You might even consider paring down on the amount of content for mobile optimization, as smartphone users are more likely to scroll down the page quickly since they can see less content on the screen than with a laptop or desktop.

Include Unique Features Throughout the Site

A little goes a long way. That should be your mantra when designing a user-oriented experience for your website. You can add Spotify widgets to play music for website visitors. Dynamic reveals that occur when you hover over images or text boxes can liven up the experience of the page. You can even include live weather updates with the help of weather API software.

There are endless possibilities for creativity and exciting features on your website that will take it to the next level for visitors and leave a lasting impression. Don’t just settle for the basics with your business’s online storefront. Take the time to design a presentation that will make users want to spend more time on the site.

Built-in Interactions

Creating potential interactions with website users can improve trust and level up their perception of your brand. Simple things like adding a chatbot feature where visitors can ask questions and get immediate answers or feedback can make a huge difference. Maybe your product makes for great pictures and videos on social media. In that case, adding a social media feed widget to your page will allow users to quickly like and follow posts from those platforms.

When potential customers find engaging ways to interact with a website, they are more likely to stick around and move through stages of the buyer’s journey.

Don’t Settle For a Cookie-Cutter Website

Following a website template to the letter could be a huge mistake for your brand. If there is no customization to fit your target audience and what they want, then they are less likely to remember your business.

For this reason, you should never settle for a cookie-cutter layout with your website, ignoring additional features. Building brand trust is all about showing your audience that you understand their needs. By creating a user-oriented experience on your website, more visitors will learn to trust your expertise and look to your product/service as a solution.

Conduct the appropriate audience research for your ideal customers and design an experience around those personas. Going above and beyond will make your website stand out from your competition, leading to more leads, sales, and growth.

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