Tips to design your website to convert visitors into customers: conversion-focused web design

Website design is one of the most popular design requests we get at Deer Designer, so you might say we’re good at it (wink, wink) 😄

But we don’t just create websites from scratch willy-nilly.

Web design is not just about making a cool-looking website.

We want them to provide a smooth and intuitive user experience, so you are more likely to convert your visitors into customers.

This approach to web design is what they call “conversion-focused web design.”

This can involve a bunch of things, like ensuring that your website’s navigation makes sense for everybody, making your call to action button stand out, and creating pop-ups that encourage people to click that buy now button.

In this article, we’ll talk about how conversion-focused web design can help you increase your site’s conversion rate and achieve your business goals.

Build a website with clear and intuitive navigation

Tweaking your navigation might not be the first thing you’re thinking of when trying to increase conversions.

But think about it: if your target audience can’t find what they’re looking for on your website, they’re not going to stick around.

If they leave your site after only spending a few seconds on one page, this can increase your bounce rate and even affect how your site ranks in search engines.

When more people leave your site, it tells search engines that your site is not relevant to them and they shouldn’t be including you in the search results.

It’s going to be harder to get more users to find your site in the first place. That’s why intuitive navigation is key.

Keep it simple and organized. Don’t make users hunt for information. Make sure your menu is clear and logically structured.

Don’t forget about mobile devices too!

Most users are going to browse your website on their phones.

So you have to make your navigation easy to use and adaptive on smaller screens.

Have a bold and clear CTA button

You want users to take action on your site, right? Then you need to make it crystal clear what you want them to do.

That’s where call-to-action (CTA) buttons come in.

This is arguably the most important element on your site.

Whether it’s “Buy Now,” “Sign Up,” or “Learn More,” your CTAs should stand out and leave no room for confusion.

Use contrasting color schemes, bold typography, and enough whitespace to make your CTAs impossible to miss.

Improve conversions with the power of psychology

Did you know that certain design elements can trigger psychological responses in users? It’s true!

For example, using social proof, like testimonials or customer reviews, can build trust and credibility.

Scarcity tactics, such as limited-time offers or low-stock warnings, can create a sense of urgency and encourage immediate action.

Don’t underestimate the power of storytelling in your marketing campaigns.

Creating a compelling story can captivate users and drive them to take action.

Minimize distractions on your landing page

When it comes to web design, less is often more. Cluttered, busy websites can overwhelm users and drive them away.

Instead, focus on simplicity and clarity. Cut out any unnecessary elements that don’t serve a purpose. Keep your design clean and uncluttered, with plenty of whitespace.

And don’t bombard users with pop-ups and ads; they’ll only distract from your message and frustrate your audience.

Keep the pop-ups minimal and relevant to their experience.

For example, if they are browsing through your items, you can have a little pop-up on the side to tell them how many people have looked at the product recently or how many stocks are left of the item if it’s in high demand.

This adds a value proposition to your content without interrupting their online shopping experience.

Optimize your website for user experience

At the end of the day, user experience (UX) is king.

Your website should be a pleasure to use, from start to finish. That means fast page load times, responsive design, and intuitive interactions.

Pay attention to details like button placement, form fields, and error messages; even the smallest tweaks can make a big difference.

And don’t forget about accessibility—your site should be usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities or devices.

Constantly test your site’s performance and conversion rate

The beauty of web design is that it’s never set in stone. You can always tweak and refine your site to improve performance and drive more conversions.

And that’s where testing comes in.

Try different layouts, colors, and copywriting techniques to see what works best for your audience. Analyze the data from these tests and use it to inform your decisions going forward.

Conversion rate optimization is a constant part of having a website.

If you start noticing a dip in your conversations, you might have to check and tweak things again.

High-converting website examples

Websites designed for conversion encourage visitors to take specific actions, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a form.

Here are some examples of websites with conversion-centered landing pages you can learn from:

The persuasive design techniques of Amazon

When was the last time you purchased something from Amazon?

Did you come into the site already thinking of the item you’re going to buy, or did you get lured in to buy a random item on sale?

Don’t worry. It happens to everyone.

The people who run Amazon are experts in digital marketing and conversion design.

Amazon’s website is designed to make it easy for you to browse through their offerings and checkout an item.

One moment you’re just looking at something interesting, and the next thing you know, you’ve bought it!

They use personalized product recommendations so they can curate your algorithm based on your behavior and past purchases.

They make you go, “Oh, I didn’t know this was a thing!” and “I forgot I needed one of these,” to encourage those impulse purchases.

The “Buy Now” and “Add to Cart” buttons are right there for you to click the moment you see the item.

They also have a one-click purchasing feature that reduces your time to think about your purchase during the checkout process.

The value-driven conversion experts at HubSpot

It takes a really good business to lure in other entrepreneurs with their service offers.

HubSpot’s website emphasizes clear and concise messaging, focusing on the benefits of its products and services.

They always want you to see that even if you are not making a purchase, they are offering you things of value such as resources, demos, trials, and even training.

This encourages website visitors to stay on their website for longer.

If you are taking their free training, you will be staying for days or weeks, depending on how long it takes you to finish the training course.

During this time, you are constantly shown what HubSpot has to offer, and you are more likely to try their service for a short trial period.

They utilize prominent CTAs throughout the site, guiding visitors toward signing up for their services or downloading resources.

Given that they have several product and resource offerings, they have to make sure they have well-designed landing pages with minimal distractions, focusing visitors’ attention on the desired action for that page.

Airbnb lures in site visitors with scenic and cozy stays

Every time you go to Airbnb’s website, the first thing you see is attractive user-generated content about their stays and experiences.

This gallery of authentic-looking images encourages you to check out the details in their listings.

Are these places near you? Do people recommend it? Can you afford it? How do you go there? When is it available?

This information is easy to access. All you have to do is click on the listing and scroll.

They offer social proof by displaying reviews and ratings on listing pages.

Their clear and persuasive CTAs encourage you to either book accommodations or become a host.

You can also easily look for relevant listings with their intuitive search function.

Whether you have a set date and location you want to go to or you want the site to give you suggestions, you have all the options.

The best practices for landing page designs with conversion-centered design

Aren’t all these sites so smart? They have mastered conversion optimization.

But they did not all start that way. They also had to go through some trial and error to find the best ways to boost conversions.

After all, every business is different. What works to give them higher conversions may not be the best way to improve your site.

By studying these different sites and understanding their design approaches, you can learn how you can optimize your website for conversions too.

If you want specific web design tweaks to boost your conversion rates, you can check out our article:

➡️11 web design tweaks that help boost sales

At Deer Designer, we’re passionate about helping you achieve your conversion goals.

When we design your website, you can rest assured that it is going to be a good website with a great user experience, effective designs, and the potential for high website conversion rates.

Let’s work together and bring out your brand’s potential for a better online presence and higher conversions!

Key Takeaways

• Designing a website is not just about making it look good; it has to drive high conversion rates too.
• When people don’t know where to go on your website, they might leave faster, increasing your site’s bounce rate.
• Have an intuitive navigation system to guide people.
• You can’t have a higher conversion rate without clear CTA buttons that let people know what you want them to do.
• There are several psychological triggers that can help you increase conversions and are easy to add to your web pages.
• By keeping a simple and clean design, you can help your users navigate across the website and make the purchase they need.
• Every high-converting landing page prioritizes the user experience, which includes making everything accessible for your users, whether they’re on their phones or desktops.
• You will have to constantly test and improve your website to get better conversion rates, as web design is always changing.
• Taking note of the successes of websites like Amazon, HubSpot, and Airbnb can help you design your own website and improve conversion rates.