10 Essential Website Features You Need in 2018

Are you releasing a new website in 2018? Or are you making improvements to your website?

Every year, websites become better optimized.

 

Web design improves, the frontend and backend improve, and there are more user experience advancements.

 

2018 is already showing website innovations and trends. Mobile-first is the biggest push of the year, as well as responsive website design and user experience.

 

Having an outdated website could cost you SEO results, so it’s important you stay up-to-date with the latest website innovations.

 

Fortunately, this list includes the 10 most essential website features in 2018. Continue reading and host a fully-optimized 2018 website.

1. Mobile-First

Most people don’t have time to sit on their desktop computers or laptops. And with constant mobile updates, mobile phones are only increasing in performance.

 

Mobile phones are also cheaper than laptops or desktops and some users only use their cell service to access the web.

 

When choosing a web design, choose a design that’s optimized for a small-screen interface, is convenient for up-down navigation, and has less design overhead.

2. Responsive Web Design

Even though mobile-first is all the buzz, responsive web design should never be forgotten. This type of design has positive user experience on desktop, mobile phone, and tablet.

 

Before, web designers had a different website for each platform. Today, there’s technology that makes UX web design across all platforms. You can easily use one hosting platform and one theme to run on all devices.

 

If you’re unsure if your web design is responsive, access your website on all of your devices. If there are any inconveniences, switch to a responsive web design.

 

A web designer or a website theme store can demonstrate the design’s responsiveness to different devices.

3. Content is Key

Since mobile and responsive designs usually don’t contain intricate design elements, website owners are making it up with content. High-quality content is one of the website features that matters as much as web design.

 

Google attaches to words on blogs, website pages, and in the metadata.

 

Content also matters to your website viewers. When your viewers search for a website, they’re likely not going to admire great web design. They want products, information, or something else valuable.

 

Content doesn’t only include writing. Visual content is just as striking. High-res photos and HD videos create a diverse website, making your website stand out.

4. Database-Driven

This is one of the most complex website features, but it’s extremely useful in 2018. In a nutshell, database-driven websites are connected to a database with programming information. This information constantly changes.

 

This information determines how the website user will view your page.

 

These websites are most important if you run an e-commerce website with customer information.

 

If your customer changes their address, they log onto their account and make the information change. The database changes their information and saves it, so your customer can sign in another time and their updated address is saved.

5. Functional Website Design

Today, web design has its aesthetic appeal. But your web user — and Google — and more concerned with functional web design.

 

This means more than making sure your website looks good on a mobile phone.

 

The web design and layout should be organized, easy to read, and accessible.

 

One of the most important website design aspects is navigation. Since web users are scrolling your website with their fingers, your website design should optimize navigation.

6. SEO-Friendly

Every aspect of your website should be SEO-friendly. This means more than just having content.

 

You need to optimize content correctly to gain high search results. This includes writing good titles and finding high-performing keywords with user intent.

 

More intricate SEO strategies, such as local SEO, are also major players in 2018.

 

Google boosts high-performing websites with UI/UX on search engines. Certain hosting platforms also help increase search results.

 

Off-page SEO, or SEO techniques applied outside of your website, are also contributing factors.

7. Branding

A major aspect of modern web design is your branding. This is your unique image or message that you’re conveying to the world. It’s how your customers identify you. You use branding in every aspect of your business — including your website.

 

Make sure your logo and slogan (if applicable) appear on every page of your website. When using ads and other marketing materials, keep your company’s personal style in mind.

 

A simple “About” page can also do wonders.

8. Story-Driven

When creating content, you want to create unique content. Content creators are using story-driven content to market their products. This can be used in writing, such as documenting a real-life experience.

 

Story-driven content can also be used in visuals such as photographing or filming your customers.

9. Minimalist Design

This was mentioned previously, but it’s important to go into depth.

 

Your web design should hold everything together: your content, your company information, and all other intricate details. Because it holds a lot of information, minimalist design is key when your web users navigate your website.

 

But you shouldn’t sacrifice aesthetics. Minimalism can be striking and simple, such as the website this company created.

 

Specific color palettes, fonts, and content are enough to create an incredible website.

10. Header and Footer Information

All minor company details are best represented in your header and footer.

 

In your header, you should include your company logo and page navigation.

 

In your footer, you should include your social media channels, your contact information (also a perfect position for NAP information) and business hours (if applicable).

Time to Use These Website Features

Websites are always changing. But 2018 is one step closer to figuring out what works and what doesn’t work.

 

All websites need good design and content. But we know which types of design and content are winners! Overall, you should have a high-performing website that functions on all devices.

 

You also want to make your customers happy. What are they searching? Where are they accessing your website? Answer these questions for customer-optimized web design.

 

When you follow these website features, you’ll receive great response from your website visitors — and from Google.

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