Travel website design is always a work in progress if you want to keep up with the top travel bloggers.
You want to grab readers attention with your incredible travel stories and amazing images. But what’s the best way to take your website to the next level?
This list ticks off all the actions you need to take to build a solid foundation for your travel website design. But don’t stop once you’re done – there’s always more to do to optimize your web design!
Mobile First Travel Website Design
Your travel website is about being on the go. And people want to see it while they’re on the go.
Many people read your content as an escape and will flick through the pages on their commute. You need to optimize your site to respond to cell phones and other mobile devices.
You also need to think about how to get page load speeds down, so even with a shaky connection people can still see most of your site.
Use Links Wisely
Remember, without being guided in the right direction, users will never find the material you want them to. Make sure to place links properly every time they’re relevant.
If you’re talking about Florence, drop a link to your experience of a Florence guided tour. Or if you don’t have a blog specifically about that city, choose something Italian-themed, if it fits.
Links will reduce your bounce rate – which measures the proportion of users who enter and then immediately leave your site. By showing them what else to check out, they’re likely to hang around longer.
Image Optimization
If you’ve got massive images – great. They should be an immersive part of your travel blog, a way for readers to get a real feel of the place you’re talking about.
But they also need to be a functional part of the design. What do we mean by this? Well, they need to have clear parameters and not spill over the rest of the page. And they need to be uploaded at a reasonable resolution so they don’t take ages to load for mobile users.
Encourage User Interaction
You want your users to feel like they’re part of something. Make sure you’re either pushing them through to your social pages from the site or giving them the option to leave comments.
Think of comments as a community building exercise. As more people post, and more people recognize other posters, your site will become a hub for exchanging stories about great times abroad. People will return to see what their online friends are up to.
If you choose to go the social route, the same applies. You might like to use a slightly different brand on social media to encourage talking, by identifying it as a ‘story exchange’ group or similar.
How Else Can I Improve My Travel Web Design?
There are loads more ways to ensure your web design is as good as it can be.
Have a scan of our blog and see what other advice we’ve already posted about – there’s more to come soon.
And make sure to let us know if you have any other great tips yourself!
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