Want to grow your business online?
Invest in UX design!
From purchasing clothing to booking hotels, business transactions are increasingly conducted online. The convenience and variety offered by digital applications and websites are unparalleled.
How can you ensure your customers find your products and services effectively? Step one is to make sure your website or app navigates as seamlessly as possible. Your users expect to find what they're looking for with a single, smooth motion. In other words, a good user experience on your website or online application is no longer optional; it's a minimum requirement. Your website or app should not only meet users' needs but also delight them with every interaction with your brand.
There is much to be gained. Good UX design can drastically transform your business landscape and help it grow in all areas. Let's first zoom in on the concept of UX design and then explain how to use UX design to achieve your business goals.
What is UX Design?
User Experience (UX) refers to how someone feels during their interaction with a system, such as a website. UX encompasses every aspect of the user's interaction with your brand and website, from usability to accessibility.
UX design involves creating websites or apps that are pleasant and easy for customers to use. A UX designer strives to understand and support the user's needs without distracting from the overall experience of the website.
What does this mean for your business results?
6 ways good UX Design stimulates business growth
#1 Improve Brand Perception
UX has a direct correlation with your brand's image. Think of platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. These channels grow exponentially, primarily through word-of-mouth. The excellent user experience perfectly aligns with what users want and can do, leading to more sign-ups. This great user experience is thanks to UX design.
If you like something, you share it with family and friends. It's that simple. Seeing others enjoy a brand positively influences your perception: "Everyone loves this brand, why not try it myself?"
However, the opposite is also true. If you neglect UX design, customers will leave. They will avoid your website and discourage others from using it too, missing a significant opportunity to enhance your brand image.
#2 Boost Your SEO Ranking
Surprised? You shouldn't be. There is a direct link between UX and SEO. Previously, keywords alone determined SEO rankings, leading to many spam websites ranking higher than legitimate, relevant ones. Google updated its algorithm, and now user engagement and experience contribute to a higher SEO ranking.
How does Google measure this? Through statistics like page speed, responsiveness, menu/header layout, and URL structure. All these metrics are tied to UX design.
Improving these statistics enhances the user experience and helps Google rank your website higher in search results.
#3 Reduce Customer Churn
Lost customers equal lost revenue. Hence, a high churn rate (customers leaving) is a major concern for many businesses. The easiest way to reduce customer churn is to work on your website's UX design.
How? By paying attention to UX design, users feel more engaged with your website. They remain loyal to your brand and return whenever they need something. Start by improving your website’s user experience through:
- Creating interactive content
- Ensuring appealing designs
- Making navigation seamless
- Simplifying transactions (purchases, searches, etc.)
Poor UX design drives users away: they can't find what they need quickly, too many steps are required, or navigation is cumbersome. Every step in a shopping funnel gives customers the chance to drop off (and thus lose conversion). Such frustrations increase customer churn for your brand.
#4 Increase Revenue
Good UX design means more customers complete their digital journey on your website, translating into transactions or orders. When customers are satisfied with their experience, their trust in your brand grows, leading them to spend more on your products or services. This can be through upsells or cross-sells on both new and recurring purchases, resulting in higher revenue for your business.
Additionally, good UX equals free positive word-of-mouth advertising, attracting more customers and increasing revenue.
#5 Better Understand Your Users
UX design puts the users of your website or app first. How can you serve them optimally? Thorough research into their needs and behaviors is essential.
Creating personas is a crucial part of UX design. These fictional characters represent different types of users who visit your website. Personas are based on research into user behavior, desires, and goals, helping you understand what motivates them and their objectives. This knowledge allows you to tailor your website better to your target audience’s needs.
#6 Focus on the Entire Customer Journey
You can apply UX to every step of a customer journey. For example, when a customer places an order, UX design clarifies what works well and what doesn't at each step, helping you make the necessary adjustments for a better user experience next time.
Consider a customer's experience in a restaurant, broken down into steps:
- Enters the restaurant
- Finds a seat
- Orders food
- Waits for the meal
- Receives the meal
- Leaves the restaurant
A memorable experience at each step, from being greeted at the entrance to enjoying a delicious meal, ensures the customer will remember and recommend the restaurant. Similarly, in the digital world:
- A customer makes a purchase on your webshop.
- You send a follow-up email with tips and product information.
- Keep the customer updated on the product’s status during production/shipping.
- The customer receives the product in reusable packaging with a small gift.
- Easy returns process with prepaid shipping, encouraging future purchases.
- Personalized recommendations for repeat customers.
Good UX at each step ensures a positive experience, likely leading to more future sales.
Conclusion
UX design is all about creating a positive experience. If you don't build an interactive website and enjoyable experience for your users, you won't build a successful business. Center the needs of your users in your website design, understand their expectations, and exceed them. Doing so attracts loyal, repeat customers and creates brand ambassadors who will bring friends and family to your brand.
Remember, your website is no longer just a storefront for your business. Investing in good UX design is worthwhile.