fbpx

The Big Trends in Web Design to Look Out for in 2021

Author: Mario Diaz

The Big Trends in Web Design to Look Out for in 2021

Posted on by Mario Diaz

More people are online than ever, thanks in large part to the pandemic forcing businesses to close and many employees working from home. This has created a trend among businesses that many experts are predicting is here to stay – a focus on web design.

Web design is so important because it’s the first thing consumers associate with the company and can help you stand apart from the competition. According to Standford’s Web Credibility Research, 75 percent of consumers reported making assumptions of businesses’ credibility based on their web design. 

Keep reading to discover the trends in web design to look out for in 2021 and how you can capitalize on them to get a step ahead of the competition.

1. Backing up the Facts

People want to see the facts, they don’t want to know what you might be able to accomplish, they want to know specifics. Analytics is becoming a critical factor for businesses to develop, as it can give insights into what is working for you and what needs to be changed. 

These facts and figures can also motivate consumers to complete an action, like click the call-to-action. Seeing data being presented to you helps ease doubts and allow the customer to decide based on facts.

The best part about presenting data is the flexibility and creativity that can come along with it. Breaking down data into easy to comprehend visuals can make it even easier to portray your message to the user. 

2. Dark Mode

A welcomed change from the bright, eye-catching colors that have been used in the past, dark mode is becoming one of the most anticipated web design trends of 2021. 

The dark mode gives any website an instant modern update that allows other features to “pop.” Implementing a dark theme can also make it easier for users to read at night without straining their eyes. If you haven’t noticed yet, many popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have already begun rolling out dark mode. 

3. Color Branding

Color branding is another 2021 web design trend that is set to explode in popularity. Companies are beginning to understand the significant benefits that come with an established brand. 

Good branding is what separates companies like Apple and Amazon from the rest of the pack. It’s what gives companies a personality and makes it feel like you can connect with them. Color is an important factor in branding, as studies have shown that colors can invoke certain emotions like excitement, trust, and security.

Since the color blue tends to put people at ease and promotes a sense of trust, it’s the most popular choice among businesses. The next most popular is red as it can increase heart rate and tends to grab attention. 

Looking to Get Ahead of These Trends in Web Design?

Web design is becoming increasingly more important for companies looking to make a name for themselves online. Growing your customer base online can be challenging by yourself – trying to focus on business operations, and growing your online process. It might be worth considering hiring a web design agency to help you increase your visibility online and grow your brand.

If you are looking to get ahead of these trends in web design and give your business the online presence it deserves, contact us today, and we can help you get started.

6 Tips on Using Mobile SEO for Small Businesses

Posted on by Mario Diaz

For small businesses, having an internet presence is critical in this day in age. With the retail industry shifting online amid the pandemic, businesses are left with a choice – adapt or risk losing everything you have worked so hard for. 

Consumers are online more than ever, but more importantly, they are shopping from their mobile devices. According to a survey from the Pew Research Center, 96 percent of Americans now own a cell phone. 

Search engine optimization (SEO) can help increase your visibility and connect with mobile users. Keep reading to learn tips on using mobile SEO and how it can help your business get a step ahead of the competition.

1. Use a Responsive Design

Having a mobile-friendly website is great and all, but why not take it a step further and implement a responsive design. Responsiveness takes web design to a whole other level – it is web design reimagined. 

New devices are constantly being brought to the market, and these devices all have different size screens. The innovative, responsive design allows for seamless viewing, no matter the screen size.

A responsive design will automatically adjust and adapt to the screen it is being viewed on.  The layouts are fluid, giving your website the ability to reformat quickly.

2. Focus on User Experience

The user experience is one of the most crucial aspects of your website. It is the experience consumers have with the brand and how they feel about it. 

You know the saying “first impressions are everything,” but with business websites, the statement still holds true. If a visitor has to wait too long or can’t find what they are looking for, they will bounce and go elsewhere. Focusing on the user experience will prioritize the consumer’s wants and needs, making them feel appreciated.

3. Check for Crawl Errors

Google, along wi other search engines, will send out crawlers or spiders to search every page of your website, indexing the information. Sometimes crawl errors happen for various reasons that can be detrimental to business. 

These errors will limit your visibility on the web by limiting your search engine ranking. Check your robots.txt file to make sure there are no errors.

4. Improve Performance

Having a fast loading time for your site is one of the most critical factors of being online. Consumers don’t want to wait any more than they have to in this digital age of instantaneous satisfaction. 

According to research from Kissmetrics, 47% of users expect your website to load in under 2 seconds. Compressing and optimizing images can be an excellent place to start.

5. Be Consistent

Consistency is key while trying to attract new users. The more content you create and post, the more engaged users will be. 

The average half-life of a tweet is around 24 minutes, with some estimates as low as 5. With that being said, if you are not consistently providing content, your posts will not be interacted with as much.

6. Utilize Social Media

Social media is important for any business, no matter the size. It can open up the possibility of connecting with millions of users online. Social media is an integral part of many businesses strategy for SEO, allowing for easy sharing and engagement among users.

Interested in Learning More About Using Mobile SEO?

Search engine optimization is one of the biggest tools for companies to invest in and develop. It can help businesses connect with consumers in a way they never imagined possible. 

If you are a business owner or looking to start a business, contact us today, and we can help you get started using mobile SEO.

Posted in SEO

4 Common Web Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Posted on by Mario Diaz

The web is a huge place where people can find tons of information, and one thing you’re going to want people to do is find their way to your website. But, when you’re looking to use a website, one of the first things you need to think about is the website design.

Designing a website can be full of fun and excitement, but tons of things can go wrong. We want your website to be the best it can be, and that’s why we’re going to share some web design mistakes that are commonly made and ways that you can avoid them.

1. Busy, Busy, Busy

When you’re using various templates to complete your site’s design, it can be easy to use various fonts, images, and more throughout the site. But, if you’re not careful, your site may become busier than you intended it to.

When your site is too busy, it can make it challenging for potential customers to find what they need to find. And not to mention, when a website has various things on its page, it will take longer for the page to load for the customer when they are looking you up online.

The longer it takes to load a page, the higher the risk of the customer leaving the page altogether. Trust us. Sometimes less is more.

2. No Call To Action

The call to action is one of the most essential pieces of your site design. When you’re creating your digital marketing strategy, you and your team should sit down and create a call to action.

When creating the CTA, ask yourself, what do you want the customer to do? What emotions do you want them to feel? Having these answers will help you move the customer to do what you would like them to do when they’ve reached the end of the content you’ve posted.

3. Posting Boring Content

One of the worst things you can do is post the wrong content on your site. When it comes to content, you need to take the time to assess your target audience and decide what type of content they respond the most too.

You can post a couple of types of content in the early stages and collect analytics about what content received the most customer engagement. After that, you can schedule the release of other content based on your findings.

4. Posting Wrong or Outdated Contact Information

Your contact information should always be current because it’s how customers and other potential clients will let you know when they have questions or need to get in touch with you concerning their orders. When your information is not updated, it may lead a customer to think about what else on the site isn’t updated, causing them to question the attention you put into your site.

If you don’t have the time to keep up with your site, hiring a company to assist you with website design is the best way to go.

Web Design Mistakes: Avoid Them You’ll Thank Us Later

We know that some of these web design mistakes may seem silly, but you’d be surprised how many people make these mistakes. Things like not posting the right content or leaving outdated information posted on the site are not a good look.

But, when you start a project with Enfuse Creative Design, you don’t have to worry about any of that. We know what attracts customers to a website and want to help you experience maximum sales and customer engagement.

7 BS Facts About Graphic Designers Everyone Thinks Are True

Posted on by Mario Diaz

Some say graphic design is a dead field. This is understandable, but it’s the wrong perspective.

In 2019, the graphic design industry enjoyed $15 billion in revenue, with an annual growth rate of 3.5%. The projected numbers look shiny too.

We’re here to debunk 7 BS myths about graphic design. Let’s dive in!

1. Graphic Designers Only Make Logos

It’s not true that graphic designers only make logos.

Yes, a logo is definitely an important element for any company’s brand design. A good logo endures the test of time and imprints itself into our minds.

Think Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ swoosh.

Graphic designers understand that a great logo isn’t only about the logo. The logo is the starting off point for a brand kit that will include color schemes and typography. These elements together will embody the company’s brand.

2. Graphic Design, Only Fit for Print

Today’s graphic design includes a lot of web-based art. Like YouTube channel art, Facebook covers website design, blog banners, and much more.

But it also still includes traditional print mediums. like magazine or newspaper layouts, packaging design, and branded merchandise.

Since there is no ‘end’ to the internet, it’s easy to say there is no ‘end’ for graphic designers and their usefulness.

3. Still Images Only

Some people think that graphic design means only using still images. This is not at all true.

Graphic designers today can make striking GIFs and slideshows, giving a brand new, vibrant life.

Research has found that users find this type of graphic design five times more engaging. This is reason enough to invest in professional website design and all the extras.

4. You Need Fancy Tools and Innate Creativity

You can invest in fancy tools, but there is no need. Today’s graphic designer has amazing free tools at their fingertips.

And while there is a level of creativity involved, graphic design is just as much a science. There are formulas that work well. Once you understand them, creativity is easy.

5. Graphic Designers Only Make Things ‘Pretty’

Not quite.

Sometimes yes, creating something aesthetically pleasing is the goal. But as often, designers may try to evoke anger, or shock, in a viewer.

Every element is designed to evoke a response based on the brands’ needs or those of the designer.

6. 100% Original Every Time

Originality is important. But good graphic designers understand the science and build templates to easily create similar assets on an ongoing basis.

This hack helps designers offer impeccable consistency across all brand collateral.

7. Trapped by Trends

Graphic designers may keep an eye on relevant trends, but they aren’t forced to follow them.

Good branding stands the test of time. If designers allow trends to take too much focus, their work may quickly become obsolete.

Using timeless elements for things like logos is often a designer’s best bet.

Graphic Designers for the Win

It takes 50 milliseconds for a website to register a visual appeal. With that being the case, investing in professional graphic design makes sense.

At Enfuse, we do it all, from web design and application development to graphic design and print media to SEO optimization.

Our team of graphic designers and creative professionals are ready to help. Contact us today to discuss taking your project to the next level.

You Haven’t Seen This Web Design List On Buzzfeed

Posted on by Mario Diaz

In a lot of ways, your company’s website is the business card of the 21st Century. It tells potential clients a lot about you, and if your website isn’t as good as it could be, that first impression could be bad. And that is bad for business. Savvy companies hire professional website designers to make sure their website is the best it can be. There are many benefits to getting a website designer. It saves you time and money and gives your company the cachet of a world-class website. With that said what are some of the best reasons for hiring a professional? Let’s take a look at five reasons to hire a modern website design firm. This is a web design list you won’t see on BuzzFeed!

1. Professional Website

Professional web design companies don’t hire amateurs. They only hire talented designers to work on your website. Often large projects are broken up into parts so that more than one designer can work on it.

Having your site done professionally gives your company greater credibility, making your site look just as good as the other large companies out there. A well-designed website is a competitive advantage. Use it!

2. SEO Integration

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is used by professional website designers to get your website high rankings from search engines. For clients to find your site, a search engine has to find it first! SEO will take your site to the next level of rankings and make sure as many people see your site as possible.

3. Saving Time

You need a website, but you’re not a website designer. Doing it on your own means taking time away from running your business to learn web technologies. Unless you want a career in modern web design, leave it for the professionals.

Hiring a professional web design company will give you that time back, and your company’s website will be better for it. It’s a win-win. Put your focus where it’s needed most, into your company!

4. Responsive Design

These days, so many people have phones or tablets that they use to consume the web. This means new challenges for companies to have websites that work on all these platforms. This is called Responsive Design.

When your site is created with Responsive Design in mind, your site will just work on all these different platforms. This is important, as you never know what device a potential client is using to get to your site. Professional website designers always create websites with Responsive Design in mind.

5. Maintenance and Support

Creating and deploying your website isn’t the end. When you hire a professional web design firm, you’re getting maintenance and support for your website’s future. This is important for your website’s continuity.

Not Your Usual Web Design List

This web design list is only the beginning of the countless reasons why it’s important to hire a professional web design company to build your website. Remember, your website is your first impression for your clients. Make it a good impression!

Did you enjoy this article? Then check out our website for more articles about web design and don’t forget to look through our services!

7 Tips for Combining Graphic Design Trends With Expert Photography

Posted on by Mario Diaz

They say an image is worth one thousand words. But a really well-made image might be worth even more.

This helps businesses become more recognizable and successful. Over 250,000 people work as graphic designers in the US. As more businesses learn to use visuals in their marketing strategies, it only makes sense to learn to implement these techniques.

Integrating expert photography can really make a graphic design pop. Keep reading for seven tips and ideas for combining graphic design trends with photography.

1. Surreal Visions

Generally, graphic designs and images captured on film are viewed separately. There are cartoons and then there are live-action movies, right?

Likewise, graphic design and photography seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum of visual arts. However, digital graphic designers can now seamlessly combine the two types of images.

This can result in a creative design with a dream-like or fantasy effect. 

2. Implement Text

Typography refers to the art of creating stylized, yet effect messages through text. It is is one of the cornerstones of graphic design.

When combined with photography, you can create an eye-catching message that also informs the viewer.

The text could be as simple as the name of the subject of the image. One idea is to creatively place quotes in a photo of the person who said them.

3. Larger Than Life Characters

Oftentimes, a graphic designer will create an image of a person for publicity. This can pose a unique challenge. 

A simple picture of a person might look mundane. It doesn’t always do justice to their artistic genius. There are so many ways to get the message across.

Add the angel’s wings to their back. Place them inside of a fantasy world. There are endless things you could do.

4. Rescue a Poorly Taken Shot

Generally, out of hundreds of images, photographers might only be satisfied with a handful. Some pictures are so close to being just right but have one fatal error.

A graphic designer can turn that miss into a big hit.

5. Less is More

When creating an image, it can be tempting to cram as much as possible. This is doubly true in this case. 

Some white space or blue sky can really make your image stand out. Don’t be afraid to go with a minimalist approach.

6. Find Inspiration

It doesn’t matter when you take things from but where you take them to. We’re not condoning plagiarism of course but there is nothing wrong with getting inspired by other artists.

If you look, there are plenty of examples that can give you ideas.

7. Get the Right Photography

Editing might be able to salvage a bad photo. However, editing a good photo is what truly creates a memorable image.

A Google Trusted Photographer has to earn their certification. Hiring one is a good place to start creating graphic design styles.

Staying Up to Date With Graphic Design Trends

The concept of combing graphics with photographs has been around for some time. However, we’re continuously discovering new ways to create magical images. 

Whether you are an artist, consultant, or a business owner, you need to evolve with the times. A visually appealing website, for example, stands out in the memory of your potential clients.

Wanna learn more? Check out the blog for more articles about the latest in graphic design trends before searching for ‘graphic designers near me’.

Modern Web Design Tactics Proven to Incite Digital Engagement

Posted on by Mario Diaz

Have you scrolled down an impressively branded website recently and thought, “Wow, that’s impressive?”

Do you have your own business or looking to start one and don’t know where to begin with modern web design?

You’re in luck because we will tell you why you should implement modern web design and the top tactics you can’t forget! 

Why You Need A Modern Web Design

A well-designed and creative website helps you secure more customers and strengthen your brand. 

There are several benefits to changing your web design, including:

  • Brand awareness and association
  • Optimizing customer experience
  • Improving engagement

DIY can be great, but investing in quality design professionally done right is the way to go. Check out these three tactics we think are essential for your modern web design:

Mobile-Friendly Experience

How many times have you gone to someone’s site and instantly get frustrated with how poorly it loads or how tough it is to navigate from your phone?

Exactly, we all have. The number one tactic to implement when discussing a modern web design is ensuring it’s mobile-friendly. 

People want to access anytime and anywhere. If your site doesn’t work for their smartphone, they may count you out going forward. 

One way to improve the mobile experience is through white space since it allows for text shifts from screen to screen. Another great way to increase mobile usage is by adding social sharing icons. Make sure your user can share or save in whatever means they desire. 

Content to Engage With

When a user scans your website, you want to have something that will catch them.

You know when you’re shopping, and it says, “virtually try these glasses on before you buy!” Or, “take this quiz, and we’ll tell you how we can help you!” 

These are perfect examples of engaging content on sites that users will remember.

The Content Marketing Institute noted that 75% of users agreed that non-gated interactive content provided a taste of the brand, which resulted in a higher degree of lead nurturing.

Interactive content can be intimidating, but when you work with the professionals, they’ve got you covered. 

Effective Graphic Design Choices

Have you ever heard of white space? White space, as defined by Enfuse, “is the area between design elements, or within individual design elements such as letters.”

This can include any section of blank space, not strictly when it’s the color white. White space provides the following benefits to your graphic design strategy:

  • Declutters page
  • Helps direct the reader’s focus
  • Makes your text easier to read
  • Improves mobile experience
  • Creates sophisticated tone

Make sure your navigation is clear and concise, so they know what is clickable and what is a hover-able menu. You don’t want your users to get confused. 

So What Do You Think?

Have you kept track of the boxes your website already checks off, or do you need some help?

Is your site mobile friendly? How about engaging and designed well? Oh well, don’t worry because the best part is you have modern web design resources at your fingertips. 

When you’re ready to take your website up a notch, contact us today!

5 Tips for Creating an SEO Strategy for Small Businesses

Posted on by Mario Diaz

Did you know that Google accounts for 75% of all global search traffic? As a small business owner, you might be wondering what you need to do for your website to show up at the top of Google’s results.For starters, you need to figure out how to improve your SEO strategy.

Read on to get started with only a few simple tips.

1. Create Quality Content

One of the sure ways to get Google and other search engines to notice you is by creating quality content. When search engines look at the type of content on your site, they want to see relevant and quality content.

You need to ensure no matter what the content is, it adds value and relevancy to your site. For a small business, publishing content at least once a week can make a big difference.

To get started, perform an audit on your website and remove and outdated or irrelevant content.

For example, if you decide to blog posts on your website, it’s essential for you to measure which posts attract more viewers. Once you measure the trends, you will be able to learn which posts attract more visitors.

2. Local Citations

If you want your website to appear on top of the rankings, you should work on your local exposure.

You want to ensure your business information is ready and available whenever people perform a local search. Start by claiming your business on Google My Business, and ensure all of the information listed is as accurate as possible.

Start by making sure Google My Business has listed the correct URL, phone number, address, ratings, and more.

People trust more websites listed on Yelp or Google.

3. Long-Tail Queries

Although short keywords used to work in the past to help drive organic traffic. Nowadays, if you want to drive more traffic to your site, it’s time to create long-tail keywords.

These keywords are more than two words long and aim to create phrases. Long-tail keywords are less competitive and are more conversational than short keywords.

As a small business, you need to find keywords that are less competitive and will bring the most traffic.

4. Metadata Actionable Keywords

Think of metadata as the text behind the scenes, but it offers valuable information about your website.

By adding the keywords to the metadata, you will help Google notice your website from the technical side. Make sure you make the metadata actionable and to the point.

5. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Because many people rely on their smartphone to perform searches, you need to work on making your website mobile-friendly.

You want users who view your website on their smartphone to have the same experience of those viewing on their desktop or laptop.

It’s Time to Step up Your SEO Strategy

Now that you know how to take your SEO strategy to the next level, it’s time you get to work. Remember to make your website mobile-friendly, create quality content, improve metadata, and create long-tail keywords.

Are you ready to take your SEO to the next level? Contact us today for a consultation.

Posted in SEO

4 Common Mobile Marketing Mistakes to Avoid for Small Businesses

Posted on by Mario Diaz

Mobile marketing is a crucial type of marketing for many businesses. It makes your website more accessible from the cell phones of customers all over the world. Although you may be using mobile marketing techniques to reach more people, you may be making mistakes. In this article, we’re going to detail some of the most common mobile marketing mistakes that have been made.

Continue reading below to find out everything that you need to know.

1. No Strategy

Before you begin a mobile marketing campaign, you must have got a plan before launching your campaign. Without having set goals in place, you may be doing more harm to your business than good.

Before launching your campaign, you need to ensure that your strategy aligns with your business mission and goals.

2. Not Choosing Customer-Centered Plans

When you begin your mobile-friendly website, one of the biggest mistakes that you can make is not taking into account who your audience is. The content that you post to your site should always be done with the customer in mind.

When you take your time to create content for your customers, it’ll increase customer engagement and traffic to your site. You and your team should review every piece of content and ask yourselves whether your target audience will receive it well.

Another way to post content targeting your audience is to review the data analytics that you receive after posting content. You’ll know what kinds of posts do well and which ones don’t.

3. Not Interacting With Customers

Communicating with customers can mean increased success for your business, and when your customers feel that they aren’t being heard, it can cause issues. Part of communicating with customers means responding to customer complaints promptly and addressing issues that they may have.

It also means customizing your mobile website to ensure it shows the personality of the company.

4. Not Using SEO Techniques

Search engine optimization will make sure that your company site pops up whenever customers search the internet. When you don’t use SEO correctly, it could mean that your company doesn’t appear in searches as many times as you’d like it too.

If you aren’t sure how to optimize SEO, there are tons of resources available to your company to ensure that you’re making the most of each search that customers make. If you don’t have the time to learn about SEO optimization, you can always outsource and find outside people to increase your optimization.

Mobile Marketing Mistakes Avoided

Now that you’ve read the mobile marketing mistakes that we’ve listed above, it will be easier for you to avoid them. Avoiding these marketing mistakes will ensure that your campaign continues to be a success.

If you need help with search engine optimization or web design, you should contact us immediately. Let us put our experience to work for you and increase customer engagement and traffic to your site.

5 Mobile App Success Tips to Beat the Odds

Posted on by Mario Diaz

You can see it now. Your app is on the top of the “trending apps” page and is trending all over social media. You finally did it, congratulations. It’s a challenging task given that research from Gartner suggests that less than .01% of mobile apps are viewed as a success. So, how are you going to accomplish this great feat? You’re going to need to make sure you take every precaution necessary. Keep reading to discover five critical tips to ensure your mobile app success.

1. Know Your Target Market

When developing an app, it is crucial to know who will be using it. Knowing who will be using your app will give you insights into things like design, accessibility, features, and how to promote it.

Once you determine who your target market is, its time to reach out to determine what they want out of the app. This can be done through social media surveys, focus groups, and looking at existing data on the market.

You will want to consider certain things, including the consumers:

  • Age
  • Location
  • Gender
  • Income
  • Education
  • And occupation

And then dig even deeper to find insights by finding your consumers:

  • Values
  • Personality
  • Interests
  • And behaviors

Through finding this information, you will get a complete understanding of your target consumer.

2. Focus on User Experience

The user experience goes far beyond just design. User Experience (UX) incorporates how the user feels and reacts when using your application.

The user experience considers numerous things, including:

  • Interface
  • Accessibility
  • Design
  • Structure
  • Layout
  • Usability
  • Navigation
  • Content
  • And more

With a positive user experience, you are significantly more likely to be successful. According to insights from Forrester Research, a better user experience design can lead to an increase in conversions by 400 percent. A poor UX can be a significant factor in why your mobile app is failing.

3. Make Sure Your Team Shares the Vision

When everyone is on the same page, it makes everything run more efficiently. If everyone on your team is on the same page, everything from design to functionality will be more consistent with your vision.

Through collaboration, you will develop an application that is in line with your target market. Making it more marketable to your target market will only increase the value of your app.

4. No Bugs or Glitches

There is nothing worse than using an app and having it crash. Bugs and glitches will deter people from using it and will result in failure.

This is one of the biggest mobile app challenges developers run into. Hiring a professional app developer can help mitigate these problems.

5. “Be First, or Be Better”

A common phrase in business is “be first, or be better.” This is especially true when it comes to developing an app.

This is one of the most important mobile app success tips – make sure your app is a first or make sure it is better than the competition.

Ensuring that you are either A) first or B) better will give you a better chance at success.

Additional Tips for Mobile App Success

Developing an application is no easy task. It takes time and resources to create, and when it’s all said and done, most apps still fail. Following these five tips will give you the best chance at mobile app success.

For more information and tips for app development, check out our blog!