Custom Web Design: Investment Or Wastage?
With the advent of digital marketing, every business today must have a steady online presence. If you’re starting a business, we bet one of the million things you would want to check off your to-do list is getting a website. However, it isn’t as simple and easy as it seems and there are many things that need to be considered. Naturally, there are many questions that might be popping in your mind, the first of which might be if you should go for a custom web design or not. So, we thought of putting together a little piece, answering all the possible questions you might be having. Call this a comprehensive guide and read on.
Importance Of Web Design
The modern market place is dynamic, not limited by geography, and has ample opportunities. To make the most of it, getting a website that is modern, encourages traffic and enhances conversion is extremely important. While readily available website templates might work, the more unique your business, the better it is for you to get a custom website. With such a design, you will have:
- Responsiveness
In a recent study, it was revealed that the average amount of time that a person spends on their phone daily could add up to 75 days a year, putting a lot of things in perspective. Most of us access websites on the go, on our smartphones. Therefore, a responsive design can increase your chances of traffic and conversion significantly.
- Faster Loading
An interesting study found out that more than 90% people are likely to abandon a website if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. So, if your template website does not load fast enough, that is the percentage of customers you risk losing, and likely never gain back. Let that sink in.
- Easy Navigation
If your website is confusing for customers, and they find it to be too much work, they will leave and probably take others with them, through word of mouth marketing.
- Better Cart Functions
In case of E-commerce website design, it is not just the layout and product display pages that need to be impeccable. The most important function here is probably the cart. If it is not hassle free, connecting to payment gateways fast, customers will abandon cart mid shopping.
- More Security
With data theft a rampant reality, websites that do not have a security certificate or look and feel less than safe will turn away customers even before they’ve started to browse.
Why Should You Consider Getting A Custom Website Design?
- Unique Identity
A custom web design begins with getting an understanding of your business, its target audience and analysing their pain points. A website builder and a UI/UX expert then get together in crafting a design that creates an easy yet impactful experience, with the help of ‘design thinking’ and other techniques. In a nutshell, a custom design lends your business a unique identity that sets you apart from the competitors.
- Nailing The First Impression
When it comes to the digital space, first impressions can mean make or break. Your website might be the first, and in many cases, your only customer touch point. As such, it serves the same purpose as your store front. A minimally designed, intuitive, well-maintained, clutter free web design with clear CAT (call to actions) can encourage customers to stay longer, browse, and repeat, increasing basket value, customer satisfaction and ROI.
- Hard To Duplicate
A custom website, with unique design, layout and functions, is hard to copy, by competitors or others. Malicious duplicate websites that are meant only for data stealing are everywhere. Therefore, you’re website design might be doing way more than just enabling business growth.
- Scope For Further Modification
A custom website design has scope for incorporating modifications, say after A/B testing and understanding which functions might be redundant and which need upgrades.
- Maintenance And Growth
Website maintenance is a full time job which needs to be done regularly, from time to time. In the absence of proper maintenance efforts, the ranking of you website can slip, affecting visibility, traffic and growth. This includes incorporating the trending SEO practices, keywords, proper content management system maintenance. In case of custom websites, issues can get fixed faster since they often have support in place and contingencies worked out well in advance.
How Much Does It Cost?
The price tag depends on the amount of customization, the design and development professionals, and many other things. However, it is worth considering that it is mostly a one-time investment, since you can keep upgrading it to suit your changing needs and the market trends. The ROI soon covers the cost, many times over. Therefore, a custom website is a gift that keeps on giving.
In conclusion
Getting a custom website required in-depth research, analysis, understanding and expertise. It might be an investment, but it will be well worth every penny spent with ROI and growth it will generate. 360 Digital Marketing has a team of experienced professionals who will walk you through everything, give you the best of service and solution, with the required support. Let’s talk?
How COVID – 19 Could Be An accelerant To Digital Transformation
Over the past few months, the world has slowly come to a standstill. As the COVID -19 pandemic continues to rage on, it has brought every significant world power to its knees, changed lives, and the world as we know it for good. With many major countries under partial or complete lockdown and social distancing the need of the hour, businesses have taken massive hits, some running the risk of going bankrupt. The world economy is crashing at an unprecedented rate, and the only companies that would make it out of this even barely functional are the ones that are willing to step up their game and change their model overall.
COVID – 19: Worst Affected Sectors
- Travel and Tourism
From aviation to hospitality, over the course of months, many major players have taken severe hits. People are forced to stay indoors, which has rendered many hotels, restaurants, recreation, and amusement parks indefinitely closed with the businesses risking going bankrupt and mass unemployment looming on the horizon.
- Education and Service
Schools, colleges, universities have been forced to shut down in the face of this crisis, with all examinations being canceled. To bridge the gap, many institutions are turning to virtual learning solutions. Most companies have offered work from home facilities to its employees in compliance with the social distancing norm.
- Health and Wellness
Everything from gymnasiums to playgrounds has shut down to curb the spread of the virus. As a result, fitness freaks have formed online support groups on several digital platforms, sharing home workout videos, tips, healthy recipes, etc. to get through this time.
- Recreation and Entertainment
Film theatres have shut down, and employees are losing jobs by the number. Also, production work across all channels has been postponed, except for news and information media. This has led to a rise in Netflix and other digital subscriptions.
Rise Of The Digital Platforms
- While people are confined in their houses, practicing social distancing and isolation, they have turned to the digital platforms for support and solace. People are turning to social media for distraction, help, and deriving a sense of community.
- Doctors have come together to form social media support groups to help spread awareness, combat the spread of misinformation, and also virtually treat patients in this situation.
- Recreational digital applications (Tiktok, Smule, etc.) are among the most downloaded, according to global digital sales data.
- With markets and grocery stores shut, people are naturally hunting for online shopping options to stock up on essentials.
- Virtual learning modules are the need of the hour with all traditional learning methods off-limits.
- Video conferencing and calling applications are in high demand, with essential meetings being held. For people stuck away from their families and friends, these applications and digital platforms are indeed working as lifesavers.
Change In Business Approaches Post COVID
- As this global nightmare does not seem likely to stop anytime soon, businesses are being forced to take a long and hard look at their models. Many players have used this opportunity to take their businesses online and diversify. This situation has significantly impacted customer sensibilities, demands, and interaction. A top to bottom change in existing communication and sales model is necessary.
- It is no longer just a question of sales and profit. Businesses need to seem genuinely helpful and not opportunistic. Many brands are playing up this angle by sharing useful information about the virus, taking initiatives to help employees and the community at large, and building goodwill.
- Brands are stepping up their social media game, engaging existing customers, and attracting prospective ones through targeted communication about useful offers, online marketing, and delivery options.
- All brand communication is currently centered on the pandemic but focusing on the bright side and giving people hope.
- Many brands have successfully located business opportunities while also being sympathetic and humane. Vodafone makes a case for this by encouraging users to recharge for others on their website.
Retail or online – what should be the best option for the business?
Companies always start their businesses through retail stores which is the priority for every businessman/woman, whether it is service or products from initial days to a big start physical stores are always a convenient option for brands. That does not mean, however, that there is no longer a need for online stores or that all business ideas work well offline, mostly it depends on every business goal, product type, and budget.
The aspects and requirement fulfilment of retail store and online presence are almost the same but the unique experience of both makes them stand out the best, especially retail stores it’s the ambience and customer experience, and on online platforms is more of engagement and convenience with a few clicks sitting at home on screens.
The distinguish between retail and online-
When the customer is the king for the companies, they need to consider every type of audience and build a strong presence, perhaps when the customer is shopaholics and very particular about purchasing having a physical store is the option, and when it comes to busy customers and easy-going with the purchase, optimized online store and presence is the better option.
Challenges faced by the retail and online store are considered by the same means, but when it comes to quality assurance physical stores are the option to build.
Retail is limited
Physical stores help in only attracting the local residents and nearby towns which will only deal with limited sales despite being better in terms of quality, and also the owner will have fewer opportunities than the online store regarding consistency and value addition.
Online is always open
It’s a clock service where 24/7 service is open for the customer, whenever there is a problem they can take immediate help from the customer care centre and when the company with the big brands having online presence creates a huge difference and impact towards the audience it builds trust among them.
Business operation online through CRM;
CRM helps to build a strong team at the company which immerses in and increases productivity. If you have the right CRM system in place, studies find that labour costs for customer service decrease by as much as 40%, and in some cases it can also be more than that. It also helps in gaining customer retention with proper practice.
Online sales and payment system
Online sales help to reach more audience and have a presence in the global market with huge sales opportunities and at the same time, it also helps in tracking down customer data and improve offerings to the buyers it also helps in to display an abundance of products with standard norms which don’t show a need to have high street stores with a huge cost.
The online payment system is a necessary feature where every business should have to make the transaction easy for the customers and ensures safety to help in efficient tracking which includes gateway payments like net banking, UPI and mobile wallets. It also helps customers to keep them updated with the regular notification of their transactions.
Extended customer support and care
Whether it is an issue with the product of returning, damage, or understanding how to use the purchased product, customer care is always to rescue and support you to get the right directions without any problems. Every business needs active customer service to reach the customers whenever in need to help.
Digital is the new way
With the present rising situation, everyone is willing to build an online presence to fulfil the needs of their customers which makes it convenient and efficient for their growth despite having physical stores, however optimization and consistency is the key factor to develop an online presence for any business.Digital media helps business to boast and keep their customers updated with the any changes and additions of the products and services
