5 Essential Website Design Ideas for a Modern Website

April 15, 2019

Having a responsive website is an important piece of a successful business. Poor web design might make potential customers assume you’re not easy to work with. Whether you already have a great website, or you know you need to make some changes, website design ideas should always be on your mind. Here are five website design ideas that should be on your radar.

Quick Answer

Five key website design ideas that should be on a business's radar include floating navigation, animation, social proof, chatbots, and custom graphics. These elements are crucial for enhancing user experience and engagement, helping visitors quickly find information and building trust with potential customers. For instance, floating navigation, as demonstrated on Technology Aloha's website, keeps menu options accessible, while incorporating social proof, like customer testimonials seen on Tailwind, effectively builds credibility.

5 Website Design Ideas That Should Be on Your Radar

1. Floating navigation

Web visitors aren’t going to spend a lot of time looking around for what they need on your site. If they can find it quickly, you have them. If they have to struggle, they will move on to another site. Floating navigation allows visitors to navigate your site easily, without a lot of scrolling up the page. Putting your entire site at visitors’ fingertips increases the chances that they will find what they are looking for and stay on your site.

Our website is a good example of floating navigation! The menu options hover at the top of the screen while you are scrolling through.

2. Animation

Animation is another great web design idea. Any kind of animation is a good way to set your website above the rest. S Bottle is a neat example of a website that uses animation to highlight their product. The possibilities are endless with animation, so choose something that highlights your company.

3. Social proof

Good copy is a start for letting your visitors know who you are and what you do. Making reassuring statements is good, but others’ words will hold even more weight. Let your happy customers speak for you by putting social proof on your website. Tailwind does a good job on their homepage by showing the clients who use their platform.. Check out Rover for great customer testimonials.

4. Chatbots

Chat features are getting more and more popular, and it’s easy to see why. Any effort you make towards answering your visitors’ questions is a win for you. Convenient chat boxes, like the one on Cater2.Me, are a great way to capture data while offering answers. If you don’t have the manpower to host a live chat, chatbots can answer simple questions for you.

5. Custom Graphics

The right graphics can make or break your website. Ditch the stock photos and go for custom graphics to make your site stand out. The Slack homepage has great custom graphics. Hiring a graphic designer will cost extra, but the results will be well worth it.

 

Your website can make or break your potential customers’ experiences. Need help with web design? Contact us today!

What other web design and nonprofit digital strategy topics might interest you?

Explore more insights on web design and nonprofit digital strategy: The Complete Guide to Website Redesign: Costs & Necessity in 2026 covers costs, UX strategy, SEO migration, and technical execution for long-term growth. Donor-Advised Funds Are Booming. Your Donation Page Probably Isn’t Built for Them. explains how DAF giving for nonprofits is growing fast, and how to capture critical donor data. In Depth Guide to Website Redesign Case Study Process & Results details strategic phases, technical debt fixes, and real results to boost conversions and user engagement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1 How can floating navigation improve the user experience on our website?

Floating navigation keeps your menu options visible as visitors scroll, making it easier for them to find what they need quickly. This reduces scrolling and increases the likelihood they will stay on your site and explore more content.

2 Why is incorporating social proof important for building trust on a website?

While your own statements are good, the words of others carry more weight. Social proof, such as customer testimonials or client logos, allows happy customers to speak for your organization, building credibility and trust with new visitors.

3 How can chatbots benefit our organization in engaging website visitors?

Chatbots offer a convenient way to answer visitors' questions quickly, improving engagement. They can also capture valuable data and provide answers even if you don't have the staff for live chat, contributing to better customer service.

4 What is the benefit of using animation in website design?

Animation is a powerful design idea that can help your website stand out from competitors. It offers endless possibilities to highlight your company or mission in a unique and engaging way, making your site more memorable.

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