Website Maintenance – Go2designlab

2019 Website Design Trends

MJ — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 03:31:44 +0000

With continuously evolving trends and tech, there has never been a more exciting time to be a designer. 2019 will be all about delivering on user experience: web design trends will prioritize speed and mobile design, eye-catching simple designs with asymmetrical layouts, immersive video backgrounds, and more.

Here are some of the dominating web trend predictions for 2019, but this is by no means the last word on creative innovation.

Bright and vibrant colors
Color is one of the most exciting tools for a designer to communicate a brand’s message. It not only has the power to draw attention but also has a direct influence on emotions and actions. Making such a strong impact, it makes sense that color choices should also be carefully considered for a great website design.

Bright and vibrant colors are excellent for attracting attention and highlighting call-to-actions. Too many bright colors can be distracting to the eye and actually decrease a viewer’s ability to remember information which is why it’s vital to find the right balance. It enhances all the right details and harnesses the audience’s reactions without feeling overwhelming when used correctly.

Even more video content
There is no surprise when I say that video headers are becoming popular. You might think with speed being such a huge factor this year that videos would bog down a site too much, but, interestingly, video backgrounds have been shown to increase conversions.

You don’t need an explainer video to tell you that video content for the web is nothing new. Video not only diversifies the page but caters to an on-the-go audience who don’t have the time to scan through a lot of text.

Videos encourage people to stick around and spend more time on your website. And, that’s why the video has become a strategic web design element

Responsive Design
Any website design having flexibility among all the screen resolutions and the devices are the most important approach among all the website trends. With mobile sites taking priority away from desktop sites, it’s no wonder that mobile first design has become a trend.

Responsive web design adapts to the size and shape of the device screen used to view your site. Well-executed responsive design provides a great user experience for everyone who visits your website. It creates a great user experience and is cost-effective which is also recommended by Google. It is very easy to manage as the website has one URL and HTML, regardless of the device. As it makes it easier for users to share and interact with the link provided.

Chatbots evolve
Chatbots have been up-and-coming for a while now but will finally move into the spotlight in 2019. This is mostly due to the advancements in AI and machine learning, making them more intelligent and efficient.

Over the last several years, interacting and communicating with bots has become more and more normal. Bots, or chatbots, are becoming increasingly common on websites and micro-interactions across digital media. It’s likely that you spoke with one the last time you called your mobile service provider.

Chatbots and machine learning will continue to enhance user interactions with websites, especially as autoresponder functionality inherent in most chatbots can seamlessly interact with users for you and provide excellent customer service upfront. This starts your relationship with potential customers off on the right foot while simultaneously gathering info for your sales team before they begin actually interacting with the prospect.

Minimalism
Perhaps one of the most classic and timeless web design trends, minimalism is often the go-to aesthetic of choice. The fewer elements and content on a website, the less your audience will have to think. If a website is designed in the right way, it will show the user exactly what she is looking for.

Because of outside influence, we are often asked to add more than we’d like to a design, and our instincts tend to guide our layout into symmetrical grids. In design though, less is often more and asymmetry can be powerful and eye-catching. This is precisely why minimalistic asymmetrical layouts are among the most difficult design styles to execute.

Whether through white space, contrast or clear typography, minimalistic designs allow users to naturally focus on the right message without getting distracted by other things. The key is to understand what those important elements are first and then hone in on the details.

Final Thoughts
Keeping up with trends can be a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of where businesses are heading. Your website is a critical component of your brand, and as your brand and marketing strategy evolves, your site should as well.

There are still many surprises in store and plenty of time to contribute your own ingenuity to this list of trends. As much as we’d like to imagine that we know what 2019 will bring, it is ultimately up to you. Whatever you choose, remember that there are many millions of websites online. The only way to stand out is to create a website that’s unique and different.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A SECURED WEBSITE

go2designlab-editor — Thu, 31 May 2018 21:38:14 +0000

Why is Website Security so Important?

Your website is your brand, your store, and often your first contact with customers. If it’s not safe and secure, those critical business relationships can be compromised. The threats can come in many forms – infecting a site with malware in order to spread that malware to site visitors, stealing customer information, like names, credit card and other transaction information

There are a few things you can do to ensure that your website is as secure as possible, which will keep your business safe online.

Use Strong Passwords

It used to be that 3 or 4 character passwords would keep your information safe. However, as technology has advanced, so have the abilities and ways to crack passwords and try to avoid using the same password for all of your accounts—once someone has control of one of your accounts, it won’t be long before they’re taking control of them all. And while everyone knows that more complex passwords are better, not everyone will choose one.

Switch to an Encrypted Website

One of the best ways to keep your website secure is switching from a standard HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to HTTPS (HTTP Secured), which adds an additional layer of security and encryption. It works by using an SSL Certificate (Secure Socket Layer) which protects the data and any sensitive information that is passed between server and browser.

Set Your Domain to Auto-Renew Annually

If you forget to renew your domain, your site will go offline. This will inflict disaster for your business, and leave it vulnerable to hackers. When you first purchase your domain name, you will be able to decide how long you want to buy it for. In most cases, this is for a year, but this can be customised depending on your business plan. You will also be presented with the option to automatically renew the domain once it expires, which is very highly recommended, as you won’t need to remember to repurchase it.

Two Factors Authorization

Comes in handy when a site recognizes a different IP address is used to login to a website like your Google account. You are immediately sent a text message with a phone number you registered with to confirm if it is you. If you didn’t log in, you should immediately change the password to secure your account.

Make Sure You Are Registered As The Owner of Your Domain Name

Before you can even begin to build your secure site, you’ll need to choose a domain name, which is a vital step in building your brand. Once you’ve chosen the perfect domain, you’ll need to think about the security of your website, and the best way to keep it protected against hackers.

5 Reasons Why Website Security is Important

Hackers Do Not “Choose” Which Websites To Attack

Website hackers don’t sit down at their computer In fact; their process is much more random than that. Hackers choose their target by broadly searching for common vulnerabilities. “Over the past three years, more than 3/4 of websites scanned contained unpatched vulnerabilities,” according to a Symantec study, This is bad news for a small business owner. One may think a hacker wouldn’t waste their time cracking into a small operation. Businesses need someone watching over their site, making sure components are up to date and continually updating firewall software.

It’s Very Difficult to Recover From a Search Engine’s “Blacklist”

Reputation among your customers is important. It’s equally important, though, among your potential new customers. Folks who find your business through a search engine, such as Google, oftentimes turn into valuable and loyal customers.

Fixing is More Expensive Than Preventing

The process of cleaning up and removing malware is no simple one; therefore many website owners seek professional to help. Seeking a professionals help will inevitably be expensive and not to mention the loss of revenue and business during this downtime period. It's often much cheaper to keep your website secure, backed up and protected.

It’s More Common Than You Think

Hackers have been attacking websites since the dawn of the internet. Over the years, as security has become more advanced, so have their tactics. In addition, the sheer number of website attacks continues to grow. In 2016, Google reported that the amount of website hacks were up 32% from the year before. A successful attack could result in your website being blacklisted form search engines.

Your Reputation is at Stake

Smart business owners understand there are few chances to make a good impression. That’s especially true in the digital world, where attention spans seem to be shrinking by the day. If a potential customer visits your site, then, and catches a virus or some form of malware in the process, they likely will not be returning anytime soon. In fact, the damage could be done before they even reach your website. Web browsers oftentimes warn a customer before they enter an infected site. This warning is enough to scare most (sane) people away. Having up-to-date website security eliminates the potential for this problem. If you have a professional covering your tracks at all times, you ensure a degree of professionalism to any website user who stumbles onto your website.