For your website to be successful, it must contain the proper web design. This is not too difficult if you have been designing websites for years and have had the time and experience to hone your technique, but to everyone else, web design can seem somewhat overwhelming. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t have to be this way. Just remember that using common sense and applying your own taste are the best things you can do for your web design strategy.

However, just because you think your site looks good doesn’t mean your visitors will read it. Nor does it mean that they will return a second time. Therefore, web design only starts with your own taste, and it should also include other techniques that ensure continued success.

There are five basic things to keep in mind when developing your web design strategy. They are as follows:

1. Your Website Title: Every successful website must have an excellent title first. A really good headline needs to be interesting, catchy, and applicable. “Bob’s website” isn’t exactly the most attractive way to make a first impression. After all, the title are the first words that will catch the visitor’s attention. If the title doesn’t work for your readers, they won’t click on it in search engines, and they won’t stick around if they land on the site. Take the time to come up with great website title ideas, ask friends and family for inspiration, and use a thesaurus for some stunning words.

2. Columns – The number of columns used in your web design will alter the overall perception of your website. The first standard website will generally have a fairly simple layout, consisting of only one column, however most readers prefer two-column pages to allow content written in one column and navigation links within the other. This web design is much more attractive and makes your website easier to navigate. Although the three column website has its followers, it is not necessarily better than the one or two column web designs. However, if you have a lot of complexity for your website and need additional navigation options, or if you need additional writing space, then the additional column might work well for you.

3. Colors – Although colors seem to be among the simplest decisions you need to make when designing your website, once you get started, you may find it to be more challenging than you initially thought. Colors are very important to the overall appearance of your website and will influence people’s decisions to discover what your site has to offer and their decision to return. If your website design is bland, it will make people think your website is boring. If the colors are too bright and harmful to the eye, staying on the website will be unpleasant. If the colors are warm and comforting, which makes the customer feel at home, they are more likely to feel that they like your site and will stay and return more often.

4. Navigation – When creating your web design, don’t forget that navigation will be key to allowing visitors to properly benefit from your site. The key is consistency and easy access. Every page on the website should link to the home page so that visitors don’t get lost between different pages on the site and eventually give up and go elsewhere. You will also need some sort of index that appears the same on all pages, so that users always know where to look when they want to go to the next page of interest.

5. Content: When it comes to web design, content is one of its most important characteristics. If your content is not good, no one will have any reason to visit your site. Among other site-specific pages, your content should include at least one home page, telling visitors what your site is about and why they would want to visit it. An “about us” page is also recommended, telling visitors who you are and why you have the website. Use this space to show people that you know your stuff and that they can trust your site for reliable information and resources. When visitors understand you better, they will feel more comfortable visiting your site.

The most important thing is that you don’t just follow a template, do something new and keep it up to date. People won’t want to keep visiting a site that never changes. They want to see updates or they will have no reason to return. The more often you update your site, the more time people will spend visiting your site to stay on top of things. Once a week is ideal, but once a month should be the bare minimum. When it comes to web design, you have to be up to date!