Experts in web development and design have been predicting future trends for some time now. If you own a WordPress site or are considering a career in web-related fields, it’s crucial to stay current with design trends to keep your site relevant and engaging for visitors.
People are naturally drawn to novelty and newness, so it’s essential to update your site to avoid losing visitors. Outdated features like non-mobile friendly websites and flash intros can harm your site’s reputation and increase bounce rates.
To stay ahead and attract attention to your website in 2016, consider the following five strategies:
Embrace Visuals
Visitors tend to find text-heavy pages dull and hard to navigate. Incorporating visuals like images and videos can instantly make your site more appealing. WordPress Portfolio Gallery theme is a modern option that presents your content as image galleries and portfolios, featuring slideshow previews with various transition effects.
Simplicity is Key
In 2016, cluttered websites are out of fashion. Clean and simple designs are favored, with hidden menus gaining popularity for their space-saving and streamlined navigation. Responsive Menu plugin can help you implement a hidden menu easily, allowing for a clean and efficient browsing experience.
Integrate Social Media
Social media remains a powerful tool for engaging audiences. Instagram, with millions of active users, is a platform worth leveraging. Use the Instagram Feed WD plugin to display Instagram content on your WordPress site in customizable and visually appealing ways, enhancing user experience.
Explore Storytelling
Storytelling is a captivating approach to inform and engage visitors. Incorporating rich animations can further enhance the storytelling experience, keeping users intrigued. Consider using Longform, a free WordPress theme compatible with the Aesop Story Engine plugin, to integrate compelling storytelling elements into your site.
Ensure Responsiveness
With mobile devices being the primary means of browsing, responsive design is crucial. Prioritize a responsive layout to cater to mobile users’ preferences and provide a seamless experience across devices.
Before implementing these strategies, test them to identify what works best for your site. Some tactics may be universally effective, while others may need customization to align with your site’s style and tone.
If you believe there are other valuable strategies to consider, feel free to share your insights in the comments below.