If you want to improve the visibility of your site and drive more traffic, you need to improve UX design and revisit your content strategy in the first place.

Today, we will discuss the steps you should take to fix the current UX issues and attract more users.

Let’s get started!

  • Know Deeply How Your Users Interact With Your Site Or App 👩🏾‍💻
  • Give Your Users Lots Of Options For Support 👨🏽‍💻
  • Rethink Your CTAs And Buttons 👏🏼
  • Design For Mobile First 📲
  • Think Deeply About Design 🎨
  • Important disclosure: we're proud affiliates of some tools mentioned in this guide. If you click an affiliate link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (you pay nothing extra).

    1. Know Deeply How Your Users Interact With Your Site Or App 👩🏾‍💻

    We live in a data-driven world, and we have lots of tools available to collect and analyze data.

    Leverage Behavioral Analytics

    If you don’t know how to improve the UX of your website, don’t play a guessing game trying to determine what content strategy to choose.

    Use advanced tools to collect usability data and make an informed strategic decision.

    The good news is that you don’t need a lot of users to get rich usability data. No matter how much traffic your website currently gets, you can analyze users’ behavior and find out what users like and dislike about your site.

    Behavioral analytics allows you to examine the “what’s” and “how’s” of customer behavior and understand the “why’s” of customer’s actions.

    By tracking page views, bounce rates, email sign-ups, and other actions, you can define the critical UX issues and fix them.

    You can get ideas on what content you should create to optimize conversion rates and boost engagement and retention.

    Track The Entire User Journey

    If you strive to improve your website and make it user-friendly, don’t focus on the specific webpage and specific user’s action.

    Broaden your view and analyze the user search intent and entire user journey.

    A user journey is a series of steps that users take while interacting with the website.

    A user journey starts when a user visits website for the first time. After that, the process goes as follows:

    • The user explores different pages
    • Checks pricing information
    • Reads customer testimonials
    • Finally makes a purchase

    The final stage of the user journey is the post-purchase stage. It’s a moment when a user visits a website to leave a review or to make a repeat purchase.

    To improve your website search rankings, you should leverage journey segmentation.

    You should define what type of content you should offer to the users at different stages of their journey.

    The bottom line here is that it’s important to track the entire user journey when collecting information on a user. If you improve one page, user engagement will not improve that much. But if you enhance the entire user journey, you will take your website to the next level.

    Try Out Advanced User Testing Solutions

    Do you want to know what real users think about your website?

    Check out user testing solutions like UserBrain and Userlytics. These solutions are expensive, but they are worth it.

    As a rule, such testing solutions use picture-in-picture remote testing software.

    It means you can get a video that shows real users exploring your site: you can see users’ screens and track users’ actions while also see users’ facial expressions. On top of that, you can listen to their audio commentary.

    Also, you can use Smartlook, a testing solution that records the actions of every user and identify returning visitors.

    This tool will help you define the user flows and give you ideas on what additional content and CTA buttons you should add.

    User flow it’s a chart that displays the complete path users takes when using a website.

    Chart that displays the complete path users takes

    The task of UX designers and UX writers is to make this flow “smooth”— to eliminate the distractions and reduce the steps necessary for reaching the conversion goal.

    Let’s consider an example. Imagine you’ve designed an eCommerce website and tested it using Smartlook.

    You’ve found out that your website visitors add a product to the shopping cart, visit the “Shipping and Delivery” page, and then get back to the cart and place an order.

    Naturally, the more steps it takes potential customers to reach the goal (place an order), the lower the conversion rate is.

    To improve user experience, you may display essential shipping details when users add the product to the cart. This way, you will provide important information upfront, and users will be more likely to stay on the page and complete the desired action.

    2. Give Your Users Lots Of Options For Support 👨🏽‍💻

    The current culture is all about impatience and instant gratification.

    When users encounter a problem, they want to get immediate help from the support team. If your team doesn’t answer users’ questions right away, the chances are they will leave your website and never get back.

    If you want to improve the user experience, you should provide lots of options for support.

    Build A Chatbot

    Modern users have positive attitudes toward chatbots. So if you want to help your website visitors with finding quick answers, consider building a chatbot.

    Advanced technologies make this task easy. Using platforms like Frase, you can design an AI-powered chatbot for your website in a matter of an hour.

    The bot will communicate with your website visitors 24/7 and answer most of their questions.

    Your main task here is to write a detailed script for your chatbot. You need to create a list of questions, define the keywords, and write comprehensive answers.

    Add A Live Chat Option

    Another great thing you can do to meet user expectations is to add a live chat feature to your website.

    Source: Capacity
    Most users prefer to talk to a real person. So you can expect that live chat will improve customer satisfaction and increase retention rates.

    You can use Freshchat, Zoho Desk, or opt for Intercom. Intercom is a great option to consider because it integrates with Smartlook and provides a support team with over-the-shoulder style troubleshooting capability.

    It enables the support team to discuss technical issues directly with the development team.

    3. Rethink Your CTAs And Buttons 👏🏼

    CTA is a word or phrase that resonates with the users and evokes them to take a specific action.

    The importance of the CTAs in the UX design is hard to overestimate. If you choose the right calls to action, you will win user attention. And, vice versa, if you select the wrong CTA, you will reduce the conversion rates.

    To optimize your website for search engines, you need to opt for shorter CTA phrases that everyone can understand. If you use sophisticated words, it will not work in your favor.

    Keep in mind that you don’t have to use the standard CTA buttons that most of your competitors use.

    You can choose whatever CTA fits your brand and appeals to your target audience.

    For instance, many airlines use such CTA buttons as “Show flights” and “Find flights”. But it doesn’t mean that you need to use the identical call to action if you work in the travel industry.

    Source: Qatar Airways

    You can use one word, “Search”, and that will be enough. Your CTA button will be more compact, which means it will work well on mobile devices and any screen size.

    Source: Kayak

    Use CTA Buttons Wisely

    Do you offer lots of quality website content?

    It might be challenging for users to navigate your site.

    If you want to help users download files, share content on social media, and complete other actions, consider using scrolling button packs.

    By adding a back-to-top button and a horizontal scrolling button, you will simplify your website navigation system. You will enhance the overall online experience and make users happy.

    Also, think of placing calls to action at the top, bottom, and middle of content pieces. Use each and every opportunity to engage users, and you will be more likely to achieve your conversion goal.

    Some content marketers still recommend sticking to traditional CTA theory and use only one CTA per piece of content.

    But the truth is that the attention span of modern users is pretty short (around 12 seconds). And if you use multiple CTA buttons, it won’t hurt your content marketing efforts.

    4. Design For Mobile First 📲

    Gone are the days when people use their phones for making calls only. Mobile phones have become a part of our everyday life—they fuel our addiction to the online world.

    Let’s take a look at mobile usage statistics to better understand the importance of mobile-first design:

    • More than 5.27 billion people worldwide own smartphones.
    • As of April 2021, 16% of all web traffic came through mobile phones.
    • There are now 4.33 billion active social media users around the world. Over 332 million joined social media platforms over the past 12 months.
    • The average time spent using mobile devices is 4 hours 10 minutes a day. Around 44% of this time users spend on social and communication apps.
    • Two-thirds of internet users prefer to use shopping apps on their mobile devices rather than shop online using their desktop computers.
    • The vast majority of young people don’t turn to a search engine—Gen Z users prefer to start their brand research on social media platforms. Experts suggest that such behavior will soon be the case for younger Millennials too.

    Whatever niche you work in, you should understand that users will be more likely to view your website using a mobile device, not laptops or PCs.

    Therefore, it will be wise of you to opt for a mobile-first approach.

    If you start with the mobile version and then adapt it to larger screens, you will create a website that perfectly appeals to modern users.

    How To Use Google Analytics To Analyze Mobile Traffic

    Do you still doubt whether you should use a mobile-first approach to designing your website?

    We highly suggest you use Google Analytics so you can understand how much of your traffic comes from mobile.

    You can analyze mobile user behavior using Google’s Mobile reports. To get the report, you need to: click =>“Audience” =>“Mobile” =>“Overview”.

    Also, you can use Google Analytics Segments to filter for mobile traffic or compare mobile to traffic that comes from tablet and desktop devices. Just click “Add segment”, and then choose “Mobile traffic”.

    Using Google Analytics data, you can analyze such parameters:

    • Mobile-only bounce rates
    • Engagement time
    • Traffic from social media sources

    Once you check these parameters, you will understand why your team needs to design the mobile version first.

    5. Think Deeply About Design 🎨

    Web design is not a constant thing.

    Design is a form of art, it’s a vanguard of the collective society, and it’s constantly changing, growing, evolving.

    It means that if you want your website content to work effectively in the long run, you should update the design of your website regularly.

    You should watch the market, spot trends, and be the first to apply the most innovative web design practices.

    Join A Community Of Web Designers

    Do you want to learn more about web design and connect with talented UX experts?

    Join the online community of designers and writers—connect with people who inspire others and set new trends.

    Here are a few platforms you should start using for this purpose.

    • Behance is known as “the world’s largest creative network for showcasing and discovering creative work”. Visit this platform to find inspiration and immerse yourself in the world of design.
    • Dribbble is a self-promotion site for UX designers and digital artists. Designers use it to showcases their works and discuss new trends with like-minded people.
    • Instagram is another great place where you can connect with web designers and discover emerging trends. Follow UI/UX design influencers on Instagram, and you will get a new dose of inspiration daily.
    Source: Instagram

    Read Web Design Blogs

    There are many great blogs out there that can help you get started with design. The more you will read on the topic, the sooner you will understand the basics.

    Here are a few blogs that are worth your attention.

    • Adobe’s blog is a great resource to learn more about the latest trend and research in the field of design and technology. If you want to educate yourself about digital transformation and want to improve your creativity skills, this blog is a must-read for you.
    • The Creative Edge, a design blog by 99designs, is a perfect place to find design tips and comprehensive beginner’s guides. Whether you want to create a logo for your brand or launch a new website, here you will find lots of pro tips.
    • Linearity Curve’s blog is another great resource you can use to learn the fundamentals. Professional web designers and digital artists share their experiences, and you can learn from them for free.

    As a newbie, you might be overwhelmed with the things you have just learned about web design and the things you still need to learn.

    The chances are you still have one important question unanswered, “What are the main design trends for 2023?”

    Here is a list of current design trends:

    • Geometry. Using rhombs, triangles, and simple circles, you can create a great minimalistic design.
    Source: RallyInterective
    • Bold, oversized fonts. If you want to create a simple yet sophisticated design to highlight your brands’ authenticity, use large fonts of different styles.
    Source: A Gauche de la Lune
    • Muted colors. Muted colors attract users and improve the UX of website content. Such designs work well for fashion brands, beauty brands, and eco-oriented brands.

    Sencie Branding & Packaging

    Sencie Branding & Packaging designed by Elisabeth Kiviorg. Connect with them on Dribbble; the global community for designers and creative professionals.

    • Neomorphism. Companies that offer digital products use neomorphism design elements. In such a way, they show to the customers that they focus on innovations and use the most advanced technologies.

    Freebie Neumorphic UX UI Elements

    Freebie Neumorphic UX UI Elements designed by Emy Lascan. Connect with them on Dribbble; the global community for designers and creative professionals.

    • Nostalgic design. If your offer products that are associated with the “good old days”, don’t try to make your website look trendy and innovative. Use old-style fonts and colors to create a nostalgic design.
    Source: MagnetiMarelli100

    Different brands leverage different trends. If you believe that one of these web design trends fits your brand, feel free to use it.

    Acquire Practical Web Design Skills

    You don’t have to be a talented artist or computer genius to become a web designer. If the field of design attracts you, you can dabble in it—it's easy.

    In Conclusion 💁🏼‍♀️

    If you believe that the UX design of your website is not “good enough”, don’t hesitate to make some changes.

    Remember that you can use analytical instruments and user testing tools to identify the current issues and find a way to fix them.

    You can be sure that once you get a better understanding of how users interact with your website, you will come up with ideas on how to improve the UX of your website content.

    Even if you are a newbie in the field, you will be able to find a solution that will improve your website ranking and boost conversion rates.