‘Less is more’ is probably the best advice anyone can give when it comes to design. I’ve also heard someone say ‘websites age in dog years’. Certainly, many an online marketing agency in the UK has received a request to design the kind of minimalist website that seems to be all the rage today. There are good reasons for such popularity, too.
Websites age in dog years. Share on XThink about it: a site that looks minimalist in its design (e.g. by utilising a simple framework with only the most modest and tasteful colour and typography choices) gives your brand a very ‘Zen’ vibe. With so much white space compared to sites that are trying harder to impress, your visitors will feel like they can ‘breathe’ instead of being distracted by clutter.
Here are just a few of the potential benefits of minimalist website design.
1. You don’t need so much content
This may seem to go without saying, but we aren’t necessarily just talking about not having to spend as much time and energy creating content. What I’m referring to is the opportunity to focus the visitor’s attention on what’s truly important, while purging any old and irrelevant content from your site. Incidentally, it’s always worth scheduling some time to review your site content on a regular basis, culling the old stuff you don’t want and updating the rest to ensure it’s still current.
2. Easier navigation
A simpler site design doesn’t have as many navigation elements to confuse the visitor. Fewer navigational options means a more natural flow from one part of the site to another for your visitors. It’s also going to be much easier to work with on a smaller screen, such as a smartphone.
3. Easier to maintain
If you pile up flashy features on your site, there’s more that could go wrong with it down the line. Who wants unnecessary headaches? We’d hope your answer to that is “no”. The less Javascript you have going on, the quicker the site will load and respond, which will also benefit your SEO score.
4. Your server won’t be weighed down
An overloaded server is a problem for you and your site visitors, i.e. anyone maintaining or visiting a website. It’s more likely to happen if your site is having to serve up anything that’s resource-hungry on the server, such as having to process scripts. A minimalist design helps to sidestep all of this.
5. Better compatibility on all devices
A site with fewer elements is more likely to look impressive, even on devices with smaller screens. From smartphones and tablets to desktop computers, a minimalist design approach enables you to cater to them all.
Does a minimalist aesthetic sound like a good match for your brand and its requirements? If so, call PENNInk Productions on 020 8144 7931. We are a comprehensive online marketing agency in the UK with expertise in website design, search engine optimisation (SEO) and all of the associated support – all ensuring that your firm can thrive all the more in 2019.
Edward Solomon has over 30 years’ experience in project management, technical education, computer networking, web design and development and is a Digital Business Consultant for PENNInk Productions Ltd.
